A cold (or ARVI) is a common and frequent occurrence in children under 5 years of age. As a rule, the child rarely gets sick before the age of two. First, because he is protected by the antibodies he received in his mother's milk. Secondly, because he is not yet in contact with a large number of people. But when the baby starts socializing and goes to kindergarten, everything changes. Even a strong child can get sick almost every month. Don't worry, in most cases this is normal, many children go through adaptations. The body is formed, it learns to resist a huge number of viruses and microbes in the surrounding world. The task of parents in this situation is to facilitate the course of the disease. different ways, and also to strengthen the immune system so that the defenses of the child's body in the future can resist the virus. In this article, you will learn how to distinguish a cold from other diseases, how to suppress a disease at its very beginning, and we will also tell you about the many ways to quickly and safe treatment ARVI.
How to understand that a child has a cold
Typical symptoms of a cold are nasal flow, congestion, sneezing, redness of the eyes. With a cold, the temperature may rise - although this is not a prerequisite. In general, the state of health of the crumbs deteriorates - he becomes capricious, whiny, asks for his hands, loses his appetite. If the child is more than two years old, and he can already express himself, the children show what exactly hurts. Often with a cold, a sore throat - the child indicates this. You can examine the mucous throat with a clean spoon - if it is red, there should be no doubt - the baby has caught ARVI.
Very often the common cold is confused with other diseases, first of all, it is an allergy. As with a cold, the baby may start watering, stuff up his nose, and cough. Children are especially tormented when the disease does not go away for a long time, simply because the treatment should be different. To find out if a baby has a cold or an allergy, you just need to donate blood for immunoglobulin E. If the indicator of this test is exceeded, allergic reactions occur in the body, if it is normal - treat for a cold. Usually, allergic rhinitis is characterized by transparent mucus, but a cold can be anything. It's the same with a cough - allergic cough usually dry and superficial. You can also check for allergies by the throat. If it's red, it's definitely a cold. There is no temperature with allergies. In addition, all symptoms disappear quickly after taking an antihistamine.Often the common cold is confused with food poisoning. Indeed, often a baby at a high temperature can be tormented by vomiting and diarrhea. If diarrhea and vomiting are repeated, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible, dehydration is extremely dangerous for young children. In this case, the throat will also help to make the correct diagnosis. If it is not red, the baby is most likely poisoned. If it is red, with a high degree of probability we can say that the baby has caught ARVI, which, by the way, can often manifest itself as gastrointestinal disorders.
Cold symptoms also appear in children who get sick infectious mononucleosis... The disease is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. With this disease, a high temperature appears, which is difficult to bring down, a purulent or red throat, and lymph nodes increase. To identify the disease, you need to be tested for atypical mononuclear cells. In any case, if you are not exactly sure if it is a cold, you should definitely consult a doctor to make the correct diagnosis.
If you notice primary signs of illness in a child, it is very important to start treatment as early as possible. After all, an early response will suppress the disease at its root. So what if the child is cold or comes from the garden with snot?
- First of all, you need to warm the baby. If the child does not mind, you can take a hot bath. In any case, the water must first be comfortable and warm, and then the temperature can be gradually increased. Then dress the child warmly.
- After that, the baby can have a nose wash. Firstly, it will wash off the virus from the mucous membrane, which, perhaps, has not yet been completely absorbed into the body. Secondly, rinsing will help remove excess mucus and swelling, allowing you to breathe through your nose again. For washing, you can use decoctions of herbs, a solution of furacilin or miramistin, salt water. Rinsing can be done simply by holding the teapot spout to the baby's nose. The kid should turn his head to one side until the stream flows out of the other nostril. Show by your own example how the baby should act. Babies need to rinse their nose with saline. Simply put a drop of saline into each nostril with a pipette. Then use a nasal aspirator to draw out any unnecessary mucus. In case of serious discharge (purulent), the baby can be taken to the ENT for washing. The device "Cuckoo" will pull out everything unnecessary from the sinuses, and the antibacterial composition resists the further development of inflammation.
- In addition to washing, the baby can be inhaled. An excellent device nebulizer sprays mineral water or special preparations into the smallest particles that fall directly on the lungs. The nebulizer perfectly treats cough, snot and red throat, suppresses inflammation at the root. If there is no such device at home, you can simply breathe over a basin of hot water, covered with a towel. For inhalation, you can use a decoction of potatoes or chamomile, eucalyptus essential oils or calendula tincture.
- After that, the baby needs to make a mustard foot bath. The procedure is allowed for children over three years old. In order not to frighten or force the baby, just dip your feet into a basin of hot water with him. Add some dry mustard to the liquid. Pour hot water into the basin from time to time. After the bath, you need to dry your feet well, put on woolen socks on your bare skin. This creates an additional impact on the active points of the foot. This massage strengthens the immune system and activates increased blood circulation.
- The mustard bath should be done before bed. But before you wish your baby good night, you need to smear his chest and back with badger or goose fat. Fat keeps warm for a long time and warms up well. If you have a runny nose, warm up your sinuses with boiled eggs or warm salt in a bag.
- Then give your baby raspberry tea. Raspberries have powerful diaphoretic properties. This drink will allow the body to sweat properly - the main thing is not to crawl out from under the blanket.
Having fulfilled all these conditions, in the morning you will not even remember that the child was sick yesterday. However, remember - this set of measures is effective only at the onset of the disease.
Drinking plenty of fluids and moist air
In all sources for the treatment of colds, you can find recommendations for drinking plenty of fluids. However, few people know that the virus cannot be cured with drugs. Everything antiviral drugs have only the ability to relieve symptoms. Only liquid will help to remove the virus from the body. The more the child pees, the faster his recovery will come. You really need to drink a lot. A child of three years old should drink at least a liter of liquid per day (during illness). This is the only way to speed up recovery. Offer your baby your favorite juices, compotes, sweet tea - anything you want, as long as he drinks.
Humid air is another prerequisite for a quick recovery. The virus lives and multiplies in dry, hot air. But in a humid and cool climate, it dies. Ventilate the room more often, install a humidifier, moderate the work of radiators in winter, do wet cleaning every day. In addition to the fact that dry and hot air contributes to the development of the virus, it also dries out the mucous membrane in the nose. This leads to secondary infection. Indoor air quality for colds is one of the main conditions for recovery.
If it really is a cold, there is no need to treat it with medications. Providing plenty of fluids and moist indoor air is the key to a quick recovery. However, children often need help to get rid of the disease as soon as possible. Antipyretic drugs have an excellent anti-inflammatory effect. When given three times a day, regardless of temperature, they help reduce symptoms and relieve the patient's condition. Among them are Nurofen, Ibuklin, Ibufen, etc.
