How to get rid of lingering snot in a child. How to cure a persistent runny nose in an adult. Causes of a persistent runny nose

If you or your loved ones are faced with such an unpleasant phenomenon as inflammation of the nasal mucosa, we advise you to read our article. From it you will learn how to quickly and effectively overcome a cold symptom. And also get information about what medications will help relieve runny nose in adults and children.

Do not hesitate to treat a runny nose so that it does not become chronic.

Rhinitis occurs for many reasons. These can be infections, congenital deformities, allergies and various diseases.
If inflammation of the mucous membrane is not treated promptly, it can become chronic. This leads to impaired respiratory function and harmful changes in the heart and lungs. Therefore, there is no need to delay therapy.

Treatment of a runny nose with folk remedies

How quickly you can cure a runny nose at home depends on the severity of this symptom. If it has just begun, you will be able to get rid of it in a matter of days.

However, it should be remembered that it is necessary to treat the source of the snot itself. Otherwise, you risk making the situation worse.

Therapy must begin by identifying the cause. Usually these are viral diseases, allergic reactions or abnormal structure of the nasal septum. Contact a qualified specialist if you do not know why inflammation of the mucous membrane appears. And also in the case when snot accompanies you for a long time.

If the problem turns out to be minor, start therapy on your own. We will tell you in detail how to do this correctly.

Treatment of snot in children

If we can ignore nasal discharge for a long time, then we are unlikely to agree to watch the torment of our babies. Let's look at how to properly treat snot in children.

How to quickly cure a runny nose in a child?

If you suddenly find out that your child has rhinitis, it is better to arrange a gentle, calm regimen for him. Refrain from visiting kindergarten or school, sports clubs and long walks, especially in bad weather. Let him stay at home for one or two days, thereby you can protect him from a long illness.

1. Provide your child with warm liquids. These can be compotes with berries or dried fruits. Or better yet, warm milk with honey. Give him more fruit.
2. Avoid walking barefoot on a cold floor; put warm socks on your feet. If you have badger fat, lubricate the child’s feet with it.
3. Give your child a set of paper tissues and let him blow his nose as soon as necessary. The virus multiplies quite quickly, so throw away the wipes immediately after the first use.
4. Do salt rinses several times a day. Lubricate irritated skin around the nostrils with baby cream.
5. Make sure there is clean and fresh air in the house. Be sure to ventilate the room when the child is not in it.
6. Before going to bed, do acupressure. Place your baby on his side and on a high pillow; it will be easier to sleep in this position.
7. A solution of sea salt will help get rid of snot in your baby. Use it to rinse your baby's nose every three hours. Periodically lubricate the mucous membranes with oils containing vitamin E and A. It will be great if you purchase an air humidifier.
8. Many mothers are interested in whether it is possible to bathe a child with a runny nose. Swimming is allowed if the baby does not have a temperature. In this case, of course, it is unacceptable to use cool water and drafts in the bathroom.

How to rinse a child's nose with a runny nose?

This is a fairly effective method. Thanks to it, the nasal passages are washed, disinfected and cleared of pathogenic bacteria and mucus.

There are special pharmaceutical solutions based on sea water for rinsing. These include: “Aqualor”, “Quix”, “Salin”, “Dolphin”, “Marimer”, “Humer”, “Physiomer”, “Aqua Maris”. To make the procedure easier, use a special teapot. It can be purchased at a pharmacy.

a) Ambrobene solution; b) Ascoril syrup; c) aerosol "Gexoral"

Persistent runny nose and nasal congestion in an adult

Nasal congestion prevents the body from functioning normally, since it does not receive enough oxygen. This results in fatigue and lethargy. But what about adults who have a constant runny nose and nasal congestion?

First, you need to contact a specialist to determine the cause, and then proceed from there. If there are no serious reasons, do warm-ups, massages, rinses, and inhalations. If this does not help, purchase vasoconstrictor drops (nasal) from the pharmacy. This could be “Naphthyzin”, “Noskspey”, “Galazolin” or “Nazivin”.

If this trouble often comes to you, boost your immunity, strengthen your body and constantly ventilate the room (before settling in), and also use air humidifiers. They are now easy to find.

Folk remedies for runny nose and nasal congestion

As usual, we will not ignore traditional medicine. Sometimes it helps us much better than pills. In addition, this does not require a lot of cash investment. After all, pharmaceutical drugs do not often please us with low prices, so not everyone can afford them. Let's consider what folk remedies exist for a runny nose and nasal congestion.

Drops of honey and beets. Grate the beets and squeeze the juice out of them, add liquid honey in the proportion of four parts juice to one part honey. Place one drop into your nostril three times a day.

Aloe leaf drops are a fairly popular remedy for a runny nose at home. Squeeze the juice from the aloe leaves and drip it into your nose 4-5 times a day. Store in the refrigerator for no more than a day. Drops from fresh leaves of black nightshade or Kalanchoe are also made and used.

Foot bath with sea salt and mustard. Add a spoonful of salt and a spoonful of mustard to water at a temperature that is tolerable for you. Steam your feet in this bath for twenty minutes. You can cover your feet with a warm blanket on top. After the procedure, put on wool socks.

Jacket potatoes or eggs. Boil any of these products and wrap them with some cloth to avoid getting burned. Apply to the maxillary sinuses and hold until the product has cooled.

This is a list of folk remedies that help quickly cure a runny nose. We hope they will help you too!

It’s been a week now, and the snot has not gone away; what’s more, it has acquired yellow and green tones. The "surprise", of course, is unpleasant. Mom and baby are already tired of a runny nose, but there is no end to this problem. Indeed, we are already talking about lingering snot in a child.

Conventional procedures for cleansing the nasal passages do not produce results, the baby’s nose is stuffy, and the green color of the snot causes anxiety and confusion among parents. What to do and how to help the child? Definitely - run to the pediatrician and children's ENT specialist!

Where does lingering green snot come from in a child?

The very appearance of green snot is a signal that bacteria have entered into a fight with the child’s immune system. A runny nose has become a complication. Most likely, the baby “caught” ARVI and could not cope with the viruses on his own. The baby’s weakened immunity opened the “gate” for bacteria to enter.

Bacteria spread quickly through the bloodstream and can affect not only the sinuses, but nearby organs.

The main thing is to exclude diseases such as:

• sinusitis (inflammation of the maxillary sinuses);
• frontal sinusitis (inflammatory process in the frontal sinuses);
• ethmoiditis (inflammation of the ethmoid labyrinth);
• otitis (inflammation of the middle ear).

All these inflammatory processes, as a rule, occur with elevated body temperature, general malaise, pain in the bridge of the nose, brow ridges, and maxillary sinuses. The appearance of a purulent process is considered dangerous. Almost always with sinusitis there is a green purulent discharge from the nose.

In rare cases, a purulent process can trigger the development of meningitis (inflammation of the meninges).

We wrote about how to overcome green snot in the article [green snot in a child aged 3-4 years].

Important! Parents of the baby, having seen green snot, should clearly know that this is non-physiological and non-allergic snot. Simple snot (physiological) is always transparent and can be blown out well.

Treatment of a persistent runny nose in a child

Try to get a consultation with an ENT specialist, and do not independently treat green snot in a child. Follow strictly the treatment regimen prescribed by the doctor. Treatment will be selected taking into account the age and condition of the child.

How to treat lingering snot in infants

First of all, treatment should begin with cleansing the nose. To do this, drop 1-2 drops of saline solution into each nostril, which you prepare yourself or purchase at the pharmacy. The crusts are softened and removed from the spout.

If the nose is very stuffy, use 0.01% Nazivin or other oxymetazoline-based drugs.

From five months of a child’s life, pediatricians recommend using the Otrivin Baby system. This is a very convenient product that helps to clean and moisturize the nose with salt drops, as well as suck out nozzles using an aspirator. The system also includes replaceable attachments. You can learn the correct technique using video lessons, such as this one.

After using the Otrivin Baby system, the doctor may prescribe vasoconstrictor drops, such as xylene or vibrocil. These drops relieve swelling and improve nasal breathing. Vibrocil has an additional property - antiallergic. This makes it possible to treat a combined lingering runny nose when the baby suffers from allergies.

All vasoconstrictors are prescribed only by a pediatrician or pediatric ENT specialist. An overdose of these drugs is fraught with unpleasant and dangerous complications.

Under no circumstances should you drip breast milk into your nose. This “treatment” is an excellent environment for the proliferation of pathogenic microflora, which causes purulent processes in the nasal cavity and the spread of infection.

When the viral origin of a persistent runny nose is proven, interferon drops are often used. They are prescribed 2 drops three times a day. The most commonly used is influenza. Before using interferons, do not forget to first clean the baby’s nose with saline solution and suck out the mucus with an aspirator.

Some parents already use beet, aloe, and Kalanchoe juices from 8–9 months. But, most likely, the doctor will not offer them, especially in cases where there is diathesis and other allergic reactions in the baby.

Although it would be unreasonable to refuse these remedies if the baby is not allergic. In this case, simply dilute the juice with warm boiled water in a 1:1 ratio and drop 2 drops three times a day.

All warming procedures for lingering green and yellow snot require consultation with a doctor. A direct contraindication to them is purulent processes in the nasal and other sinuses.

