A cold, a cold (or rhinitis) is a contagious disease that can be caused by more than 200 types of different viruses.
Causes and risk factors of runny nose and nasal congestion in children:
- Allergy
- Seasonal influenza
- Drug reaction
- Sinusitis (sinusitis))
- Hay fever (allergic rhinitis))
- Narrowed nasal passages
- Constant contact with chemicals
- Misuse of various nasal sprays
Newborns have an underdeveloped immune system. They are therefore more likely to get a cold.
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Cold symptoms in young children
Even if they are mild symptoms, they can be uncomfortable.
A cold passes on its own in less than 10 days.
The most common symptoms are:
- Sneeze
- Cold
- Nasal congestion or blocked
- Sore throat
- Low fever
- Productive or dry cough
- Severe lacrimation (watery eyes)
- Swollen eyes
- Mild headache
- Loss of appetite or inappetence
Initially, the mucus running out of the nose is clear and transparent. As a result, it becomes tough, yellow or green as the disease worsens.
When is a cold in children or infants cause for concern?
A doctor should be contacted immediately in the following cases:
- Fever above 39.3° C
- Chills or sweating
- Gasping breathing or shortness of breath
- Vomit
- Stomach ache
- Earache
- Unusual drowsiness
- Constant crying
- Severe headache
- Persistent cough
If the cold does not pass after 7 days, contact the pediatrician.
If the nasal congestion is caused by an allergy, the triggering allergens must:
- from nutrition,
- from the external environment.
Children with a cold should not go to kindergarten or school until they are healthy.
If the child has a cold, it can:
- go to the swimming pool,
- bathe in the sea in summer.
Children can go outdoors with a cold, but should be warmly dressed in winter.
It is important to keep children away from people with fever or cold, especially if they are premature babies.
Is a cold dangerous? Complications
A stuffy nose in the first months of a child’s life can:
- hearing,
- influence language development.
In addition, the child may snore due to the closed nose.
A cold in newborns should not be underestimated, because it can lead to serious breathing problems.
Complications of impaired nasal breathing include:
- seasonal influenza,
- ear infections (otitis media),
- pneumonia.
What to do? How is a cold treated in children?
It is important to keep the child’s nose clear to:
- sleep interruptions,
- Prevent eating disorders.
A room humidifier is recommended to maintain a certain humidity.
This prevents too dry air from irritating the nasal mucosa of the child.
Nasal rinsing pediatricians recommend dripping
saline into the nose to relieve nasal congestion.
With the help of a pipette or needleless syringe:
- put 2 or 3 drops of physiological saline solution into the nostrils of the child;
- wait a minute until the dry mucus is softened;
- then suck off the nasal mucus with a nasal aspirator.
Medication
There are some over-the-counter medications, such as decongestants, that have a soothing effect on closed noses. These decongestant drugs reduce the inflammation of the nasal mucosa and thus relieve the cold.
These medicines are available as:
- Spray
- Drop.
However, they should not be used for more than 3 days. Otherwise, you risk an exacerbation of the disease.
If the child is still small and has a fever, the doctor may prescribe paracetamol in the form of:
- Tablets
- Suppository
- Drop.
Against inflammation, the doctor may recommend Nurofen (Ibuprofen).
With nasal congestion and acute sinusitis, the doctor may prescribe a juice with:
- Paracetamol
- Chlorphenamine.
Argentum proteinicum
This silver-based composition is available in the pharmacy in the form of drops.
A prescription is not required.
It works:
- antiinflammatory
- antibacterial.
What is aerosol treatment?
Aerosol is a form of delivering the medicine directly into the child’s lungs, thus helping him breathe better.
What is done in the nebulizer?
Medicines for aerosol, for example, beclometasone (Rhinivict), help to:
- opening of the airways,
- Reduction of swelling and irritation of the lungs.
For example, the doctor may prescribe beclometasone (Ventolair).
Some medicines need to be dissolved in the atomizer with a physiological solution (saline), while others do not need to be dissolved.
Most treatments with aerosol last 10-20 minutes, depending on the drug used.
Nasal spray
Nasal sprays are very effective for quickly relieving nasal congestion.
Nevertheless, many people feel itching in the nose after using the spray.
Natural remedies for colds in children
Fluid and rest The child should sleep a lot and rest
during the day.
It is important that the child drinks:
- hot water,
- vegetable broth,
- fresh orange juice.
Blow your nose
The child should often blow the nose to remove the nasal secretion.
The nose must be gently cleaned to avoid nosebleeds.