If the baby has a stuffy nose, vasoconstrictor sprays and drops should be used. However, observe the age limit - only use drugs that are approved for a child of your age. They cannot be used for more than five days. If the runny nose is of a bacterial nature, you need to add more powerful drugs - Izofra, Protorgol, Pinosol.
It is mandatory to take antihistamines, even if the baby is not allergic. Zodak, Suprastin, Zyrtec will help relieve swelling and relieve nasal congestion.
Cough medications cannot be taken uncontrollably, they are permissible only if you are prescribed by a doctor. Antitussives, such as Sinekod, fight dry coughs by suppressing the cough reflex. If you cough up phlegm, you need to remove it from the lungs. Mukoltin, Lazolvan, Azz, etc. will help with this. When sputum is passing out, in no case drink antitussive drugs - they drown out the cough, sputum is not excreted, this can lead to stagnation.
How else to treat a cold in a child
We have compiled for you the most effective and useful treatments for colds.
- If there is a sore throat, gargling will help get rid of them. Babies over three years old can already be taught to gargle. For rinsing, decoctions of medicinal herbs, antibacterial solutions or sea water (soda, salt and iodine) are suitable.
- Parents make a big mistake when they force a sick child to eat, saying that they will not have the strength to fight the disease. In fact, a lot of energy goes into digesting food. Don't force your child to eat if they don't want to.
- It is better to give up sweet and unleavened milk for a while - they increase the inflammation in the throat.
- If there is coughing, you can make a honey-mustard cake. Combine honey, a pinch of dry mustard, vegetable oil and flour to make a dough. Roll out a cake from it and attach it to your chest. Leave it overnight. Mustard is mildly irritating to the skin and increases blood circulation in the chest area. This helps to activate the immune cells and speeds up recovery. Honey gently warms, and oil protects delicate baby skin from burns.
- You need to spread chopped onions around the house - this disinfects the air. So you not only treat the child, but also protect other household members from infection.
- To allow the child to breathe in pairs of garlic, place the cut slices of it in a yellow egg from a kinder and hang it around the neck. Make some holes in the "egg" itself. So the baby will constantly inhale the smell of garlic, which is very useful for colds.
- If the child has a stuffy nose, you can use folk recipes and drops. The juice of beets, carrots, aloe and Kalanchoe is excellent for treating a cold. However, remember that they must be diluted at least half with water, since juices are very hot in their pure form. Before you drip your own drops into your child's nose, you need to try them on yourself. Never drip breast milk into your baby's nose. It has long been proven that milk is the best food for bacteria; such treatment will only aggravate the disease.
- Eat more vitamin C. These are citrus fruits, rosehip broth, kiwi. You can eat ascorbic acid - it is sour and many children eat it instead of sweets. If the baby is small, you can add vitamin C to food. The pharmacy has a lot of vitamin C in liquid form (usually in drops).
These are simple but time-tested ways to help you get your baby back on his feet quickly.
When to see a doctor
There are times when a cold does not go away within 5-7 days. If the baby does not recover and there is no improvement in his condition, it is imperative to see a doctor. In addition, self-medication is unacceptable if the temperature rises above 39 degrees, if a rash, diarrhea or vomiting occurs.You cannot be treated without consulting a doctor if there are purulent plaques on the throat - angina is treated with antibiotics. If thick, yellow or green snot appears, it means that a bacterial infection has joined and you also need a doctor. Any unnatural behavior of the child, unusual complaints or doubts about the diagnosis should be definitely discussed with the doctor. It is possible to be treated at home only if the symptoms are clear and typical for a cold.
To protect a child from colds, you need to strengthen the immune system - eat right, temper, drink vitamins, spend more time outdoors, and actively move. And then colds will be less. And if they do, they will flow much easier. Remember, the health and immunity of the child is in your hands.
Video: how to treat ARVI in children
A child's illness is always stressful for parents. Not only for young people who have their first child, but for experienced couples. Even a banal ARVI or ARI, which is commonly called a cold, can cause fear. Especially if a newborn is sick. At the age of 1 month, the baby cannot cough up on its own, remove mucus from the nose (blow your nose) or gargle. Most of the drugs used in the treatment of respiratory diseases cannot be given to the baby, so a legitimate question arises: what to do? How to treat a baby?
First of all, figure out what a cold is? How to protect a child from disease? And then to understand what to do if the disease still struck him.
Infant cold
Cold, or how to speak correctly respiratory infection, arises from the penetration of a harmful agent (virus, bacteria) into the body, most often infection occurs during hypothermia, when the immune system weakens. It is believed that newborns do not often get colds if they properly care for the baby. But this does not mean that the baby cannot get sick. On the contrary, the immaturity of the immune system makes them very vulnerable, so a lot of attention and observation is required from the parents.
If the baby has one or more signs of the disease, such as loss of appetite, restless sleep, general disturbance (lethargy and increased moodiness), rhinitis, cough and fever, an urgent need to consult a doctor.
Treatment should be started when the first symptoms appear, however, the appointment of drug therapy is the prerogative of the pediatrician. When the body temperature rises to 38 ° C in a child from 0 to 1 month, you need to call an ambulance. For children from a month to a year, an ambulance is required at a temperature of 38.5 ° C. The need to call emergency medical care is justified by the fact that the reaction of the child's body to an increase in temperature may be unpredictable, up to convulsions and death. It is necessary to immediately start treatment: give an antipyretic, appropriate to the age category of the child and call the local pediatrician.
The reasons that the baby's temperature can be different, including respiratory infections. In this case, the infectious agent is introduced into the nasopharyngeal mucosa, causing inflammation. This leads to cough, runny nose and fever. If these symptoms are present, then the chance that the baby has ARVI or ARI is very high.
How to protect your child from infection
The main route of transmission of respiratory infections is airborne. This means that the baby should be isolated from a sick person (an adult or another child), if this is not possible, then contact should be minimized. In this case, the patient is advised to wear a mask. An additional way that such an infection can be transmitted is contact-household (through household items and personal belongings). This means that all dishes, toys and crumbs should be individual.
In order to reduce the risk of infection of the baby, regular ventilation of the room is recommended (this reduces the concentration of the virus in the air) and wet cleaning (this will remove the harmful agent from furniture).
The most effective remedy for the prevention of colds for a month-old baby is breast milk. It contains antibodies that penetrate the bloodstream of the crumb and prevent the development of the process.
You need to know that even with breastfeeding violation of the basic rules for caring for a child: malnutrition, disturbed sleep patterns, hygiene rules and hypothermia, can cause the development of a pathological process.