Treatment of prolonged runny nose in infancy has its own characteristics and requires special vigilance of parents. Read a few rules to help avoid harming your baby:

• follow the exact prescribed dosage of medications (do not use 3 drops if 2 are prescribed);
• do not use sprays on infants;
• remove the pacifier from your mouth when sucking mucus from the nose;
• to clean the nose, use flagella, aspirators, mini-syringes;
• the solution for instillation should be at room temperature.

How to properly treat a persistent runny nose in infants

What medications are approved for the treatment of runny nose after one year of age?

Currently, the following medications are used in children to treat lingering green or yellow snot:

• vibrocil (combined drug for all forms of runny nose);
• protorgol (an excellent silver-based antiseptic);
• rhinopront (remedy for allergic and infectious rhinitis, constricts blood vessels);
• drugs that constrict blood vessels: xylometazoline, nazivin, tizin, oxymetazoline (take these drugs for a maximum of 5 days);
• polydex with phenylephrine (used for acute and chronic rhinitis);
• Pinosol (homeopathic drops based on essential oils, have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects);
• pharmaceutical saline solutions based on sea water, there are many of them: Aqualor, Quix, Salin and others;
• rinofluimucil (a combination drug for the treatment of runny nose and sinusitis);
• antibiotics, for example, isofra;
• sinupret (homeopathic drops with pronounced anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating effects);
• antihistamines: loratadine, Erius, Claritin and others.

All medications are prescribed only by a doctor! It should be remembered that even homeopathic remedies in large doses can harm the baby.

In addition to medications, methods are used to quickly restore the body from the disease, as well as prevent relapses of rhinitis in the future. These include:

• cleansing and rinsing the child’s nose at least three times a day throughout the illness;
• daily wet cleaning of the children's room and ventilation (always);
• creating a comfortable temperature in the nursery (about 20 degrees);
• walks with the baby in the fresh air in the absence of elevated body temperature;
• enhanced drinking regimen with the use of vitamin drinks: fruit drinks, compotes, juices, herbal teas (during a runny nose);
• If you experience pain in the head and sinuses, immediately contact your pediatrician.

The following physiotherapeutic treatment methods, which can be completed in the clinic, have a good effect:

• electrophoresis;
• UHF or microwave;
• UFO (ultraviolet irradiation);
• laser therapy;
• magnetic therapy;
• other.

All these procedures are provided only with the direction of the attending physician. Usually a course of 5–10 procedures is prescribed.

If green or yellow lingering snot bothers a child under 1 year of age, then a doctor’s consultation is required.

Green snot in a child can also be successfully treated using folk methods; we wrote how to do this in the article [treatment of green nasal discharge with folk remedies].

How to prevent the appearance of green and yellow lingering snot in children?

The main preventive measure that will protect against viruses and colds, as well as prevent the development of a lingering runny nose with green snot, is to create a set of conditions for the stable functioning of the child’s immune system, and in particular:

• rational nutrition (include more fiber in the diet);
• charger;
• walks in the fresh air at any time of the year;
• relaxation on the sea coast and coniferous forests;
• sport games;
• hardening (contrast shower);
• visiting the swimming pool;
• getting up and going to bed at the same time;
• dosed viewing of television programs;
• the use of vitamins in the autumn-winter period;
• the use of oxolinic ointment during an epidemic of influenza and ARVI.

Chronic runny nose in children disrupts the rhythm of attending kindergartens and schools, and also creates problems for parents who are constantly forced to take sick leave. Prevention is the basis of health, because it is better to prevent illness than to waste time, nerves and money fighting lingering snot!

Treatment of lingering snot - an answer from a qualified ENT specialist

LechimSopli.ru

Treatment of lingering snot in a child

Many parents have heard that children get runny noses more often than adults. Experts justify this by the high level of risk of infection with respiratory viruses in children's groups, as well as low immune reactivity. However, classic rhinitis lasts for about 7-10 days, so a runny nose that lasts longer is called a persistent runny nose.

A runny nose, or rhinitis, is an inflammation of the nasal mucosa and the discharge of mucous, mucopurulent, and sometimes even bloody secretions from the nasal passages. The amount of mucus in the nose increases not only as a result of infection with viruses or bacteria, but also with allergies (hypersensitivity to an allergenic substance or a number of such substances).

If the disease proceeds without complications, then the runny nose will stop within a week to a week and a half; free breathing through the nose resumes, and mucus production returns to normal volume.

To disappear an allergic runny nose, sometimes it is enough to rinse the nose and stop contact with the provoking substance.

A persistent runny nose occurs:

• with constant contact with the allergen;
• as a result of complications of ARVI;
• with reduced immune status;
• in case of violation of the rules for the use of decongestants;
• in the presence of adenoid vegetations.

Considering the list of reasons, lingering snot in a child can occur due to a combination of them. For example, in the case of frequent acute respiratory viral infections, the likelihood of developing sinusitis (inflammation of the paranasal sinuses) increases, and the tendency to recurring viral infections is explained by the inability of the immune system to adequately respond to the invasion of the pathogen.

Therefore, a persistent runny nose, especially in combination with weakness and fever, is a reasonable reason to consult a specialist.

Drug runny nose

The development of medicinal rhinitis, or drug-induced rhinitis, is a widespread complication of the use of vasoconstrictor drugs (decongestants). It is based on a phenomenon called tachyphylaxis, or addiction.

It means a decrease in the sensitivity of receptors to the active substance, which forces the patient to increase the dose to achieve the effect.

Symptoms of drug-induced rhinitis:

• constant swelling of the nasal mucosa;
• secretion of transparent secretion;
• decreased sense of smell;
• feeling of dryness and burning of the nasal mucosa;
• increased bleeding of the nasal mucosa.

There is also headache, dizziness, aggravated by nasal congestion, hearing loss with severe swelling, constant difficulty in nasal breathing, relieved by repeated use of a decongestant.

Vasoconstrictor drugs become a cause of addiction. Patients do not part with them, because otherwise they would not be able to breathe through their nose.

Therefore, it is extremely important to know about the likelihood of drug runny nose with long-term (more than 5-7 days) use of drops and sprays.

Adenoid vegetations

Adenoids, or the growth of the pharyngeal tonsil, is one of the causes of constant runny nose in children. The fundamental factor in the development of this pathology is considered to be a decrease in general and local immunity.

Immune reactivity is influenced by: unfavorable course of the intrauterine period, endocrine disorders, frequent acute respiratory viral infections, lack of vitamins in the diet, unsatisfactory social and living conditions.

Clinical signs of adenoids are usually divided into general and local. Common ones include asthenovegetative syndrome (constant fatigue, tearfulness, irritability, drowsiness), decreased memory, attention, absent-mindedness, impaired appetite, as well as decreased academic performance in school-age children. Some patients experience laryngospasm, a tendency to develop tics, and decreased visual acuity.

Among the local signs:

1. Nasal congestion when standing and lying down.
2. Decreased sense of smell.
3. Irritation of the skin of the vestibule of the nose, upper lip secreted by mucopurulent secretion.
4. Nasal voice.
5. Frequent otitis media, sinusitis, hearing loss.
6. Lengthening of the upper jaw, disruption of the formation of the dentition (protrusion of the upper incisors).

The face of patients with adenoids is pale, the nasolabial folds are smoothed, the mouth is constantly open, the lower jaw droops. During the period of exacerbation of the condition, body temperature rises, headache, and severe weakness appear.

Treatment

In case of a runny nose of any etiology, it is important to prevent the secretions in the nose from drying out - for this, set the room temperature to about 19 ° C, humidity within 40–60%. To control, you need to check the indicators using a thermometer and hygrometer, since excess humidity promotes the growth of mold fungi.

Children need to be dressed taking into account the microclimate in the house and their daily activities - warm enough, but at the same time avoiding overheating.

If there is no high fever and severe weakness, walking in the air strengthens the immune system and improves nasal breathing. You also need to rinse your nose with saline solution and use saline drops in your nose (Aquamaris, Humer) - this method is used several times during the day.

How to treat persistent snot in a child with medicinal rhinitis? Treatment of a runny nose caused by decongestants is based on avoiding the use of these drugs; further treatment is carried out using topical (endonasal) glucocorticosteroids (mometasone furoate, Nasonex).

In the treatment of adenoids, antibacterial drugs, irrigation therapy (irrigation of the nasal cavity with saline solutions), physiotherapy, and topical forms of glucocorticosteroids are used.

A stuffy nose without snot in a child.

Sniffling nose without snot in a baby.

How Dr. Komarovsky advises treating snot.

Elimination of symptoms using medications and traditional methods.

prostudnik.ru

How to treat a persistent runny nose in a child?

A prolonged runny nose in a child is a sign that the pathological process in his nose is entering the chronic stage, or is close to such a transition. This situation is very dangerous because in the absence of adequate treatment, irreversible complications are possible that will cause disability in the baby.

It is important to understand the main thing: it is not a prolonged runny nose in a child that needs to be treated, but the disease that causes this runny nose. A runny nose in itself is not a disease, it is only a symptom of pathologies (sometimes very severe), and attempts to get rid of it without eliminating the cause can lead to serious consequences.