Humidifier and warm bath
People who live in dry climates can use a humidifier to humidify the room air.
Children are particularly sensitive to dry air, which dries the nasal secretions.
This solution is very useful, especially for smaller children.
A steam bath or hot shower immediately provides relief for obstructed nasal breathing.
Breastfeeding
A simple remedy for nasal congestion in infants is frequent breastfeeding. Breastfeeding:
- prevents inflammation of the nasal passages,
- helps in the liquefaction of nasal mucus.
On the plane, a child with a cold may have discomfort from blocked ears, especially in:
- Start
- Landing.
It is therefore recommended to take a water bottle with you and let the child suck during these phases.
Sleep
with your head raised Another home remedy for closed nose is a more upright resting position.
The problem of nasal congestion in children worsens when they lie in bed, and improves in:
- Sit
- Stand.
If the head is higher in relation to the body, the airways are free; due to gravity, the mucus does not clog the nasal passages.
- If the child is younger than 10 months, a rolled-up blanket can be placed under the neck and shoulders.
- But if the child is older (for example, two years), you can put a flat pillow under the neck.
Nasal rinses
Jala Neti: This remedy is very good for freeing the nose.
The Neti jug is filled with a salt-water solution for nasal rinsing. This allows the mucus inside the nose to be flushed out.
Cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is effective when nose closed. Just add a few drops to the neti pot and rinse the nose.
Another natural cure is to dilute and drink apple cider vinegar in hot water.
Natural products for inhalation to free the nose
Inhalations and vapours
- Bring water to a boil in a saucepan.
- Add 1 1/2 teaspoon of a decongestant.
- Place the pot on the table.
- Hold your face over it.
- Cover your head with a towel.
- Inhale the steam.
You can dissolve baking soda or essential oils in water, for example of:
- Eucalyptus
- Mint, L
- Avendel,
- Lemon.
Eucalyptus oil
Of the natural remedies, eucalyptus oil has a decongestant property that:
- frees the nasal passages,
- Swelling reduced.
Drip two or three drops of the oil into a handkerchief. The child should inhale it when the nose closes.
For small children, drizzle a few drops of eucalyptus oil on the pillow. Thus, the child inhales the essential oil during sleep and the nocturnal nasal congestion is improved.
You can also add a few drops of oil to the humidifier.
- Do not drink eucalyptus oil
- or apply to the skin.
Garlic
This food:
- has an anticoagulant effect,
- is an antioxidant.
Garlic is also a very good remedy for colds.
- Peel 5 or 6 cloves of garlic.
- Make a necklace from the garlic cloves.
- Put these around the child’s neck during sleep.
Miraculous massage
- Heat coconut oil.
- Apply to the child’s chest and back.
- Massage gently for 5 minutes.
Perform the massage before bedtime of the child.
This simple treatment:
- calms the child,
- resolves the cough,
- helps to achieve undisturbed sleep.
Nutrition and diet for colds
Spicy foods
Eating spicy foods can improve nasal congestion.
- Drink vegetable broth with plenty of pepper.
- Eat pasta with spicy sauce.
Foods
to avoid If the child frequently has a cold and persistent cough, the following unnatural foods should be avoided:
- processed foods;
- milk and dairy products (cheese, yogurt, mozzarella, ice cream, etc.), you can drink soy milk;
- Sweets: for example, chocolate and pralines make you fat and increase acidity in the blood;
- sweetened soft drinks (such as lemonade) and stimulating drinks (such as tea, coffee, etc.);
- Cereals, especially if they contain gluten (pasta, pizza, bread, biscuits, etc.).
Natural diets
According to the blood group diet, in case of nasal congestion, it is recommended to consume:
- a prune,
- a few almonds or hazelnuts (only for blood type 0).
According to natural medicine and hygienism, the mucus produced in excess during colds is a natural mechanism of the body to excrete toxins from the organism.
One should not hinder the body and prevent the production of further waste products; to this end, the hygienists recommend:
- Be quiet
- little and simple, natural food (especially nuts, potatoes, fruits and vegetables).
Remedies and herbal tea increase the toxicity of the body.
Meat and other protein foods are not recommended for the following reasons:
- They overload the intestines because they are difficult to digest.
- They lead to intestinal rot, which occurs when meat remains in the intestine at 37°C for several hours.
Homeopathy for colds
There are various homeopathic remedies that should be taken under the supervision of a homeopathy expert.
The most common are:
- Aconitum napellus
- Dulcamara
- Sambucus
- Euphrasia
- Ammonium carbonicum