Since the immune system of a month-old baby is not yet mature enough, the danger of a severe course of the disease and complications for the newborn and the baby is very high. That is why it is very important to recognize the symptoms and begin treatment at the earliest stage of the process.
The leading signs of a cold in infants and the basics of care
The leading symptoms for a respiratory illness in a baby 1 month old are:- nasal symptoms (congestion, profuse clear discharge);
- increased body temperature;
- shortness of breath, cough (less often);
- deterioration in general condition (sleep, mood).
The severity of symptoms is different and it changes as the process develops. About drug treatment recommendations will be given by a pediatrician. There are some things every mother should know about caring for a sick baby.
First, there is no need to force-feed the baby. But the enhanced drinking regime is very useful. If pediatricians do not recommend healthy monthly babies to drink water, it is believed that there is enough breast milk (if the child is breastfed, the "artificial" drinkers), then sick children need to be given baby water without any additives.
At high temperatures, the child does not need to be wrapped up in order for him to sweat. The function of thermoregulation in such crumbs is not yet perfect, so temperature shock and seizures can be achieved. Many mothers know that you can bring down the temperature by physical means, such as a weak solution of vinegar or alcohol.
Never wipe a baby 1 month old with water, vinegar or alcohol, especially at high temperatures!
First, a sharp temperature drop, if it is possible to bring it down in this way, is simply dangerous for the baby and can cause seizures. Secondly, skin adsorption in children is very active, and alcohol with vinegar, absorbed through the enlarged pores, will enter the bloodstream and damage the baby's body. In this case, wiping with warm (not cold!) Water is recommended. Wipe the limbs, neck and tummy. Control temperature measurements are carried out at least every 3 hours. At temperature, the face of the crumbs becomes crimson, the skin "burns". It is not recommended to bring down the temperature to 38 ° C for colds, this reduces the protective functions of the body. But when you increase it to 38 ° C, you must definitely bring it down.
If the child's skin is pale at a temperature, the limbs are cold, these are signs of white fever, a very dangerous condition that requires medical attention. You cannot lower the temperature with white fever on your own. This is done very slowly and under the supervision of a doctor.
If it is not possible to regulate the rise in temperature and the symptoms appear strongly enough, you will have to temporarily stop walking and bathing. If you manage to control the temperature, short walks are needed. Since clean air has a positive effect on nasal breathing, shortness of breath decreases and sleep improves. Bathing at a temperature is not worth the baby, but you can rinse it.
Any illness, including a cold, depletes the baby's nervous system, in order to reduce exhaustion, special care must be provided: a calm environment that will help good rest, dim light, fresh air and silence (you need to exclude annoying noises, first of all, the sound of the TV).
Healing activities
Treatment for a respiratory infection will depend on its course and prevailing symptoms. With an uncomplicated course by the 4th day inflammatory process decreases, the temperature decreases, the general state of health improves. If there are no improvements, then, most likely, a secondary infection of a bacterial nature has joined the already existing disease. In this case, you will have to treat her with antibiotics.
In case of a cold, the baby's nose will have to be given special attention. To liquefy mucus, weak saline solutions are used; for its removal, aspirators, a medical pear or cotton turundas (flagella) are used. Such drops are used no more than 5 days and no more than 5 times a day. The doctor may prescribe vasoconstrictor drops, which is used no more than 3 times a day, antihistamines. When a bacterial infection is attached, antibiotics, in severe cases, corticosteroids.
Do not treat rhinitis by dripping mother's milk into your nose. Despite its bactericidal properties, if it enters the nasal passages clogged with mucus, it will become an excellent breeding ground for pathogenic microflora.
When an infectious agent enters the throat mucosa, pharyngitis develops. In this case, the process of mucus formation is also in the pharynx, the baby begins to cough. Coughing is a kind of protective function of the body that allows you to reduce the amount of phlegm and toxins in it by coughing up. A doctor on the cough of an adult can determine the strength of the process and the degree of damage. A newborn's cough is not informative, since the cough reflex is not sufficiently developed. If the child begins to cough, be sure to show him to the doctor, you do not need to treat the baby yourself.
Colds are one of the most common illnesses. Almost every person encounters it in childhood. With this concept, people usually combine almost all respiratory diseases. It is children who are more prone to various types of colds, which is explained by an incompletely formed immune system. The peak of colds occurs in the first year of attending preschool institutions, where the child is faced with new viruses and bacteria.
If a child has a cold, parents start looking for ways to cope with the situation. And here a lot of tips and advice comes to the rescue, offered by friends and articles on the Internet. However, not all of them are beneficial and help to heal quickly, and some may be unsafe. Therefore, when a child has a cold, it is better to seek help from a qualified doctor or, at least, be skeptical about the recommendations given. This is especially true for babies under one year old.
The correct regimen and organization of the sick child's day
One of the important points to get rid of a cold quickly is the correct regime of the baby. It should be located in a room with normal temperature and humidity. It is imperative to ensure that the sick child receives a sufficient amount of warm drink. It is desirable that the baby be provided with peace. This means that he should be engaged in activities that do not require noticeable physical activity. Folding puzzles, watching cartoons and children's films, reading books, looking at pictures and the like are perfect.
How to understand that a child has a cold
In order to quickly cure the baby, to prevent the development of complications or the transition of the disease to a severe form, you need to be able to recognize the first symptoms that the child has caught a cold. Usually, the disease begins with a change in the baby's mood: he becomes lethargic, moody, whiny. If there are no other visible reasons for this behavior, then already at this stage one can suspect a cold. During this period, you can start giving the child a warm drink.
Other symptoms usually appear after about a day. It can be fever, cough, runny nose, severe sweating, weakness, sore eyes, redness of the throat. Breathing can sometimes be impaired and the skin color changes. The condition of the skin and mucous membranes requires special attention, since the appearance of a rash is most likely indicative of diseases not associated with a cold.
It is also required to monitor the temperature of the child, but you should not immediately bring it down. The first three days, if the thermometer shows no more than 38.5 degrees, and the child's condition remains satisfactory, there is no need to try to bring down the temperature. With such symptoms, symptomatic treatment is carried out. No later than 4-5 days from the onset of the disease, the temperature should begin to decrease, and the condition should improve. If this does not happen, then you need to call a pediatrician, since such signs may indicate the development of inflammation.
What symptoms are dangerous for a child
Parents should be sure to know the symptoms for which they should immediately seek medical help... These signs indicate serious and dangerous diseases.
These symptoms include a sharp, strong cry in babies under one year old, sudden apathy and lethargy, the appearance of cold sweats, a sharp drop in body temperature, rashes accompanied by a high temperature. A rash is especially dangerous, which does not change color when pressed.