By the way, keep in mind that your child’s runny nose could well have developed due to the fact that you did not show your baby to the doctor in time, but “treated” his snot with various ineffective means. You removed the snot, but the cause of the runny nose not only did not disappear, but also became entrenched in the body. As a result, the runny nose constantly recurs and becomes chronic.

A persistent runny nose in a child can be cured only if its cause is correctly diagnosed. Moreover, there can be many reasons, and each of them requires the use of different methods and means.

Causes of a persistent runny nose in a child

In most cases, a runny nose is a consequence of inflammation and swelling of the mucous membrane of the nasal passages (rhinitis) or sinuses (sinusitis). Sometimes a runny nose is called nasal congestion, in which the child does not experience excessive mucus production, but nasal breathing is impaired. There are several reasons for such conditions:

1. Irritation of the mucous membranes of the nose by aggressive chemicals or suspensions in the inhaled air. The younger the child, the stronger his reaction to such pollution - chlorine, cigarette smoke, dust, exhaust gases, and in infants, in response to such irritations, a typical runny nose with an abundance of snot develops, and as they grow older, the disease turns into chronic rhinitis, often atrophic, with dysfunction of the nasal mucosa, loss of smell and hearing impairment. This cause should not be confused with allergic rhinitis;
2. Allergic rhinitis is normally rarer in children than in adults, but is becoming more and more common every year. It occurs due to the body’s hypersensitivity to completely harmless suspensions in the inhaled air. According to statistics, the better the sanitary conditions in which a child lives, the higher his risk of developing allergic rhinitis (as well as allergies in general - food, dermatic), and vice versa - allergies are least often registered in countries and localities with the lowest level of sanitation. An allergic rhinitis is characterized by an abundance of snot, frequent sneezing, pain in the nose and eyes, but the child’s general condition remains normal - his temperature does not rise and malaise does not develop;
3. Adenoids are a very common pathology in children. A typical runny nose does not always develop with it; adenoids are more characterized by nasal congestion, a sensation of a lump in the nasopharynx, and impaired nasal breathing, again, in a generally normal physiological state;
4. Polyps leading to nasal congestion;
5. Chronic sinusitis (sinusitis, sinusitis), usually caused by untreated bacterial infections. The most common reason for them is the refusal of parents to treat infectious diseases of the child’s sinuses with antibiotics if there are appropriate indications;
6. Chronic bacterial rhinitis is similar to sinusitis, often occurring in parallel. If a runny nose in a child is manifested by an abundance of purulent snot without nasal congestion, we are most likely talking about a separate sinusitis; if there is a violation of nasal breathing, rhinitis is likely attached;
7. Long-term use of vasoconstrictor nasal drops. If they are taken regularly for more than 5-7 days, the child may develop medicinal rhinitis, and parents’ attempts to get rid of it with the same drops only aggravate the situation.
8. Foreign bodies getting into the nose. The reason is very insidious in that many parents do not consider it seriously. However, there are cases where beads, small parts of toys, gauze or anything else grew into the child’s nasal mucous membranes and caused constant inflammation, suppuration and hyperplasia of the epithelium with subsequent disruption of nasal breathing.

The video shows a case where a girl walked with a seed in her nose for two years, and the constant rhinitis caused by it led to hearing impairment and mental retardation:

Accurately diagnosing the cause of a long-term runny nose in a particular child is a very difficult task and often cannot be solved at home.

In principle, you can recognize an allergic runny nose by intense sneezing, by light, clean, transparent snot, and also by the fact that all symptoms quickly disappear when the child stops contacting the allergen (for example, enters the house if the allergen is outside, or, conversely, , goes outside if the allergen is in the house).

Bacterial persistent rhinitis is characterized by thick yellow or green snot, but the same discharge is characteristic of sinusitis or a situation where a foreign body has been in the nose for a long time.

Also, allergic and bacterial long-term runny noses can be accompanied by a cough, and with a bacterial runny nose, infection can penetrate into the bronchi.

But in general, parents can easily make a mistake in diagnosis, not being able to examine the child’s nasal passages using special instruments and take special tests from him.

It should be taken into account that a 1-year-old child with a persistent runny nose is unlikely to be of an allergic nature; from 2 to approximately 6 years of age, the likelihood of adenoids and polyps is high.

The polyp in the child’s right nostril is clearly visible (from the reader’s side - on the left). Due to the complete blockage of the nasal passage, this nostril does not breathe at all.

At the same time, it is impossible to treat a prolonged runny nose in a child without knowing what caused the runny nose. In this case, situations such as drug-induced rhinitis may develop, when the treatment itself aggravates the symptoms, sometimes eliminating the runny nose as a symptom allows its cause to continue to develop and turn into an advanced, difficult-to-treat form. Therefore, treatment of a persistent runny nose in children can be carried out only after the doctor conducts a full examination, diagnoses the cause and prescribes appropriate medications and procedures.

We draw the first conclusion: before treating a child with a long runny nose, he needs to be shown to a doctor. And the treatment that a specialist will prescribe will depend on the cause of the disease and the type of runny nose.

How to cure a runny nose caused by aggressive substances in the air

The main task with such a runny nose in a child is to eliminate the irritant. It can be difficult to identify, but usually children react with runny noses to standard substances - the same bleach, cigarette smoke, dust in the house. In most cases, eliminating such irritants is enough for the child’s condition to return to normal. Additionally, it makes sense to instill a simple saline solution into the child’s nose, just to wash away contaminants from the mucous membrane with snot; in children over 5 years old, rinse the nose.

It is important to remember that if neglected, this type of runny nose can lead to atrophic rhinitis, the consequences of which are sometimes irreversible. Although children rarely develop this disease, dirty air is one of the causes.

Allergic rhinitis

The runny nose caused by it can be temporarily stopped by taking antiallergic medications. Typically, antihistamines (Allergodil, Histimet) and hormonal (Beconase, Nasonex) nasal sprays are used for this; in the most severe cases, systemic antihistamines in tablets are prescribed - Suprastin, Erius, Loratadine and others. As soon as the effect of these drugs stops (normally 6-12 hours after administration), the runny nose resumes, that is, here we are not talking about treatment, but about symptomatic therapy.

Allergic rhinitis is more common in adults; in children they can develop from 6-7 years of age, but there are exceptions

A safer, smarter and more effective way is to protect your child from the allergen. This is not always possible. For example, if a child reacts with a runny nose to poplar fluff or ragweed pollen, he can only be taken to another climate zone for the whole season. But if he is allergic, for example, to the chitin of domestic cockroaches (a very common situation, by the way), then exterminating the insects and carrying out a thorough cleaning of the house will solve the problem.

On the other hand, if in some other apartment dust with the remains of cockroaches gets into the child’s nose with air, he will start to have a runny nose again.

The most reliable way to cure allergic rhinitis is to give the child a course of specific immunotherapy. It is expensive and time-consuming, but it allows you to permanently prevent the development of allergies when encountering the allergen itself.

Read more about the treatment of allergic rhinitis in a separate article...

Adenoids

Treatment of persistent runny nose in children caused by adenoids most often requires surgery. The fact is that at the stage when the adenoids themselves can still be treated conservatively, with the help of medications and without surgery, the runny nose is not yet so severe and does not always attract the attention of parents. When a child's nasal breathing is seriously impaired, purulent nasal discharge appears, and the adenoids are difficult to treat with medication and require removal.

To diagnose adenoids, the doctor needs to examine the child’s nasopharyngeal cavity from both the nose and mouth

Again, the decision about whether to treat or remove adenoids should be made by a doctor based on an examination of the sick child, an assessment of his general health and the expected effectiveness of treatment. In some cases, it will be easier for the child himself to spend several days in the hospital, undergo surgery and forget about the runny nose, than to take quite heavy medications for several weeks with many side effects and regularly go for procedures without a guarantee that the nose will breathe normally after that.

Polyps

These nasal growths are always removed surgically. The operation itself to cut them out is not complicated, it is usually performed with local anesthesia and does not require the child to stay in the hospital. Only sometimes, in the early stages of development, polyps can be treated with hormonal drugs, but the advisability of such therapy is not always justified: the drugs themselves are more difficult to tolerate than surgery, and it is not always possible to get rid of the growths with hormonal drugs and completely cure the long-term runny nose associated with them.

Appearance of a polyp when examined using an electronic endoscope

Chronic sinusitis (mainly sinusitis)

This cause of prolonged runny nose in children is quite difficult to treat, and you definitely cannot try to eliminate it at home with folk remedies. Depending on the causes of sinusitis itself, treatment may require systemic antibiotics, and in advanced stages - puncture, rinsing the sinuses and other means and methods.

Chronic bacterial rhinitis

Bacterial rhinitis itself is rarely prolonged. As a rule, it continues for too long in the presence of an associated pathology - the same sinusitis, pharyngitis, but sometimes it can be an independent disease. The localization of the chronic inflammatory process can sometimes be determined by secondary symptoms: if a child develops a lingering cough, it means that the throat is involved in the process; if there is a frequent headache, we are talking about sinusitis; More often, inflammation is diagnosed using non-invasive examination methods, for example, tomography.

A characteristic sign of a bacterial infection in the nose is green or yellow snot.

