If a child has green snot, then it is necessary to establish the cause of its appearance. Read more in the article.
A runny nose in a child is always a cause for concern for parents. Mucus, thickening and changing color, can cause various diseases.
Read an article on our website about the best drops for a child with a runny nose . It contains a list of the most effective remedies for the common cold of various origins.
It is important for parents to know how to properly treat green snot without aggravating the course of the disease. Read about the causes of this condition in a child and methods of treatment in this article.
Doctor Komarovsky - how to treat yellow snot in a child
Dr. Komarovsky, like many of his colleagues, believes that yellow snot without other symptoms during the recovery period is quite normal in children.
- Firstly, a runny nose is common in children, and it happens that while building up immunity, a child’s body suffers from a runny nose several or more times a year.
- Secondly, yellow snot is a slightly thickened mass that leaves the nose with dead microorganisms.
Parents constantly ask Komarovsky questions about the treatment of yellow snot. How to remove them? Are antibacterial drugs needed? The doctor explains that snot, in principle, cannot be cured, because This is not a disease, but a reaction of the body. Therefore, it is not the snot that is treated, but the underlying disease, if it occurs and is accompanied by a number of symptoms. Many drugs only temporarily eliminate the symptoms of a runny nose.
Dr. Komarovsky always emphasizes that the basis for treating a runny nose is not medications, but fresh air and plenty of fluids. It is these factors that prevent the thickening of the discharge and the formation of yellow snot.
Literally in the first days of treatment, you can use children's vasoconstrictor drops (strictly according to the instructions for the drug). They “free” the nose from congestion, normalize breathing and improve the child’s general condition.
Treatment methods
As a rule, both traditional and traditional medicine helps to get rid of snot. However, before resorting to the second treatment method, you should consult a doctor and find out his opinion. In some situations, there is no time to waste and you need to start taking antibiotics as quickly as possible.
Medications
The most popular means include:
- "Isofra". This is an antibacterial type drug. It is suitable for patients older than 12 months. The course of treatment is a week. The product is injected directly into the nasal passages.
- "Protargol". We are talking about drops, which are an excellent anti-inflammatory and antiseptic agent. They are prescribed for ordinary rhinitis, as well as for suspected development of sinusitis. The course of treatment is 2 weeks. The drug is instilled into the nose twice a day.
- "Vibrocil." This is a modern drug that has vasoconstrictor properties. It is also applicable for rhinitis and sinusitis. However, this remedy should not be used by people suffering from diabetes, thyroid diseases and those who have problems with the cardiovascular system. The product should not be given to children under 2 years of age.
Before using drugs in the form of sprays and drops, you need to carry out preparatory work. The nasal passages are washed. The best solution for this procedure is a saline solution (5 g of sea salt per glass of water). It is also worth noting that sprays should not be used on very young children. They are recommended only for patients over 3 years of age.
Traditional methods of treatment
Yellow snot in adults and children is often treated with traditional methods, but even with natural herbs you need to be very careful.
The most popular treatment methods are:
- Herbal washes. For them, inflorescences of mint, celandine, chamomile or calendula are usually used. Herbal preparations are also suitable. To prepare the solution, add 1 tsp. inflorescences 1 tbsp. boiling water The infusion takes about 30 minutes. After this, you can strain it and instill 4 drops for each nasal passage. The procedure is repeated every 8 hours. The course of treatment is usually no more than two weeks. This method is suitable for children and adults.
- Drops based on onion and garlic. This remedy has a powerful antiseptic effect. In addition to onions and garlic (which are ground into gruel), you will also need sea buckthorn oil and natural honey. All components are combined in equal parts. After this, a kind of ointment is applied to the nasal passages at night. It may sting a little. But improvements can be noticed after 2-3 days.
- Drops based on aloe juice. If you have agave at home, it is perfect for a child of any age and an adult. To prepare the drops, you need to pick off several lower leaves of the plant and put them in the refrigerator for at least three days. After this, the juice is squeezed out of the pulp, which is used in the form of drops. Aloe has excellent effectiveness.
Additional treatment and prevention methods
Essential oils are also often used in folk medicine. For example, pine, eucalyptus and thuja are suitable for treating a runny nose with yellow snot. Oils can be used using a special aroma lamp or simply add a few drops of the product to liquids for inhalation.