Repeated, debilitating vomiting and loose, persistent stools can also be signs of serious illness. After all, these manifestations of the disease can lead to dehydration. If a child has these symptoms, measures should be taken to maintain water balance. The baby needs to be given small doses of water, give him special medications and call a doctor as soon as possible.
Fainting, loss of consciousness, inappropriate behavior, forgetfulness are considered dangerous. In case of any breathing disorder, sudden strong hoarseness or loss of voice, development of edema localized in the head and neck region, you should immediately call an ambulance. The same actions should be taken with sharp abdominal pains, severe headaches.
If a child has a cold, and any of the above symptoms appears and grows against the background of the disease, the baby needs to be urgently hospitalized. All these signs indicate a threat to the life and health of the child.
Of course, dangerous symptoms are rare, but parents are still obliged to know them. In most cases, a child's cold disappears in about 5-7 days, even in the absence of special treatment. If you wish, you can cope with this disease a little faster. There are several simple ways to do this.
How can you treat a cold
When the first signs of illness appear, you can try to give the child medicine with antiviral effect, because most often it is viruses that cause colds. If so, then this method can help, however, it is effective only if the drug is taken at the very first stage of the disease.
Many parents, if the child has a cold, resort to herbal medicine. It is possible to argue for a long time which treatment is more effective and safe - herbs or pharmaceutical preparations, but, of course, herbal remedies are more pleasant. There are many recipes using medicinal plants. From them you can make tea (decoction or infusion) for drinking, add them to the bath when bathing, or inhale the child with the addition of herbs.
It is worth remembering that medicinal plants are not as harmless as they seem at first glance. It is possible to use funds based on them only after consulting a doctor. After all, many herbs contain active substances in large quantities, which can cause overdose and poisoning. Medicinal plants should be treated in the same way as pharmacological drugs.
The child has a cold what to do
When a child has a cold, it is very important to properly carry out all the specialist's appointments. Often, the necessary manipulations give the child unpleasant sensations, which creates certain difficulties for the parents, for example, a bitter medicine that needs to be given to the baby. How to smooth out emerging problems?
Body temperature measurement
In most cases, the temperature of the armpit is measured for children. It is a safer and more informative method than others. So, for example, when measuring this indicator rectally, it is quite easy to injure the mucous membrane, in addition, the temperature will be about 10 higher than in the armpit. To reduce the discomfort of the child, the thermometer should first be slightly warmed up with your hand. It will take 5-7 minutes to measure. At this time, you can take the child in your arms, hug him. It's good to keep the kid busy for these minutes, you can read him a book, show him pictures or tell a fairy tale. This will make the procedure more pleasant for him. If the child has a cold, it is necessary to measure the temperature 2-3 times a day, and it is desirable that this happens at the same time.
Taking medicines
Medicines often taste bad and are difficult to give to a child. You need to try to emphasize that this is a medicine. When taking the medicine, you should talk to the child and try to distract his attention. Tablets that do not dissolve and taste bitter are best crushed into a powder and mixed with jam, sugar or honey. Before mixing a medicine with a drink, you need to read the annotation for special recommendations. If there is no indication of what to drink the drug with, it can be added to a drink, preferably one that the baby does not often use. After all, an unpleasant taste can discourage a child from drinking his favorite juice, milk or compote for a long time.
How to drip drops into a baby's nose
For small children, this procedure is carried out in a reclining position. Older children may be asked to simply sit up and tilt their heads back. Drops are first instilled into one half of the nose; for this, the child's head must be turned towards this nostril. So the medicine can spread to the entire side wall of the nose and enter the nasal passages. The child remains in this position for some time. After a couple of minutes, you can move on to the second nostril.
Inhalation
For such a procedure, a small room, for example, a kitchen, is best suited. To inhale in a calm atmosphere, you can close the door and place an open pot of water on the stove. When the water boils, medicinal plants (for example, pine buds, oregano, chamomile and others) should be poured into it. As the water boils, the indoor air will become moist and medicinal. The procedure continues for an hour. All this time, the baby can play, read, draw or do other things he loves.
The child caught a cold, how to treat him (folk remedies)
As mentioned, one of the signs that a child has a cold is a fever. The low temperature, below 380, does not require measures to reduce it. But if it rises sharply, suddenly and reaches large numbers, it is urgent to bring it down, otherwise seizures may appear.
One of folk methods lowering the temperature, as well as increasing the protective forces is to use a mixture of vinegar (vinegar essence cannot be used!) and water. A slightly sour solution is prepared from these ingredients, in which a piece of cloth or gauze is moistened, and then the child's body is wiped with it. Particular attention should be paid to the groin and armpits, glands are located in these places, so rubbing is more effective. You can also put a compress from the prepared solution on the baby's forehead. Even if the temperature has dropped noticeably and the child is feeling better, you should not leave him alone. Rubdowns should be done often enough, and the compresses should be changed as it warms up.
Some of the methods recommended for treating adults can be used for children as well. However, this does not apply to medications, adult medications are not suitable for a child. But soft folk remedies it is quite possible to adapt to childhood, significantly reducing the dose and concentration. An exception to this is all alcohol tinctures; babies cannot take them inside, even in strong dilution. You should also be careful with those recipes that include honey and other allergens, as they can cause a reaction in the child.
Children can react negatively to the taste of medicines, so it is better for them to choose products with a pleasant taste.
Carrots with honey. This medicine is very simple to prepare and tastes good. You can prepare it in the fall. To do this, rinse the carrots well, peel, grate, place in a container and pour honey. The remedy is infused for a month.
Radish juice with sugar or honey. Black radish is thoroughly washed and crushed, then it is sprinkled with sugar or mixed with honey. The resulting mixture is left for 5 hours at room temperature. The released juice is carefully squeezed out and poured into a bottle. You need to take it in a large spoonful three times a day. Such a remedy will not work for babies, but larger babies can be given it 2-3 times a day in a small spoon. Before going to bed, you can take a double serving, this will relieve the condition, eliminate cough and allow the child to sleep peacefully.
Turnip with honey. A remedy is being prepared similar to the previous one, has a pronounced anti-cold effect. If the baby does not have an allergic reaction to honey, you can moisten gauze flagella in it and insert them into the nose.
Drops of carrot and beet juice. The specified components are mixed in equal proportions. The agent is buried in the nose.
Warming up the nose. You can effectively warm up your baby's nose with hot, freshly boiled eggs. They, without cleaning, are applied to both sides of the nose.