Protracted bacterial runny nose is treated with systemic antibiotics, as well as measures aimed at strengthening the immune system. At the same time, antibiotics cannot be dripped into the nose (this can even aggravate the severity of the disease), they must be taken in tablets, and the immune system is strengthened by hardening, physical exercise and normal nutrition. Immunomodulators and immunostimulants have little effect on bacterial infections in the nose.

Also, in case of prolonged bacterial rhinitis, it is useful to rinse the nose with saline solution to remove excess thick snot; children aged 1-2 years just need to instill the solution into the nose.

Drug-induced rhinitis

A prolonged runny nose in a child caused by prolonged use of vasoconstrictors is a relative rarity. However, it must be treated first of all by abolishing the decongestants themselves, and then by means and methods that accelerate the regeneration of the mucous membrane and the restoration of nasal breathing:

1. Regular nasal rinsing, including with the addition of iodine (it stimulates epithelial regeneration);
2. Taking vitamins;
3. Breathing exercises.

As a rule, with correct therapy, a few weeks after stopping the vasoconstrictor drops, medicinal rhinitis ends and the child’s runny nose goes away.

Foreign bodies in the nose

Obviously, all foreign objects from the nose must be removed. The only problem is that parents do not always understand that a runny nose is caused by precisely such objects, but blame it on infections, adenoids or something else. In this case, a doctor with modern equipment will detect an object in the nose and remove it in a few minutes, which is much easier for both the patient and his parents than pouring medicines and folk remedies into the nose for months and not being able to breathe normally.

Remember also: if the child does not blow off the foreign body immediately, it is unlikely to come out of his nasal passage on his own. It must be removed by a doctor using a special tool.

The most important thing that parents need to remember is that the wording “prolonged runny nose” in a child means that the parents themselves do not exactly understand the causes of this runny nose, they only see its manifestations and state the duration. This means they definitely won’t be able to treat him effectively. In such a situation, the best and only correct decision is to entrust the treatment to a good specialist.

Continuing the topic:

Video: A bead was in the nose of a 5-year-old boy

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Why does a child have a persistent runny nose and how to treat it?

When a child has a persistent runny nose, how to treat it, all parents think. In order to cope with a situation of this kind, you first need to understand the factors causing this phenomenon.

A similar pathological condition in children is characterized by severe inflammation in the nasal cavity. In medicine, this disease is called chronic rhinitis, which is the result of an untreated cold or the presence of pathogenic viruses in the body. How to treat such a condition or how to prevent it altogether?

Chronic rhinitis

Rhinitis is a syndrome of inflammation in the nasal cavity, and therefore the treatment of such a cold should not be postponed until later. A runny nose occurs due to germs and viral infections; factors for its development include hypothermia, air pollution, influenza, diphtheria and measles.

Chronic runny nose in children appears after suffering an acute cold or under the negative influence of the environment and human living conditions. This type of rhinitis promotes hypertrophy of the vascular walls, this condition is very dangerous. A persistent runny nose is a chronic inflammation of the nasopharynx. It can be catarrhal, hypertrophic, simple atrophic, fetid atrophic and vasomotor.

What is rhinopharyngitis?

There are 2 types of nasopharyngitis: acute and chronic. In the first case, when a runny nose begins, the snot has a liquid consistency and is transparent. Then they thicken, causing irritation of the skin in the nose and lips. If it is viral nasopharyngitis, there is mucous and purulent discharge that can be seen in the nasopharynx with hyperemia at the edges of the soft palate. In this case, the person experiences the following symptoms:

• enlarged lymph nodes;
• difficulty eating and drinking fluids;
• difficulties with pronunciation;
• sputum production during coughing;
• difficulty swallowing - lump in throat;
• persistent cough;
• bad breath;
• pain in the throat;
• nausea due to swallowing mucus indicates the beginning of a purulent process;
• penetration of pathogenic bacteria into the intestines through snot.

Children are most often susceptible to nasopharyngitis. Moreover, in adults this disease is less painful.

In order to treat a long runny nose, the following measures must be observed:

• in case of allergic rhinitis, it is necessary to remove all provocateurs from the baby’s life, rinse the nasopharynx, and maintain the level of humidity in the room;
• cleanliness in the house is the key to health, ventilate the apartment more often;
• after winter inactivity, all air conditioner filters should be washed;
• nutrition must be correct and balanced;
• Drinking plenty of fluids will help;
• To moisturize the nasal mucosa, you can instill a solution of water and salt.

Symptoms of a persistent runny nose in children

Prolonged rhinitis, being a consequence of a common cold, worsens in the cold season and in damp climatic conditions. The causes of this pathology can be called viruses and microbes. These colds should not be ignored. If a child has a prolonged runny nose, how to treat this illness - this question becomes a serious problem, especially if the situation repeats several times during the year. Scientists have proven that diseases of the nasal mucosa can lead to heart and lung diseases. A long runny nose is expressed by the following symptoms:

• the child breathes through his mouth;
• nasal discharge does not go away for more than a week;
• heightened sense of smell or lack thereof;
• purulent mucus;
• itching in the nasopharynx;
• general malaise;
• migraine;
• restless sleep.

Etiology of the phenomenon

The causes of a prolonged runny nose include the following factors:

• teething in babies;
• colds;
• rhinitis;
• pharyngitis;
• nasopharyngitis;
• rhinosinusitis;
• sinusitis;
• atrophic rhinitis;
• allergy;
• foreign object in the nose;
• uneven nasal septum;
• infections;
• walks in the cold;
• the child’s weak immune system;
• regular inflammatory diseases;
• untimely treatment of rhinitis;
• formation of adenoids in the nasal cavity;
• hidden infections.

What to do if you are sick?

In order to treat prolonged allergic rhinitis in a child, the following measures should be taken:

• you can update bed linen, blankets, mattresses;
• wipe off dust and remove cobwebs;
• get rid of products containing cotton wool, fluff, wool;
• eliminate chemical-based hygiene products;
• teach your child to eat healthy;
• Having agreed on this issue with the doctor, you should give the child antihistamines; as a rule, such drugs are selected individually for each person.

Principles of treatment

How to cure a persistent runny nose in a child? This type of treatment can be carried out using both folk remedies and medications. In both cases, therapy is aimed at increasing immunity and rapid recovery. It should be remembered that the longer the disease lasts, the longer the therapy takes.

Treatment of a long runny nose is carried out using the following methods:

1. Inhalations - to carry out, you need to brew 1 tbsp in an inhaler. l. herbs St. John's wort, calendula flowers and mint.
2. Acupressure of the nose 2 times during the day.
3. For allergic rhinitis, the use of sea minerals and medicinal herbs is recommended. This treatment of a persistent runny nose in a child allows you to moisturize the nasal mucosa, as a result of which the unpleasant contents are liquefied and the phlegm or mucus is completely dissolved. Viruses and bacteria from the respiratory tract are completely eliminated, and nasal patency is restored.
4. Herbal medicine involves the use of specially selected medicinal herbs and is effective in cases of reduced immunity. The intestines are saturated with immune tissue, vitamins and microelements.
5. Local application of ointments, the use of which restores blood circulation and reduces swelling of the respiratory system.
6. Apitherapy involves the interaction of medicinal components and minerals. In this regard, a powerful anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect is achieved, which solves the question of how to treat a prolonged runny nose in a child.
7. Laser therapy.

Vasoconstrictor, antibacterial, homeopathic and immunomodulating medicines will come to the rescue. The former can be used if the cause of rhinitis is infection. But they and other medications must be prescribed by a doctor, otherwise they can only worsen the situation.

Means that increase the level of immune defense are also necessary. They are good not only for a runny nose, but also for preventing infection with viruses. A cold is dangerous because of its complications, of which a long runny nose is the most harmless. In any case, treatment for a prolonged runny nose in a child should be prescribed by a doctor.

Folk remedies

Treatment with folk remedies should be aimed only at reducing symptoms and, if possible, eliminating the causes of a prolonged runny nose. You cannot rely on such recipes as a panacea. Treatment of persistent runny nose in children should be comprehensive. Otherwise, unpleasant health consequences may occur.

Treating a prolonged runny nose in a child with folk remedies is not always effective for the following reasons:

1. All herbal remedies primarily fight bacterial infections. And a runny nose should not linger for a long time.
2. If a runny nose persists, then steam inhalations and warming up the feet may be ineffective, since a cold runny nose does not have a chronic course.
3. Infusions and decoctions based on ephedra are contraindicated for children.
4. Hot drinks, honey, raspberries are remedies for hypothermia and ARVI. And they do not eliminate the causes of a prolonged runny nose.

Provided that complete treatment is carried out and the parents do not delay this issue, the child’s long runny nose will be cured without any complications or difficulties, you just need to promptly seek advice from a doctor who will suggest the correct solution to the problem. This will solve the problem of long-term pathologies in the nasal cavity in children.

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Why does a child have a persistent runny nose? - persistent runny nose in a child

A prolonged runny nose in a child causes a lot of trouble for the mother. Long-term rhinitis can have different etiologies, but their treatment tactics are common. Ask your doctor: how to recognize prolonged rhinitis and how to treat it correctly to avoid complications in the future.

Mothers often face a problem when the cold subsides, but the child’s lingering runny nose continues for weeks.

According to etiology, a persistent runny nose in a child is divided into:

1. The usual prolonged runny nose often develops with a weakened immune system, improper use of vasoconstrictor sprays, violation of the anatomical location of the nasal septum, and enlarged adenoids.

