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2023 Author: Alfred Shackley | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 13:14
A young mother very often has to worry about the health of her child. One of these worries is a lingering runny nose in a baby. And indeed, if a child's runny nose does not go away, but lasts more than a week, or even a month, then it is worth reconsidering the methods of treatment.
Causes of protracted rhinitis
The first, and most important, recommendation in case of a lingering rhinitis in a child will be an immediate appeal to a specialist.
He will help you understand the situation and tell you how to properly treat the baby. And in order to understand why a child's snot does not pass, one should understand the causes of chronic rhinitis.
Rhinitis (runny nose) is an inflammatory process in the nasal cavity. Traditional medicine distinguishes three types of it: infectious, vasomotor and allergic rhinitis. Each species has its own causes, and therefore the methods of its treatment are also different.
The main reasons for the transition of a common cold to the chronic stage are:
- Complication in the course of an infectious disease;
- Overdried air in the apartment;
- Damaged nasal septum;
- The presence of a strong allergen in the environment, the presence of ticks in the house is possible;
- Weakened immunity, lack of vitamins;
- The presence of pathogenic microflora in the nasal cavity;
- Overheating or hypothermia of the child;
- Lack of treatment.
Recently, many do not perceive snot as a serious disease. It is believed that the body will cope on its own in a week - there will be no trace of a cold. It is good if the immunity is strong enough and you can do without medication. However, in the cold season, cases of rhinitis, turning into chronic rhinitis, increase sharply.
The reasons for the decrease in immunity are as follows:
- Lack of vitamins from food;
- Lack of sufficient sun;
- Decrease in walking in the fresh air;
- Artificially created greenhouse conditions for babies also negatively affect the child's immunity.
There is an opinion that a lingering runny nose can cause growing teeth in a baby and should not be treated. This is a dangerous statement. Most doctors are inclined to believe that a prolonged runny nose in a child cannot be the result of such a natural process for a person. However, there is indeed a slight decrease in immunity against the background of tooth growth. In this case, the baby becomes a target for a large number of enemies of the body.
Cold treatment: how to boost immunity?
In most cases, in order to cope with frequent snot, it is necessary to increase immunity. To do this, you need to review the baby's nutrition. It should be seasonal and complete. In the cold season, it is recommended to take multivitamin complexes.
You should also introduce hardening procedures into your daily routine. It is advisable that a district doctor compiled a list of them. Particular attention should be paid to the hygiene of the nasal cavity. In case of a runny nose, rinsing the nose is effective. Pharmacies sell special rinsing sprays based on seawater. They are ideal for cleansing the nose of babies.
Chronic rhinitis can be a consequence of an infectious disease. But the most common cause of a lingering runny nose in infants is an allergic reaction or fungal infection of the nasal mucosa.
If all proven methods of treating a common cold do not help, it is recommended to take an allergy test and find out what is causing the constant inflammatory process. Having received the necessary information, it is necessary to exclude the allergen from the environment of the baby, and also start taking antihistamines prescribed by a specialist.
To exclude or confirm the presence of pathogenic microflora on the nasal mucosa, you need to pass special tests. Usually, the referral to them is given by the district pediatrician. If the diagnosis is confirmed, then such a runny nose should be treated in a comprehensive manner, using antifungal agents.
It is worth saying that nasal lavage is prescribed for the treatment of any type of cavity disease. This is an effective way to cleanse the mucous membranes. There are even medications that can help relieve inflammation and swelling.
The fact that the snot flows for too long may indicate a hidden inflammatory process in the child's body. In this case, only a doctor can make the correct diagnosis.
Folk remedies for the treatment of lingering rhinitis
In addition to drug therapy, inflammation of the nasal mucosa can be treated with traditional medicine. Many herbs and some house plants are great for relieving inflammation and nasal congestion.
Recipe number 1
One of the most common cold remedies is onion juice. This vegetable has the strongest bactericidal and antiseptic properties. For the treatment of snot, onion juice is instilled 2 drops into each nostril. For a baby, it must be diluted with warm boiled water in a 1: 1 ratio.
Recipe number 2
Particular attention should be paid to the aloe. In its composition, it contains natural antibiotics and has not only anti-inflammatory, but also analgesic effects.
A couple of drops of aloe juice, diluted with water in a 1: 1 ratio, is instilled into both nostrils several times a day. Unlike pharmaceutical nasal drops, aloe is not addictive. Such a well-known plant as Kalanchoe also helps to cure snot.
Aromatherapy is another helper in the fight against lingering rhinitis. To combat colds and colds, oils of coniferous trees, eucalyptus and tea tree are recommended. Do not use them as drops. For the treatment of babies, you can use an aroma lamp. Baths with the addition of a couple of drops of oil will be useful.
Take care of the health of your children!