Cough medicine. Suitable for children of all ages, provided they are not allergic to honey. You need to mix 2 large tablespoons of aniseed seeds with a small spoonful of honey, add a pinch of common salt there. The whole mixture is poured into 200 ml of water and brought to a boil, and then filtered. Drink is given to the child warm every 2-3 hours, a teaspoon. The frequency of admission and a single serving gradually, as the manifestations of cough decrease, decrease.
Camomile tea. To cook it, pour a glass of boiling water into a thermos and pour a tablespoon of dried chamomile flowers, leave for 1 hour. Such a remedy will help for a long lingering cough... Take it every hour, one spoon. Usually after 10-12 hours the cough is noticeably reduced. Cough can be treated with chamomile in both children and adults. The same warm infusion can be dripped into the nose to get rid of a cold.
Rowan fruits. Rowan is pressed and poured into water, in a ratio of 1 part berries to 2 parts water. Then the mixture is placed on fire and boiled for about 5 hours, after which it is filtered, collecting the precipitate. It must be steamed well until a kind of toffee is formed. This remedy is taken 5-6 g every day. Usually, children are happy to take this candy-like medicine.
Burnt sugar. Burnt sugar will help to quickly cope with a severe attack of coughing. To prepare it, pour 2 tablespoons of sugar into a clean pan and heat it over low heat until it acquires a light brown color. Then the pan is removed from the heat and 200 ml of boiling water is poured onto it. The resulting mixture is well stirred and left to cool. You can also add a little lemon juice there. To get rid of a cold faster, you can pour onion juice into the remedy. They drink this mixture in small sips every 30-40 minutes. Another cooking option: sugar is heated in a frying pan until dark lumps form, and then the baby is allowed to suck on the resulting candies with a strong cough.
The best treatment is prevention
It is better, of course, not to treat a child who has a cold, and not to allow the onset of the disease. To do this, you need to work daily to improve health and develop immunity. Walk a lot with your baby, choose the right foods for his nutrition, lead a healthy lifestyle, choose the right clothes and the optimal temperature regime. During periods of especially dangerous colds and in the midst of flu epidemics, try not to visit crowded places. In addition, it is useful to temper a child from a young age.
All these activities will help in the prevention of colds. But even if the child catches a cold, the disease will be mild and the baby's body can easily cope with it.
The common cold in children. Most parents have long developed their own treatment method and have all the necessary drugs at hand. There is no need to panic if a child has a cold. His condition quickly returns to normal when correct treatment and timely diagnosis.
How to understand that a child has a cold?
A caring and attentive parent does not ask himself the question: "How to understand that the child has a cold?" Often, a mother, according to only her clear signs, determines the state of the child and the consequences to which it leads. Almost every cold starts the same way. So for some, the first sign may be an unreasonable night cry. For others, a child's apparent lack of interest in play. In the third case, especially in children under one year old, the desire to be constantly with the mother and be in her arms. Unreasonable tears, screams, roars, sudden change in behavior, prolonged sleep, fatigue, signs of a cold are countless. After all, you can understand that a child has a cold not only when his cough shakes the walls, and streams flow from his nose. Mom knows perfectly well how a cold begins in her toddler who is not yet able to intelligibly say about his discomfort. Kids are trying with all their might to demonstrate their discomfort by certain actions. They need to be responded to and appropriate measures taken.
The child has a cold: what to do?
The logical answer to this question is: "Treat!" To hope that the child has a cold, but the disease will go away on its own. After all, it is necessary to help the baby, to cope with the disease right now. The ideal option would be to examine a specialist and make a diagnosis with the appropriate prescription of medications. But only children always catch cold at the wrong time. The hospital may be closed or there is no appointment with the pediatrician.
The first step is to measure the temperature. If it is above 38 degrees, then you should immediately give an antipyretic. It's good that now it is available in the form of a syrup and kids take it with pleasure.
When hypothermia became the cause of a cold, and an increased temperature is not observed, then the baby should be warmed up in the bathroom. Warm humid air will not only make it easier for your baby to breathe, but will also help in removing phlegm.
If the child has a cold and coughs, then a warming balm applied to the baby's chest will come to the rescue. In addition, you can use special healing etheric patches that are attached to the baby's clothes and make breathing easier.
Regarding the intake of syrups, to accelerate the elimination of phlegm and the occurrence of a productive cough, you need to think several times before using one of them. They have a different spectrum of impact and can only aggravate the situation. Only after the child has caught a cold and has been examined by a pediatrician and diagnosed with an appropriate prescription can he take the syrup. It is better not to take risks on your own.
The child has a cold and pee
If the child has a cold and, as a result, began to pee, then this is a sure sign that his kidneys are chilled. It will not be possible to cope independently, without the help of a specialized specialist. A visit is required not only to the pediatrician, but also to the nephrologist. It is very dangerous to get cystitis at a young age. Therefore, the sooner the diagnosis is made and the complex treatment is started, the better.
In rare cases, a child pees into bed due to severe fatigue or weakness, when he is unable to stand up to the potty on his own. Even less often, overexcitement or nervous shock becomes the cause of a wet bed. In this case, the cold is not the cause.
Child caught a cold at sea
There is no need to sound the alarm if the child caught a cold at sea. Naturally, this is justified in the case when he does not have high temperature... In most cases, as a result of intensive adaptation to new weather conditions and climate, the baby's body simply did not cope. And it is almost impossible to prove to a child, happily splashing in the sea waves, that blue lips are a reason to bask in the sun. Therefore, if the child has a cold, then it is worth a little to moderate his desire to swim. Walking near the sea and playing on the beach have not yet been canceled. Naturally, medication is also necessary. A local pediatrician will help with it. It is better not to self-medicate, as a common cold can develop into a more serious illness.
The child has a cold: how to treat?
It all depends on what worries the baby. Cough, runny nose, wheezing, fever, nausea - each concomitant symptom of the disease has its own medicine. Some drugs have a complex spectrum of effects. But, conceived, to prevent nasal discharge, not only saline for rinsing is prescribed, but also vasoconstrictor drops. Cough is treated not only with pills, but also with syrups. The temperature is knocked down by suspensions and candles. The child has a cold and what are the consequences of the disease, the pediatrician will say. The most that you can do yourself, without negative consequences, is to cleanse nasal cavity and give an antipyretic drug.
The child has a cold: temperature
When a child has a cold, his body temperature rises steadily, then the first step is to give an antipyretic. Syrups "Nurofen", "Panadol for children" and a dozen more similar preparations do an excellent job. But, if the indicators on the thermometer have exceeded the figure of 38 degrees and antipyretic drugs give only a temporary effect, then you cannot do without calling an ambulance. When a child has caught a cold and his condition worsens every minute, the temperature is steadily increasing, then before the appearance of a team of doctors, it is necessary to knock it down with water compresses with a small addition of alcohol or vinegar. A rapid decrease in temperature is observed with the introduction of suppositories rectally.