2. Allergic prolonged runny nose in a child develops after contact with an allergen and is characterized by the absence of cold symptoms.

3. Bacterial lingering runny nose often occurs as a complication of ordinary rhinitis if not treated correctly. It is distinguished by cloudy thick yellow-green snot.

Regardless of the cause of a prolonged runny nose, it is necessary to carry out treatment that will help prevent complications.

Initial measures for the treatment of prolonged rhinitis should be aimed at additional cleansing of the nasal cavity. From the first day of an illness accompanied by an acute runny nose, you can use a combination of two drugs: Rinomaris to quickly relieve congestion and Aqua Maris to effectively combat bacteria and viruses that cause a runny nose. After the end of the acute period (on the fourth or fifth day), when nasal breathing has been restored, it is recommended to stop using Rinomaris, and continue using Aqua Maris until complete recovery.

For bacterial rhinitis, treatment with antibiotics is mandatory, for allergic rhinitis - with antihistamines.

In order to prevent the development of a prolonged runny nose, adequate treatment of rhinitis, no matter what its etiology, should be carried out from the first days of illness.

Coughing is a natural reaction to various respiratory irritants. In most cases, it occurs against the background of an infectious or viral disease. If the cough does not last long, then there is no need to worry. If the symptoms do not subside even after a month, then serious treatment is necessary. In this case, the susceptibility of the lungs becomes higher, and coughing occurs as a reflex.

Causes of persistent cough in adults

Sometimes patients stop taking medications prescribed by the doctor at the first improvement, especially antibiotics, then the cough can become protracted.

Another cause is smoker's bronchitis.

The danger of a long-term cough is that it becomes chronic. This can happen as a result of bronchitis, cancer, heart or lung pathology. A prolonged cough is accompanied by wheezing, heartburn, chest congestion, and hemoptysis. Sleep is disturbed, dizziness, increased sweating and urinary incontinence occur.

Adults often do not take this symptom seriously, and this can lead to serious consequences. Only a doctor can find out the cause and prescribe treatment.

The first step when visiting a doctor is to conduct examinations to rule out pneumonia, tuberculosis, asthma, and lung cancer. If the cause is established, cough suppressants based on menthol, honey, and codeine are prescribed.

A persistent cough can be treated at home. This is only permissible if it is not a symptom of a dangerous disease.

Boil ten onions and a head of garlic in a liter of milk until softened. Then add two tablespoons of honey and strain. Drink twenty milliliters every hour.

Take twenty-five grams of rose hips, wormwood, pine buds, yarrow and add one and a half liters of water. Boil for ten minutes and leave for a day. Strain and add one hundred grams of aloe and befungin juice, two hundred and fifty grams of honey and one hundred and twenty-five grams of cognac. Take a teaspoon three times a day half an hour before meals.

Add three drops of birch tar to one hundred grams of warm milk and drink on an empty stomach in the morning and before bed. Continue the course until complete recovery.

Treat yourself with a compress. To do this, heat a tablespoon of honey, flour, dry mustard, vodka, aloe juice, and interior fat in a water bath. Place gauze on your back. Lubricate the bronchial area with the mixture, put another layer of gauze, polyethylene and cover the top with a scarf. Fix and leave overnight.

For dry cough, eat a large onion three times a day with meals. Soon the mucus will begin to come off well.

Drink a tablespoon of flaxseed oil three times a day before meals. After five days the cough will be much less.

Do inhalations with essential oils of lavender and marjoram.

Gargle throughout the day every three hours with a soda solution. Dissolve a teaspoon of salt or soda in a glass of warm water and add three drops of iodine.

To treat cough, massage sessions are additionally prescribed.

The room needs to be humidified. Hot and dry air dries out the mucous membrane of the nose and respiratory tract, which leads to mucus stagnation. Try not to get too cold and during periods of widespread illness, avoid visiting crowded places. Stop smoking during the treatment period.

Protracted dry cough in an adult

A dry or unproductive cough is often a sign of colds: tracheitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, acute viral respiratory disease. It comes in two types:

1. With a barking cough, a sore and sore throat occurs, and the voice disappears. This is typical for viral diseases or as a reaction to mechanical irritation of the mucous membrane;

2. Paroxysmal cough occurs more often with bronchitis and tracheitis. You may feel chest pain and difficulty breathing.

With this cough there is no sputum. An inflammatory process forms in the throat, excess mucus occurs, and a sick person wants to clear his throat.

The doctor prescribes antitussive drugs. Their action is aimed at relaxing the pharyngeal mucosa and reducing bronchial spasms. To get rid of a strong cough, sedatives are used to control it.

Prolonged, wet cough in adults

A wet cough occurs due to the accumulation of sputum in the lungs of the trachea. It often occurs after a dry cough and brings additional discomfort. He needs to be treated immediately. The lungs will begin to be cleared of sputum, which contains a large number of pathogenic bacteria.

When a wet cough does not go away for a long time, it becomes chronic. To thin the sputum, medications are prescribed that make it less viscous and remove it from the body. They are resorptive and reflexive. The first ones are made on the basis of iodides and sodium. The second are based on plant substances. During treatment, you need to drink as much liquid as possible - water, juices, herbal infusions.

Protracted cough in adults: causes and treatment of dry, prolonged cough

A cough is a reflex contraction of the respiratory muscles. In response to irritation of the mucous membrane of the bronchi, trachea, pleura and larynx, air is sharply expelled from the lungs.

At this point, the airways are cleared of foreign particles and mucus accumulation.

If a cough does not produce sputum (bronchial secretions), it is called unproductive or dry.

The opposite of it is a cough accompanied by phlegm. They call it wet.

Depending on the duration of the symptom, doctors divide it into several types:

• acute cough (less than 2 weeks);
• persistent cough (up to 4 weeks);
• subacute cough (up to 2 months);
• chronic cough (more than 2-3 months).

The most common cause of the development of this symptom is a complication of the course of diseases of viral and infectious etiology. This occurs when the pathogen settles and actively multiplies on the mucous membrane of the bronchial tree.

With untimely or poor treatment of colds and flu, a chronic cough occurs. For example, this happens when the disease was initially viral in nature and was treated with antibiotics. As a result of this “treatment,” the problem worsens and complications develop.

Some patients try not to take sick leave and suffer from colds on their feet. They still go to the doctor, but only after the body temperature rises and becomes seriously unwell. In this case, the infection managed to affect the lungs and bronchi.

Coughing and nasal secretions flowing into the larynx occurs with ailments:

• allergic;
• infectious.

Also, a prolonged cough occurs with chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma and gastroesophageal reflux, when the contents of the stomach enter the esophagus.

In some cases, a dry, prolonged cough can be a side effect of certain medications for hypertension and heart failure. The drug Enalapril has similar properties.

Smokers often complain of a lingering cough with phlegm, especially after suffering from a cold or viral illness. In these patients, the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract differs significantly from the state of the bronchial tree of a healthy person. Also, people who smoke have a weakened immune system and cannot cope with infections.

The causes of prolonged cough with or without phlegm may be hidden under allergies. Receptors of the mucous membrane of the larynx and bronchi become extremely sensitive to any irritants:

1. cigarette smoke;
2. dust;
3. pet hair;
4. pollen from trees and flowers.

It is important to emphasize that a prolonged cough in an adult without other symptoms can be a signal of the presence of dangerous diseases, for example, cancer or pulmonary tuberculosis.

Without timely and adequate treatment, a lingering cough with sputum develops into diseases:

• pneumonia;
• pleurisy;
• lung abscess;
• bronchial asthma.

These pathologies pose a danger to the patient's life. Therefore, it is extremely reckless to self-medicate or ignore it altogether!

To make a correct diagnosis, a therapist, otolaryngologist or pulmonologist will refer the patient to undergo a series of tests and examinations. You will need to donate blood from a finger, veins, and sputum. The patient needs to have an X-ray of the lungs and undergo an external respiration test:

1. spirography;
2. body plethysmography;
3. spirometry.

Based on the patient’s condition, the results of his tests and symptoms, the doctor will recommend a specific treatment regimen.

In this case, it will be necessary to transform a prolonged non-productive cough into a wet productive one (with sputum). For these purposes, an expectorant is prescribed. Such medications promote high-quality discharge of bronchial secretions.

As a supplement, you will need to take medications that stimulate expectoration: resorptive, reflex action, diluting sputum. These are usually classified as:

• mucolytics;
• cysteine ​​preparations;
• proteolytics.

Depending on the nature of the prolonged cough with sputum, the person will need to be treated with antihistamines and antimicrobials.

Treatment of a lingering cough, if it is dry, is carried out with medications containing codeine. At night, to relieve irritation, the chest and back of an adult are rubbed with warming ointments.

Inhalations are quite effective. They are carried out using an inhaler:

1. ultrasonic;
2. compressor

If such a device is not at hand, improvised means are quite suitable. Healing vapors of drugs, together with air currents, penetrate the bronchi and improve their condition. It is possible to achieve restoration of the mucous membrane, increased blood supply, and improved sputum removal.

Sometimes it doesn't hurt to inhale the vapors coming from a pan of hot liquid. You can infuse medicinal herbs or breathe over potatoes. Decoctions of elderberry, raspberry, linden blossom, coltsfoot, and sage are used.