To make the essential oil dissolve better, it is recommended to mix it with a small amount of salt.
However, it is important to remember that inhalations are thermal procedures. They are strictly prohibited if the patient has an elevated temperature.
This will only make the situation worse.
Oxolinic ointment has good therapeutic and preventive properties. It's very cheap. If you lubricate your nasal passages every time you leave the house, you won’t be afraid of catching the virus. This is a very useful remedy during seasonal flu epidemics. However, it can also be used as a treatment.
Treatment of yellow snot in children at home
How to treat snot that has changed color? Where to start therapy? How to avoid using antibiotics? All these questions are asked by confused mothers when they give up in the face of ineffective treatment for snot. “We treat and treat, but the runny nose doesn’t go away” – this is a complaint that children’s ENT specialists hear literally every day.
At home, nasal rinses are performed with saline solutions and herbal infusions. It is better to buy saline solutions for children at a pharmacy. Today there is a good range of seawater solutions. Such drugs as Humer, Salin, Aqualor, and No-Salt have proven themselves well.
Washing with saline solutions can be alternated with infusions of herbal infusions.
- For children, it is best to use chamomile infusion (1 tsp of dried flowers poured into 100 ml of boiling water). When the infusion has cooled, do not forget to strain it.
- The finished infusion is poured into each nostril using a disposable syringe or a regular pharmacy pipette.
- To rinse your nose thoroughly, you should take at least 1 ml of solution (two or three drops will not be enough).
Furacilin and Miramistin are considered safe antiseptics. Even in Soviet times, furatsilin solution was used in neonatal units. Infants' eyes were rubbed with this solution for prophylactic purposes.
- Furacilin, together with antibiotics, was also used to treat purulent conjunctivitis in infants. The generation of Soviet children experienced the effectiveness and safety of furatsilin.
- Miramistin also deserves attention. It is often used in otolaryngology for sanitation and treatment.
- Miramistin and furatsilin are instilled into the nose, 2-3 drops three times a day. If the snot becomes lighter, the number of instillations is reduced.
To soften and regenerate the nasal mucosa, it is useful to instill a few drops of sterile peach oil. Such instillations will help not only the nose, but also the throat, because... The oil flows down the throat through the nasal passages.
Comments (2)
Nina
11/17/2016 at 07:11 |
Yes, green snot is no good. I consulted with a doctor, he recommended that if you have a runny nose for more than 2-3 days, take Morenasal with chamomile, chamomile relieves inflammation and clears up the nose well. In a couple of days, the runny nose goes away, and no more green sniffles from mom.Answer
Expert Marina Rusetskaya
05/16/2019 at 23:01 |
Nina, coloring of nasal mucus or sputum in green, yellow or another color is a sign of the attachment of bacterial microflora to the lesion.
Infection with bacteria in the secretion is a signal to begin antibacterial therapy.
Morenazal with chamomile is an effective drug, but at home you can use a hypertonic solution of table salt.
To do this, dilute a teaspoon of salt in a cup of chilled boiled water and mix well.
A hypertonic solution has the same effect as Morenasal: it stimulates the secretion of nasal mucus and “takes” water from bacteria, thereby causing the death of pathogens.
Answer
Pediatrician Komarovsky about green snot
If you maintain a favorable climate for the child, then you can not give snot pills. The room where the baby is located must be ventilated. A comfortable temperature for a child is usually 18-20 °C. Air humidity should be from 50% to 70%.
The child needs to drink plenty of fluids; it is advisable to offer tea with lemon and honey, with the exception of allergies to these ingredients.
Green snot in a child (how to treat with medications) can be eliminated according to Komarovsky’s recommendations:
- He recommends the use of gentle antibiotics and antiseptics. Antibiotics should be used for advanced forms of the runny nose; antiseptics are used to cleanse the nasal mucosa.
- Antibiotics can kill pathogenic flora, and antiseptics remove already dead cells, and can also prevent the accumulation of mucus and bacteria.
- The use of saline solution is done to moisten the nose, otherwise the mucous membrane will dry out and abnormal seals may appear, which complicate the functioning of the respiratory system.
- You can use Ectericide. This oil-based drug, which prevents the mucous membrane from drying out, will help moisturize the nasal passages, and can be used from the first days of life.
When treating green snot in a child, you can give preference to drugs such as an oil base of vitamins A and E, tea or hypoallergenic olive oil.