The baby has a cold
A cold for babies in the first year of life is dangerous. That's why when infant If you are cold, you should not rely on your experience. Perhaps the cause is a virus, not just cold air. In any case, it is in no way possible to treat a child independently, without appropriate prescriptions. Only after his lungs have been listened to, his throat has been examined by a pediatrician and tests have been submitted, the treatment can begin as directed. Superfluous medications inappropriate at this age.
Can I feed my baby if mom has a cold?
The answer is unequivocally yes. The illness of a nursing mother is not yet a reason to deprive the baby of its food, but as a result, the immunity it develops. Therefore, in order not to infect her baby, the mother should communicate with the baby only during the feeding process. Of course, you can lubricate the child's nostrils with oxalin ointment and put a bandage on your face, but practice shows that such suffering is not justified.
The common cold is a transient and quickly curable phenomenon. The main thing is to timely understand that the child has caught a cold and take decisive steps towards his recovery, and not wait for obvious signs of the disease. And then you can get rid of a cold quickly and effectively.
Child's cold Is a large group of varieties of spicy respiratory diseasecaused by viruses, it is also the most common infectious disease childhood... Most often, the introduction of viruses occurs through the nasopharynx and larynx, while different strains prefer their own "gateway". For example, for rhinovirus it will be the nasal mucosa, the adenovirus will settle in the pharyngeal and palatine tonsils, the parainfluenza virus will prefer the integumentary tissues of the larynx. Of course, the onset of a cold in a child with each of these options will proceed in its own way: in the first case with nasal congestion and a runny nose, in the second, the child will complain of a sore throat, in the third, the first symptom will be a dry cough. Alas, such a distinction between symptoms is not always the case, more often the child gets a combined infection, and with it such a bouquet of manifestations, which is very difficult to understand.
However, it is not necessary to understand much, because a child's cold is treated according to a similar scheme, regardless of the type of viral agent. It is much more important to capture the moment when the child just got sick. If the beginning cold in a child is noticed in a timely manner, then it will be much easier to cope with it than with a "cleared" infection.
Causes of a cold in a child
A cold in a child is a disease with a pronounced seasonal dependence, the most dangerous is the autumn transition from heat to slush and cold. Autumn is also special in that it is the time of returning to school, that is, to mass contacts between children.
The child does not immediately wean from summer freedom, he is reluctant to put on a warm jacket and hat, therefore he freezes easily; Add wet shoes to that - it's the perfect target for viruses. In contrast, overprotected children sweat under excess clothing and become equally susceptible to infection. Of course, not everyone will get sick, because the state of immunity, the presence of other (especially chronic) diseases, the vitality of the child and his physiological features.
Most often, a child's cold occurs at the age of one to three years, this is due to the fact that it is during this period that protective (immune) mechanisms are formed. The formation of immunity is sometimes delayed until the age of 7, this happens in cases where the child does not attend kindergarten; lack of contact with other children prevents the "training" of immunity. Infants get sick with respiratory infections much less often, since they are protected by a set of antibodies received from the mother - passive immunity. For example, a cold in month old baby happens 10 times less often than in a one-year-old baby.
The main route of transmission of a viral respiratory infection is airborne, but a fair share of infections also falls on contact and household. With airborne droplets, everything is clear, someone sneezed nearby - the smallest droplets of moisture containing pathogens are already hovering in the air. The contact method of transmission involves the direct spread of viruses from person to person through a handshake, kiss, hug. Household infection occurs, as a rule, when hygiene rules are violated: the use of common cutlery, telephones, towels.
A child has a cold at least once a year. It doesn’t matter if children get sick up to nine times a year, but if parents lose track of recalling cases of illness, then we are talking about a significant decrease in immune protection, then it's time to sound the alarm and see a doctor.
Colds in young children are often triggered by lack of mobility, more often this happens in those families where grandmothers look after the child. What can they not think of so that the child would sit quietly, play calmly, move slowly, eat often and a lot. As a result, the child is underdeveloped physically and is overweight, and this entails excessive permeability of capillary vessels, looseness and a tendency to swelling of the mucous membranes - the gateway for infection has already been created.
Other factors, due to which a child's cold occurs more often and is more severe, are unbalanced diet, stuffiness and heat in the room, passive smoking (adults who smoke indoors), and frequent stress.
The first signs of a cold in a child
A beginning cold in a child can manifest itself in very different ways, in many cases it is barely noticeable, so parents often ignore the first signs of a cold, or even write them off to the child's whims. The behavior of the baby should be analyzed; why suddenly his mood deteriorated, why the desire to lie down instead of the usual fiddling with toys, how to understand the refusal of his favorite dessert? An attentive attitude to the child will allow you to notice these changes in time and take up treatment in a timely manner.
This is how a child's cold begins - gradually, gradually, with a slight deterioration in his condition.
It is important to know: if a child's temperature suddenly rises above 38 ° C, a sharp weakness develops, there are complaints and pain in the eyes, there is no appetite at all - this is not the beginning of a cold in a child, but a detailed picture is a reason to immediately consult a doctor!
The onset of a cold in a child will manifest itself with certain symptoms, depending on the place where the virus enters the body. If the epithelial lining of the nose is hit first, rhinitis begins, in which catarrhal changes (inflammation of the mucous membranes) will come to the fore - nasal congestion, runny nose, slight coughing, sneezing, but the baby himself during this period may remain active and not make complaints. Nasal congestion occurs due to a violation of blood circulation in the inflamed tissues of the nasal cavity, followed by edema, and then the so-called vicious circle develops: the edematous tissues compress the capillary network even more, which in turn further increases the edema. The child breathes through the mouth, which causes the larynx to dry out and back wall pharynx, hence discomfort in the throat and coughing.
If the throat becomes the gateway of infection, then the onset of a cold in a child will manifest itself as a cough and a reddened throat, pain when swallowing - these are symptoms of acute laryngitis or pharyngitis. An earlier sign of a cold - unpleasant sensations in this area - the child may not pay attention to and not tell the adults about it.
A child's cold is usually limited to the defeat of the integumentary tissues of the upper respiratory tract, that is, the area of \u200b\u200bthe affected mucous membranes is small. But the virus, having invaded the cells, begins to multiply intensively and release toxins, which leads to more or less pronounced intoxication, it is she who becomes the cause of general malaise. During this period, the child may complain of discomfort in the muscles of the shoulder girdle, sleep disorders often appear (prolonged falling asleep, intermittent light sleep).