You can inhale with aromatic oils. The product has an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. To treat a cough, take a shallow container and pour warm water into it (about 40 degrees). Add a couple of drops of essential oil to the liquid:

1. mint;
2. eucalyptus;
3. menthol.

Then cover your head with a terry towel, bend over the container and inhale the vapor for 5-7. After half an hour, the procedure will need to be done again.

Chronic cough with sputum in an adult can be treated with warm-moisture inhalation. The thermal effect helps to liquefy mucus and remove it from the lumen of the bronchi. In addition, dry mucous membranes are eliminated.

Antibiotics, hormonal medications, sulfonamides and other ingredients recommended by the doctor are added to warm pharmaceutical saline solutions.

Sometimes inhalations for coughs are made with soda solutions or alkaline mineral waters. The duration of such treatment is no more than 10 minutes. If your cough is dry, baking soda is not suitable. This remedy will provoke:

• even greater drying of the mucous membrane;
• worsening tickling and cough.

Folk remedies

You can cure a prolonged cough with folk remedies. It is useful to inhale hot infusions of garlic and onions. Vegetables are peeled, cut into small cubes and poured into a ceramic teapot by a quarter. Boiling water is added to the onions and garlic and the steam begins to inhale for a while through the spout of the kettle.

Another treatment for a lingering cough can be done with cupping. It is advisable to use special small medical jars with a rounded bottom. However, it should be borne in mind that you need to treat a cough in this way with an assistant.

A decoction of linden blossom will help cure a prolonged cough with phlegm. It is enough to pour 3 tablespoons of dry inflorescences with one glass of boiling water. Means:

1. keep in a water bath for 15 minutes;
2. allow to cool;
3. filter;
4. taken three times a day.

Thyme infusion has expectorant properties. The herb (2 tablespoons) is poured into 250 ml of boiling water and heated in a water bath for 20 minutes. Then filter and drink 3 times a day.

If the cough has been bothering you for a long time, a decoction of tricolor violet will help get rid of it. For treatment, add a tablespoon of crushed dry raw materials to a glass of boiling water. Prepare the product using the technology described above.

Whatever the reason, a prolonged cough should be treated! Otherwise, after some time it will develop into a chronicle and seriously complicate the patient’s life. Treatment will require a lot of effort, time and finances.

The video in this article will help you figure out what to do if you have a prolonged cough.

Causes of prolonged cough

Cough itself is not a disease. Cough is a symptom that occurs when air encounters any obstruction in the respiratory tract. Of course, there is no point in running to the doctor if there is slight discomfort and a sore throat, but if the cough does not go away, you should consult a doctor. A cough that does not go away for four to eight weeks is considered long-lasting.

If a prolonged cough occurs, it is necessary to carry out a diagnosis as soon as possible. Diagnostics includes: mandatory x-ray examinations, external respiration examination, blood tests, and, if necessary, more complex diagnostic procedures.

There can be many reasons for a cough. Depending on them, the cough itself changes.

Cough may be a symptom of, for example, gastroesophageal reflux disease. With it, sudden movements of the body provoke the contents of the stomach to enter the esophagus, which gives rise to heartburn and cough.

With bronchitis and pneumonia, cough appears from the presence of phlegm in the lungs.

Cough may occur with lung cancer. Then it is dry or with rare release of light sputum.

Cough with bronchial asthma is very difficult to stop. Often, it occurs against the background of excessive smoking and is identified by accompanying whistling sounds. This is especially evident in the morning hours.

Cough with whooping cough begins in attacks. It is exhausting because... attacks can be very frequent - repeated up to 12 times.

With heart disease, a dry cough also occurs. In this case, the cause is stagnation of blood in the lungs. It causes a feeling of lack of air.

And of course, do not forget about coughs, which are caused by acute respiratory diseases. It usually causes a sore throat and sore throat.

Prolonged cough in a child

The mucous membranes of the respiratory tract are covered with ciliated epithelium; in the body it performs a protective function and helps the respiratory tract get rid of foreign bodies. During this process, a cough appears.

If a child’s cough does not go away within a month, despite being treated, it is considered long-term. In this case, your pediatrician should refer you to other specialists for a more detailed examination, conduct a Mantoux test and prescribe the necessary tests.

The cause of a prolonged cough in a child may be: fungal infections, they usually appear after treatment of an infectious disease with antibiotics; damage to the respiratory tract by roundworm larvae; viral diseases, which make it difficult for children to cough; purulent lung diseases; chronic respiratory diseases; various allergic reactions.

Prolonged cough in adults

The causes of prolonged cough in adults are the same as in children. Depending on the causes of a prolonged cough, it is observed with such symptoms as: blood in the sputum, whistling when breathing, wheezing, nasal congestion and heartburn. In addition, a prolonged debilitating cough provokes headaches, dizziness, impaired sleep quality, and urinary incontinence.

In order to identify the cause of a prolonged cough as quickly as possible, it is necessary to describe to the doctor as accurately as possible what exactly is bothering you and what symptoms accompany the cough. Often a chronic cough is the only symptom of a disease such as asthma.

Prolonged dry cough

In order to get rid of a long-term dry cough, it is not enough to carry out only symptomatic treatment. Even if you manage to relieve an attack of dry cough without getting rid of the cause, the attacks will appear again and again and have an increasing tendency. In addition, if treated incorrectly, bronchial asthma can develop. Therefore, before starting treatment, it is necessary to identify the cause. A prolonged dry cough can be provoked by: fungal infections; burns of the respiratory tract with hot air; smoking, including passive smoking; entry of small foreign bodies into the bronchi; allergy; chemical damage.

The pathogenesis of the development of dry cough includes many factors; a visit to the doctor will help to understand them and identify the cause.

Prolonged cough with phlegm

There can be many reasons for the occurrence of cough with sputum, and among them there are very serious diseases. In order to diagnose them, it is necessary to clearly formulate what kind of sputum is bothering you.
Sputum is mucus that contains white blood cells, leukocytes, particles of dead tissue of the respiratory tract and waste products of microorganisms and bacteria that cause diseases.
The sputum may be white, yellow, green, gray or even black, sometimes with blood present.
The nature of sputum and the timing of coughing attacks help determine the disease.
Green sputum indicates the presence of pus in the respiratory tract. Its abundance means that a large abscess has ruptured in the lungs. But such sputum can also be a consequence of sinusitis. A cough with thick, curd-like sputum can indicate both fungal diseases and tuberculosis. A cough with thick, difficult-to-clear sputum may indicate diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Black and gray sputum with an unpleasant putrid odor indicates the presence of cancer.
Usually doctors can determine the cause of a prolonged cough with the formation of sputum, but sometimes there are cases when this cannot be done. Then you have to carry out treatment by trial and error.

Prolonged cough without fever

Almost every person has encountered such a problem as a cough without fever. Few people attach serious importance to it, but in vain, such a cough can be a symptom of a hidden viral infection. For some reason, when an infection occurred, the body did not want to fight it by raising the temperature. Heart disease, sexually transmitted diseases, allergies, respiratory diseases, bronchitis, pneumonia, all these diseases can cause a prolonged cough without fever.
Pulmonary tuberculosis is a very dangerous disease that causes a prolonged cough without fever; even with timely diagnosis and treatment, it can lead to complications.
It is especially worth paying attention to cough during pregnancy. It is difficult to treat, since most medications are contraindicated for the expectant mother. And severe coughing attacks can lead to serious complications, including termination of pregnancy.

Depending on the type of cough, treatment is prescribed. There are methods that will help alleviate the manifestation of the cough reflex, regardless of the reasons for its occurrence. Firstly, you need to quit smoking. Don't forget to humidify the air, this will help remove mucus. Drink more fluids, at least two liters of water, it thins and removes mucus. Do inhalations using essential oils, they will soften the mucous membranes and help you breathe easier.
In order to cure a dry cough, you need to soften the mucous membrane. It is also necessary to get rid of the irritant that causes the cough. Lollipops, as well as gargling with herbs, furatsilin solution, and salted water give a quick effect. These procedures will help relieve a coughing attack, but not for long.
Drugs that have an antiseptic, enveloping and anti-inflammatory effect have a longer lasting effect. There are drugs that can suppress the cough reflex in the brain, but they should not be used under any circumstances without a doctor’s prescription.

In the treatment of wet cough, medications that thin the mucus by increasing sputum will help; they have antibacterial properties and improve sputum discharge. There are traditional methods to combat cough. A compress of mustard plasters applied to the chest and back (contraindicated at fever). Inhalations using essential oils. Hot foot baths with mustard powder. Black radish juice with honey.
In any case, if you experience a long-term chronic cough, do not delay visiting your doctor. After all, in order to get rid of an annoying cough, you need to get rid of the cause of its occurrence. Go to specialists, do x-rays and other necessary tests.

A lingering dry cough is usually treated with the help of drugs that inhibit the cough center in the brain and promote the transition of a dry cough to a wet one. Inhalations and massage are effective treatments for dry cough.

You will need

1. “Hydrocodone”, “Codeine”, “Demorphan”, “Ethylmorphine hydrochloride”, “Codipront”, “Morphine chloride”, “Glauvent”, “Sedotussin”, “Tusuprex”, “Pakseladin”, “Sinekod”, “Libexin”, “Butamirat”, “Levopront”, “Helitsidin”, coltsfoot herb, chamomile flowers, thyme, sage, baking soda, menthol and eucalyptus oils.

Instructions

1. A lingering dry cough lasting from a week to a month or more can bring quite a lot of anxiety to its owner. A person's sleep and appetite are disturbed, discomfort occurs in the nasopharynx, heaviness in the chest, wheezing in the lungs, etc. With pneumonia, acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections, influenza and other viral diseases of the nasopharynx and lungs, a dry cough most often turns into a wet one. But what to do if this does not happen, and how to treat a lingering dry cough?
2. First of all, it is necessary to find out the nature of such a cough. One of the common causes of prolonged cough is asthma. A lingering cough is typical for smoker's bronchitis, diseases of the cardiovascular system, lesions of the pulmonary structures, benign tumors and allergies. Having found out the cause of the cough, it is necessary to begin treatment of the underlying disease, simultaneously eliminating its symptoms.
3. It is possible to suppress a cough completely or partially with the help of medications that inhibit the cough center in the brain and the nerve endings of the receptors. In the absence of sputum and a dry, lingering cough, drugs with or without a narcotic effect are used. The first group includes Hydrocodone, Codeine, Demorphan, Ethylmorphine hydrochloride, Codipront and Morphine chloride. The second group includes Glauvent, Sedotussin, Tusuprex, Pakseladin and Sinekod.
4. Medicines such as Libexin, Butamirat, Levopront and Gelitsidin can help a dry cough move to the next stage, accompanied by sputum discharge. These medications, unlike narcotic drugs, are not addictive and do not lead to drug dependence, so they can be safely used for children. Treatment with all of the above drugs must be stopped as soon as the cough becomes wet. Otherwise, the antitussive will disrupt the cleaning of the lungs. As a result, sputum will accumulate in them, disrupting the ventilation of the lungs and leading to the development of pneumonia.
5. Inhalations are an effective treatment for dry, lingering cough. They can be prepared both on the basis of traditional medicines and on the basis of medicinal herbs. For example, to prepare inhalation, you need to mix one tablespoon of coltsfoot herb, chamomile flowers, thyme and sage, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water over the mixture, strain after an hour and add a teaspoon of baking soda, a few drops of eucalyptus and menthol oils. This inhalation should be done 3-5 times a day.
6. A lingering cough can be eliminated by light massage treatments. Tapping and patting in the lung area with slight pressure will help remove mucus from the walls of the respiratory tract and alleviate the patient's condition.

A runny nose is a protective reaction of the body that every child faces, starting from a very early age. After all, the nasal mucosa is the first to encounter microbes and foreign particles on its way. It is covered with villi and produces a secretion (liquid) that washes away harmful agents. When the immune system is weakened, its protective properties are reduced and inflammation occurs. A child’s body with a strong immune system is able to cope with the disease in 7–10 days. A prolonged runny nose is characterized as an inflammatory process of the nasopharynx lasting more than 10 days.

How to treat a persistent runny nose in a child will depend on the type of pathogen that provoked it. But there are a number of procedures that are effective in all cases.

The first thing that is required for recovery is mandatory humidification of the air in the room and the organization of a drinking regime. For the nasal mucosa, a favorable microclimate is considered to be a humidity of at least 50% and a temperature of 18 - 20 degrees.

An electric humidifier that evaporates at least half a liter of water per hour will help increase the humidity in a hot room.

It is better to cover hot batteries with a wet terry towel for a while. It is advisable to soak it in water every 20 - 30 minutes. The child needs to be given warm liquids (compote, fruit juice, tea) more often.

To prevent mucus from lingering snot from getting into the sinuses and auditory tube, the child must blow his nose correctly: close one nostril (in no case both), and blow his nose with the other. Young children often cannot or do not know how to do this. In this case, parents should purchase a special mucus suction device from the baby’s nose at the pharmacy.

You should use a nozzle ejector when necessary, but not too often, as children quickly get used to it and do not want to blow their nose on their own. Before cleaning the nose, it is recommended to drip vasoconstrictor drops to relieve swelling and expand the nasal canals, then a little saline solution, as a result the thick mucus will thin out and it will be easier to remove it with a suction device. This will not hurt the child, and the nasal mucosa will not be injured. It is better to gently tilt the baby's head forward when washing.

Prolonged viral runny nose

The most common cause of a runny nose is an acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI), which, as a rule, has a sudden onset: an increase in body temperature to 37.5-38.5 degrees, loss of appetite, lethargy, malaise, and sore throat. Discharge from the nose at the same time.

Antiviral antibodies begin to be produced on days 4–5 and reach their highest values ​​on days 6–7.

Basic treatment

If the immune system is weak, then the concentration of antibodies is not enough, the child’s runny nose becomes protracted and constantly recurs. It can last two weeks or more. In this case, it is necessary to take immunomodulating agents based on interferon and bacterial lysates.

The mechanism of their action is to stimulate the body's defenses to produce the same antibodies, only in a larger volume.

The drugs of choice are:

• Interferon (for children under 1 year of age - in the form of nasal drops, for older children - in the form of drops or spray);
• Aflubin (for children over 1 year old - drops, from 3 years of age - tablets);
• Laferobion (allowed for use from the first month of life);
• IRS-19 (for babies from 3 months);
• Kipferon (for children from birth).

All medications in this group require prior consultation with a doctor. With long-term use they can cause inhibition of their own interferon production.

In case of an acute inflammatory reaction, the above drugs will be ineffective, since they are intended for the treatment of sluggish, protracted forms of rhinitis (without high fever, severe headaches, wet cough). If the inflammation is acute, Derinat is prescribed in the form of injections.

Symptomatic therapy

Vasoconstrictor drops are used to treat the symptoms of a persistent runny nose. Their effect is based on the ability to constrict the vessels that bring blood to the nasal mucosa. The indication for use is severe swelling of the nasal cavity: the nose is completely blocked, the contents do not flow out, the child is forced to breathe through the mouth.

The situation is dangerous because thick mucus from the nose can clog the auditory tube that ventilates the ear and lead to otitis media. Children's vasoconstrictor drops are divided into 3 groups according to duration of action.

Short-acting drugs (on average 3 - 6 hours):

• based on naphazoline (Naphthyzin, Sanorin);
• based on phenylephrine (drug of choice for children, especially in the first year of life) - Vibrocil, Nazol kids;
• based on tetrizoline (Tizin).

Medium duration (6 - 8 hours) based on xylometazoline:

• Xylene;
• Xymelin;
• Snoop;
• Rhinonorm;
• Otrivin.

Long-acting (10 - 12 hours) based on oxymetazoline - Nazivin.

The drug concentration in drops for children under 6 years of age is 0.05%, for older patients - 0.1%. They can be used for no more than 3 to 5 days. You should be aware of side effects such as increased heart rate and increased blood pressure. It is possible to develop headaches, since narrowed blood vessels provoke oxygen starvation of the cells of the nasal cavity.

With prolonged use (more than 10 days), the drops can be addictive. The body stops regulating the nasal blood supply on its own, and as soon as you stop using the medicine, the mucous membrane swells again, and you have to breathe through your mouth.

This condition is called drug-induced rhinitis. A runny nose becomes a constant companion of a person, dragging on for months. It is much simpler and more correct to prevent such complications than to treat them. If drug-induced rhinitis does develop, you should consult a doctor. He will select the right anti-inflammatory drug and physiotherapeutic procedures.

Bacterial runny nose

Viruses reduce the body’s ability to resist infections; with prolonged exposure to mucous membranes, pneumococci, streptococci and other bacteria that live in the human body and do not manifest themselves in any way in the nasopharynx begin to multiply intensively in the nasopharynx. So, a bacterial infection joins the viral one.

The main indicator of bacterial rhinitis- mucus discharged from the nose has acquired and In case of improper treatment or its absence, this form of the disease can cause complications in the form of inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, lingering snot and cause sinusitis (inflammation of the maxillary sinuses), frontal sinusitis (inflammation of the frontal sinuses). In this case, the consistency of the snot is thick and yellow-green.

A persistent runny nose in a child can be cured with antibacterial drugs designed to suppress pathogenic flora and symptomatic remedies to ease breathing, in the form of vasoconstrictor drops described above. Rinsing with a saline solution remains an effective procedure for clearing thickened snot from the nose.

Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory

Self-selection of antibiotics for children is prohibited, since it is not known what type of bacteria caused a long runny nose. Some drugs act only on streptococci, others only on pneumococci, and others on staphylococci. To find out what type of bacteria caused a prolonged runny nose in a child, it is necessary to take a general blood test.

• Based on its results, Isofra or Polydexa will be prescribed.
• For purulent inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, systemic antibiotics are prescribed in tablet form - Amoxicillin or Clarithromycin.

Before conducting bacteriological studies, pediatricians advise mothers to drip a broad-spectrum antibiotic - Albucid drops (sulfacyl sodium) into the child's nose. Additionally, the following can be prescribed as anti-inflammatory drugs: Hydrocortisone Tantum Verde, Sinupret and Pinosol.

Symptomatic remedies

To moisturize the mucous membrane I use drops and sprays based on sea water:

• Aquamaris;
• Marimer;
• Humer;
• Aqualor.