Before the appearance of a temperature reaction of the body, a cold in a child can be smoothed out, therefore there is an opinion that it is manifested precisely by an increase in body temperature, in fact, there will always be symptoms that accompany the onset of a cold in a baby.
Symptoms of a cold in a child
In the advanced stage of the disease, lethargy, indifference to favorite games appear, appetite decreases, sleep is significantly disturbed. Bad mood and whims are common companions of the disease, complaints may appear about headache, burning in the throat, body temperature can rise to high numbers and be accompanied by chills. In almost all cases, nasal congestion and a growing runny nose are present. Discharge from the nose is so abundant that the skin around the nostrils turns red, flakes, and even becomes covered with superficial sores and crusts. It is possible that even under these conditions the general condition of the child will not suffer much - this is a feature of some forms of respiratory infections. But a stuffy nose in a three-year-old baby is one thing, a cold in a month-old baby is quite another - due to the inability to breathe through the nose, the baby may refuse to eat at all, although in general his condition is disturbed very slightly.
An increase in body temperature is often abrupt, then decreasing to normal values, then rising to a frightening 39.5 ° C, while a new jump in temperature follows the appearance of a new symptom - a sign of the spread of infection to a new area of \u200b\u200bthe mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. But we must not forget that an increase in temperature is a protective mechanism that plays a significant role, both in the suppression of the reproduction of the virus, and in the production of a very important immune reagent - interferon.
From the second day of the disease, cervical, submandibular, axillary lymph nodes may increase. By the third or fourth day, the nature of nasal discharge usually changes, they acquire a pale greenish color and stringiness, and crusts can form in the nose. Clouding of mucus from the nose does not necessarily mean the addition of a secondary (bacterial) infection, on the contrary, more often it indicates a turn towards recovery. In many cases, a child's cold is accompanied by lacrimation, redness of the sclera.
The phenomena of intoxication are increasing, this is manifested in two ways: some children will be lethargic and sleepy, others will react with excitement, become irritable and whiny. But one symptom will be for everyone - this is the pallor of the skin, because the ingress of viral toxins into the blood leads to a spasm of the peripheral capillary network. This also explains the cold hands and feet of a feverish child.
Cough occurs as a result of inflammation of the integumentary membranes of the upper respiratory tract, which produces large amounts of mucus. In this case, the cough reflex does an important job - it removes excess phlegm. But how much trouble is this cough, which can be wet with sputum discharge or dry and harsh. If it is not treated, it can lead to pain in chest (intercostal muscles are overworked) and even vomiting (excessive irritation of the diaphragm). The cough disrupts the baby's sleep, worsens overall health, increases discomfort and spoils the mood.
With respiratory infections that proceed without complications, the increased body temperature lasts for about four days, with the exception of certain types of the disease (for example, adenovirus infection), in which temperature jumps can be observed up to 10 days.
A child's cold on the lip
Not a frequent, but very unpleasant symptom that causes inconvenience to children and troubles to mothers. Outward manifestations are always preceded by symptoms hidden from mother's eyes, but you can see that the child touches the lip, rubs it. When asked, the kid will answer that he is pricking or baking a sponge. Further, inflammation, swelling join, a small area of \u200b\u200bthe lip is covered with small bubbles. Bubbles can burst, crusts form, this period is extremely unpleasant due to itching, in addition, the baby strives to knock off the crust, infection of the ulcer may follow, recovery will drag on.
The listed symptoms are caused by the herpes virus. If this happens rarely, then it does not deserve special excitement, but when it becomes more frequent up to once every two months, this is a reason to show the child to a dermatologist in order to exclude immune disorders.
A child's cold on the lip passes rather quickly, but sometimes the affected area can expand, capturing the inner surface of the lip and cheek, here you cannot do without the help of a doctor, such cases require thorough treatment.
Cold without fever in a child
We are so accustomed to the cold-cold-cough-fever triad that the loss of the last component is puzzling. I must say that anxiety is justified.
An increase in body temperature is a normal reaction of the immune system disturbed by viruses. If there is a detailed symptomatology of a respiratory disease, but there is no such reaction, then the explanation is by itself: something is wrong with the immune system. Of course, the reason must be found out.
But there are conditions that simulate the symptoms of a respiratory illness, which is not in sight. A runny nose and cough can occur when foreign body in the nasal passages. The same symptoms occur when the upper respiratory tract is irritated by dust or smoke, so we remember whether the child was sitting by the fire, whether he was trying to put things in order in the sandbox, raising clouds of dust. Yes, sometimes nasal discharge and cough are explained just like that.
But the most likely reason for the lack of temperature in a sick baby is a mild course of the disease.
There is a simple way to navigate this situation: you need to assess the child's condition; yes, just like that, by eye. The beloved child is mobile, busy with his own affairs, the cheeks are completely pink, the breathing is free, the appetite, if broken, is not much, while dripping from the nose. Well, it's okay, this is a mild form of a cold in a child, nothing more.
If the child is lethargic, pale, categorically refuses to eat, strives to lie down, breathes in an incomprehensible way, but definitely not as before, and there is no temperature - immediately see a doctor!
Treating a cold in a child
Adults often say that it is easier to get sick ten times yourself than to cure a child once. From a scientific point of view, this is a tenfold exaggeration, but emotionally it is so. Therefore, the first advice for moms: don't panic! First, the children feel the mood of their mother and begin to worry themselves, and this is useless. Secondly, in a calm state, it is easier to assess the situation and do everything possible so that the baby gets better as soon as possible.
As a rule, a child's cold begins with a runny nose. Nasal discharge from the point of view of the body's defenses is a very useful reaction; mucus prevents those viruses that have not yet penetrated into epithelial cells to penetrate further, in addition, it contains substances that inhibit the reproduction of the pathogen. The mucus does not need to be eliminated, you just need to prevent it from drying out, otherwise you cannot avoid coughing. Therefore, you do not need to grab onto drops and pills, you should not start with this. The first step is to dress the child correctly, preferably in warm cotton pajamas, and then take care of the microclimate in his room. It is generally harmful for children to be in too warm rooms, this is contraindicated for a sick child. The optimum temperature environment is 22 ° C. Is the child cold under these conditions? Better to wrap it up than to raise the room temperature.
You need an influx of fresh air, so the room must be ventilated often and at least for 5 minutes. It is very important to humidify the air in the nursery, as runny nose and sweating is a large loss of fluid, which can dry out the nasal membranes. Frequent wet cleaning will keep the humidity at the right level, in addition, it will help to remove a fair amount of viruses in the air. If the child continues to claim that his nose is pinching, then it is necessary to additionally moisten the nasal passages, for this it is best to use ready-made saline solutions.
During this period, it is very useful to start gargling and rinsing the nasal passages, such simple procedures not only will reduce the discomfort, but may prevent the development of cough.
Along the way, you need to take care of a plentiful drink, it is necessary for a sick child. Fruit drinks are best suited, it is advisable to cook them from fresh or frozen berries, dried fruits, it is better not to use homemade preparations during this period. Drinks should contain a sufficient amount of vitamin C, therefore, we give preference to drinks with lemon, currants, their combination is quite suitable, cranberry fruit drinks are good. Juices will work, but only freshly prepared, thermally processed store juices will not work. You can prepare herbal and fruit teas, but even if you drink a child with simple boiled water, it is important to drink plenty of water.
At this stage of the disease, it is useful to do a light massage of the feet and palms, this will improve blood circulation, and reduce nasal congestion. In the absence of temperature, short-term hot foot baths work well, small children can rub their heels with warming ointment "Doctor Mom" \u200b\u200bor "Zvezdochka", and then wrap the legs.
Further cough joins the symptoms. It is also useful for recovery, as it accelerates the secretion of accumulated phlegm, but only up to certain pores. A hacking frequent cough exhausting the child, who is already weakened by the disease, there is no way to do without medication, but at the same time it must be remembered that in no case should one independently prescribe to children drugs that suppress the cough reflex. You can use only those agents that dilute phlegm and help remove it from the respiratory tract.
What to do with fever? There is only one advice: to look at the child's condition and draw the right conclusions. The body is not trying in vain, warming the body in excess of the norm, which means that it is necessary for something. So that's just in order to fight infection. The conclusion is simple: do not interfere with the body's defenses. While the child is with elevated temperature feels satisfactory, it is not necessary to stuff him with pills and syrups. Again, in the treatment of colds in children, plentiful drinking comes to the fore, since a feverish child loses a lot of moisture. Do not over-wrap the baby, let the skin breathe and generate heat outside. It is not worth using compresses with ice, cold wraps in order to lower the temperature, this will only increase the spasm of the peripheral vascular network and worsen the situation. But warm rubbing is useful, they increase the heat transfer of the body through wet skin.
When a child is ill, it is always a nuisance, but a cold in young children is doubly a nuisance. The kid cannot express his complaints, he does not even know how to blow his nose. He can be helped by gently removing mucus from the nasal passages with a pipette or small syringe.
You cannot force-feed children during illness. Let's reason like this: the body is busy with the most important work, it is fighting the aggressor-virus, and we suggest that it switch part of its efforts to digesting food. Of course, he will resist. Appetite will recover a little later, when the most difficult stage of the disease is over. Then we will offer the child such food, which will be beneficial and easily assimilated. "Live" yoghurts, kefir, vegetable purees, a cup of warm milk with honey, chicken broth will be good. Of course, not all at once, this is an approximate set of products to maintain the baby's strength.
But if these efforts did not give the desired result - recovery, then drug treatment cannot be avoided.
Medicines and remedies for colds in children
Medically, a child's cold is treated when more gentle measures did not give the desired effect. Of course, the greatest excitement for parents is caused by a rise in body temperature, often accompanied by chills. When the thermometer has gone off scale at 38 ° C and the child's condition causes reasonable alarm, you should use effective but safe antipyretic drugs: Paracetamol or its analogs Panadol, Efferalgan; Ibuprofen (Nurofen, Brufen). For children, these drugs are best used in the form of syrups and rectal suppositories, for small children - only in this form. Solpaflex, Acetaminophen have proven themselves well. If, soon after taking the drug, the temperature has dropped noticeably, this is confirmation that the child really has a respiratory infection. But if it was not possible to bring down the temperature, consult a doctor, since there is a high probability of another, more serious illness or the addition of a secondary infection. Tablets should be used against a background of heavy drinking.
With a runny nose, the main task becomes to prevent the mucus from drying out on the membranes of the upper respiratory tract, because the virus feels great just where it is drier. To moisturize the nasal passages, it is best to use ready-made saline solutions: Aquamaris (seawater in the form of a sterile isotonic solution), Dolphin (solution sea \u200b\u200bsalt with additives of licorice and rose hips). These drugs are available in irrigator bottles with a special nozzle and are very convenient to use. Salin, Alergol are no less effective.
Nasal congestion is such that the child is constantly breathing through the mouth, this is bad in itself, and even worse, there will be no good sleep. Will help out vasoconstrictor drops in children's dosages: Vibrocil, Tazol, Tizin, Galazolin, Farmazolin, Nazivin, Xymelin, Otrivin. It is important to know that the listed drops for colds in children have an exclusively symptomatic effect, they temporarily relieve swelling of the nasal mucosa, nothing more. In addition, the nasal passages dry out, so remember to use a moisturizing solution after nasal instillation. The listed drugs should not be used for more than a week, otherwise rhinitis medication can be provoked.
When the runny nose begins to subside, the mucus becomes viscous and cloudy, more difficult to excrete, so bacteria can settle in it. To avoid complications, you can use drops containing essential oils - Pinosol, they have an anti-inflammatory effect, have a beneficial effect on drying out mucous membranes.
Before treating a cough, you need to understand its nature: dry or wet. With a dry cough, you need to thin the phlegm, speed up its excretion from the respiratory tract. When wet, increase the cough push for better airway clearance. Accordingly, treat different types cough needs in different ways.
With a dry cough, expectorants are used that accelerate the cleansing of mucous membranes: Mukaltin, Althea Root, Licorice Root, Plantain Leaves, Solutan, Bronholitin, Tussin, Pertussin. These drugs are mainly based on medicinal herbs.
When wet cough they use drugs that do not inhibit the cough reflex, but effectively act by thinning sputum: ACC, Carbocisteine, Ambroxol, Mesna, Bromhexin.
There are combined cough preparations that simultaneously have antitussive, mucolytic, bronchodilatory, anti-inflammatory effects: Codelac phyto, Dr. Mom.
In the process of treating colds in children, you can use other methods aimed at alleviating the child's condition: inhalation, physiotherapy, massage.
To strengthen the immune system, drugs are shown that induce the production of interferon in the body, but their use is better to agree with the pediatrician. There are many such funds, the most common are Cycloferon, Laferon, Anaferon, Viferon.
In general, it should be noted that a child's cold is much easier to prevent than to be treated. The kid needs to be tempered, accustomed to personal hygiene and the daily routine, be sure to choose a balanced diet for him, and walk with him as often as possible. Strengthened immunity will pay off a hundredfold, getting rid of frequent illnesses.