Oil-based drops are used to thin thick nasal mucus:

• Pinosol;
• Mucodin;
• Sinuforte.

Medicines with essential oils contain plant components, so allergic reactions in the form of rash, tearing and itching are possible. In this case, you need to stop using them.

Allergic runny nose

With prolonged allergic rhinitis, as a rule, there are no symptoms of a cold, that is, body temperature and appetite are normal, the child is cheerful and active.

The cause of allergic rhinitis is inflammation, a hypersensitivity reaction to foreign agents (antigens).

The development scheme is as follows: the antigen penetrates the human body, in response to this, specific proteins begin to appear in the blood - protective antibodies, which are attached to the surface of the so-called mast cells.

Upon subsequent entry into the body, the antigen combines with the antibody, at which time biologically active substances (especially histamine) begin to be released from mast cells, causing manifestations of allergies. Your eyes and nose itch, clear water flows from it, you want to sneeze.

The role of antigens that provoke the development of allergies can be:

• pet hair;
• airborne dust particles;
• detergents, dyes;
• certain foods;
• pollen of flowering plants (birch, ragweed, field grasses).

Antihistamines

The main group of drugs for the treatment of allergies and their manifestations are antihistamines. All of them have side effects, so the drug itself and its dosage should be prescribed by a pediatrician after a skin test for the allergen.

A runny nose is a frequent guest in families where children grow up. Everyone knows that nasal congestion is not an independent disease, it is only a symptom. Moreover, he can talk about a wide variety of diseases. However, in most families, mothers and fathers continue to treat their child for a runny nose. This therapy is sometimes long-term. The famous children's doctor Evgeny Komarovsky tells what a runny nose “signals” to adults, and what parents should do so that their child can breathe easily and simply.

About the problem

Even the most caring mother, who takes care of and protects her child from everything in the world, will not be able to ensure that her child never gets a runny nose in his life. This is because rhinitis (the medical name for the runny nose) most often occurs during acute viral respiratory infections. At the physiological level, the following happens: one of the many viruses that always surround the child gets onto the nasal mucosa. In response, the immune system gives the command to secrete as much mucus as possible, which should isolate the virus from other organs and systems, preventing it from moving further through the nasopharynx, larynx, bronchi and lungs.

In addition to the viral form, which accounts for about 90% of all cases of children's runny nose, according to Evgeniy Komarovsky, rhinitis can be bacterial. This causes pathogenic bacteria to enter the nasal cavity. The body reacts in a similar way - with increased mucus production. Bacterial rhinitis itself is extremely rare, and its course is always very severe. Bacteria (most often staphylococci) cause severe inflammation, suppuration, and toxic waste products cause general intoxication.

Sometimes a bacterial runny nose can develop after a child has suffered a viral infection. This happens because accumulated mucus in the nasal passages becomes an excellent breeding ground for bacteria.

Usually these bacteria are harmless; they live in the nose and mouth on a permanent basis and do not bother the child in any way. However, in conditions of an abundance of mucus, its stagnation, drying out, microbes become pathogenic and begin to multiply rapidly. This usually happens with complicated rhinitis.

The third, fairly common cause of runny nose in children is allergies. Allergic rhinitis occurs as a reaction of local immunity to a protein antigen. If such a substance enters the body, the nasal mucosa reacts with swelling, making it difficult for the child to breathe through the nose.

In some cases, nasal congestion and impaired nasal breathing are associated with ENT diseases, such as adenoids. If the runny nose is acute (occurred no earlier than 5 days ago), then there should be no reason for special concern. In case of persistent snot and other symptoms, it is better to consult an otolaryngologist.

Treatment of viral runny nose

Viral rhinitis is the most common among children and does not require treatment as such. The mucus produced by the membranes of the nose contains special substances that are very important for fighting the virus that has entered the body. However, the beneficial properties of mucus will end immediately after the snot becomes thick. As long as they flow, everything is fine, parents can calm down.

But if suddenly the nasal mucus thickens, becomes green, yellow, yellow-green, purulent, purulent with impurities of blood, it ceases to be a “fighter” against the virus and becomes an excellent breeding ground for bacteria. This is how a bacterial runny nose begins, which will require treatment with antibiotics.

Thus, with a viral runny nose, the main task of parents is to prevent the mucus in the nose from drying out. The snot should remain liquid. That’s why Evgeniy Komarovsky recommends not looking for pharmacy magic nose drops, because there are no cures for viruses, but simply rinsing the child’s nasal cavity with saline solutions, and doing this as often as possible (at least every half hour). To prepare the solution, you need to take a teaspoon of salt per liter container of boiled chilled water. The resulting solution can be dripped, washed out of the nose using a disposable syringe without a needle, or sprayed with a special bottle.

For instillation, you can use other means that help thin the nasal mucus - “Pinosol”, “Ectericide”. Washing with the most common saline solution, which can be bought inexpensively at any pharmacy, effectively thins snot.

The drying out of nasal mucus, which is so necessary during the body’s fight against viruses, is facilitated by stuffy and dry air in the room and the lack of a sufficient amount of fluid in the body. Therefore, the room where a child with a runny nose is located should be ventilated and wet cleaned. The air must be humidified to 50-70% . Special devices - humidifiers - will help parents with this. If there is no such miracle of technology in the family, you can place basins of water in the corners of the room so that it can evaporate freely, hang wet towels on the radiators and make sure that they do not dry out. A child who often suffers from rhinitis should definitely be given an aquarium with fish.

On the heating radiators in Dad’s room, you need to install special valves that can be used to regulate the air temperature during the heating season. The air temperature in the children's room should be 18-20 degrees (all year round).

During treatment of a viral infection, the child must drink. But not syrups and medicines from the pharmacy, and tea, compote of dried fruits or fresh berries, fruit drinks, regular drinking water. The drinking regime should be plentiful; the mother should serve all drinks to the child warm, but not hot, preferably at room temperature. Such a drink is absorbed faster into the body, and the likelihood of drying out the mucous membranes is significantly reduced.

If a child does not have a high temperature, he, despite a runny nose, should definitely walk in the fresh air and breathe more. This is where the treatment of viral rhinitis ends.

Treatment of bacterial rhinitis

If the snot changes color, consistency, becomes thick, green, or purulent, you should definitely call a doctor. Bacterial infection is a serious matter, and airing alone cannot do it. In most cases, your child will need antibiotic nasal drops. But before prescribing, the doctor will definitely examine the extent of the inflammatory process and only then will decide in what form to give the child antibiotics - in tablets (for an extensive infection with additional symptoms) or in drops.

Treatment of allergic rhinitis

The best treatment for rhinitis caused by antigen proteins is to get rid of the source of the proteins. To do this, says Komarovsky, an allergist and pediatrician must try and find, with the help of tests and special tests, the very allergen that affects the child in this way. While doctors are looking for the cause, parents need to create the safest conditions possible for the baby at home.

Be sure to remove all carpets and soft toys from the children's room, which are accumulators of dust and allergens. The room should be wet cleaned more often, but without the use of chemicals; you should especially avoid household chemicals that contain substances such as chlorine.

You should wash your child’s clothes exclusively with baby powder, the packaging of which has the inscription “Hypoallergenic”; after washing, all clothes and bed linen must be additionally rinsed in clean water. Parents should create adequate conditions in the room - air temperature (18-20 degrees), air humidity (50-70%).

If all these measures are unsuccessful and the runny nose does not go away, then the use of medications may be necessary. Usually in this situation, vasoconstrictor nasal drops are prescribed. They do not treat rhinitis of an allergic nature, but they provide temporary relief. Almost immediately after instillation, the vessels of the nasal mucosa narrow, the swelling subsides, and nasal breathing is restored.

These drops are in any home medicine cabinet, and usually everyone knows their names. In relation to children's treatment, these are “Nazol”, “Nazivin”, “Tizin”, etc. However, these drops cannot be used for longer than 3-5 days (maximum 7 days, if the doctor insists on it), otherwise they will cause a persistent drug addiction in the child, in which, without drops, he will always experience difficulty breathing through the nose, and from constant use, the nasal mucosa may atrophy. In addition, Komarovsky calls for the use of exclusively children's forms of drops, which differ from adults in a reduced dosage. In addition, it should be remembered that many of these drugs are strictly contraindicated in children under two years of age. The list of side effects of vasoconstrictor drugs is also quite long.

For the treatment of allergic rhinitis, calcium gluconate is often prescribed in an age-appropriate dosage, and antihistamines, if the doctor considers it necessary. Children whose allergic rhinitis is chronic and protracted, with exacerbations occurring every season, may be prescribed antiallergic drugs for topical use (Cromoglin, Allergodil, etc.). The drug "Rinofluimucil" proved to be quite effective.", which is a combined product that includes hormones, antiallergic components, and antibacterial agents.

If the child sniffs his nose

Usually, parents are immediately inclined to believe that the baby is starting to have a runny nose and plan how and what to treat it with. However, says Evgeny Komarovsky, sniffing is not always a sign of illness.

If a child is upset, cries, and then sniffles for a long time, this is a normal physiological process in which “excess” tears flow down the nasolacrimal canaliculus into the nose. There is no need to treat or drip anything, just offer the child a handkerchief.