Signs of the disease
If a child develops green snot and fever, then before providing assistance, it is imperative to find out the reasons for this etiology. One of the main reasons why green snot appears in children is the penetration of a viral or bacterial infection into the body. To be more precise, most viruses and bacteria live in the body of every person, but they are activated only after the immune system shows the slightest signs of failure. This failure of the immune system occurs due to overheating, hypothermia, and also during contact with infected children. Only a highly qualified doctor with experience has the right to make an accurate diagnosis of the disease. Treatment, as well as the further recovery of the child, will depend on the diagnosis.
Typically, pathologies provoked by viral pathogens are caused by a sharp increase in body temperature to 39 degrees. Typically, a high temperature during a cold is maintained for 3-4 days, after which it decreases. Viral diseases are characterized by the following preceding symptoms:
- Disturbances in sleep and wakefulness.
- Decreased appetite.
- Malaise and lethargy.
- Muscle soreness.
- Nasal congestion.
Green snot during a cold does not appear immediately, but after some time. Initially, the child experiences nasal congestion, and after a while, copious discharge of snot from the nose begins. The main danger of nasal congestion and snot discharge is that over time, serious complications arise such as sinusitis, otitis media, sinus inflammation and bronchitis.
Symptom Definition
Thick snot is a very unpleasant and dangerous pathological symptom for a child.
With the arrival of the autumn-winter season, children are especially susceptible to colds. Those with weakened immune systems may get sick several times throughout the year.
Acute respiratory diseases and infections are almost always accompanied by a runny nose and snot. Clear nasal discharge only causes discomfort, but thick snot poses a serious threat to the health of a small child.
It is difficult to completely get rid of the viscous mucous secretions that accumulate in the child’s nasal cavity. If mucus begins to stagnate in the nose, this creates favorable conditions for the appearance of pathogenic bacteria and the occurrence of various inflammatory processes.
Your actions
Observe your baby's mucous secretions. Look at the color and consistency of the snot. Later, after describing what you saw to the doctor, you will be able to understand the nature of the disease. Pay attention to the symptoms accompanying snot and report them to your pediatrician.
Measure your temperature frequently ; if it is high, call an ambulance.
Give your child more hot drinks. You will make him sweat, prevent mucus from forming a lump in the nasopharynx and complicating the breathing process.
Limit yourself from visiting places with large crowds of people, because your disease may be contagious. Leaving the house can cause significant harm to a sick person. Before prescribing treatment, it is important to remain in a comfortable environment for the baby.
With the help of medications
Dr. Komarovsky’s recommendations for creating favorable conditions for a speedy recovery from thick snot must continue to be followed (it is better to make it a habit for the purpose of prevention).
The selection of medications depends on the nature of the pathology. So, for allergic rhinitis, antihistamines are prescribed (Zodak, Eden), for viral ones - antiviral drugs (Nazoferon, Delufen), for bacterial ones - antibacterial ones. The latter are used mainly locally (nasal sprays - Isofra, Polydexa), but in severe cases systemically (suspensions, tablets for oral administration - Zinnat, Sumamed).
If body temperature rises (more than 38.5 °C), headaches, general weakness, then antipyretic and anti-inflammatory medications (Nurofen, Panadol) are prescribed.
The use of vasoconstrictor drugs (Nazivin, Rinazolin) is justified only if there is severe nasal congestion, which cannot be eliminated with saline solutions. They are used in compliance with the exact dosage and duration of treatment (no more than 5 days). Long-term use causes dependence and leads to atrophy of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract.
If the inflammatory process spreads to the ear, ear drops are prescribed, which may contain various combinations of antibiotics and painkillers.
If there is no positive result of treatment for yellow runny nose, the child may be prescribed nasal rinsing with antibiotic solutions in a clinic (“Cuckoo”) or puncture of the maxillary sinuses.
How to cure a yellow runny nose with folk remedies
Traditional treatment should not be considered a panacea. Of course, if, when washing the baby’s nose, the yellow snot disappeared in one day, then, most likely, its nature is a consequence of banal dry air.
However, even when a diagnosis of “sinusitis” or “adenoiditis” is made, traditional medicine should be used only as an additional treatment:
- Aloe juice is diluted with boiled warm water in a ratio of 1: 3 and instilled 1-3 drops 2-3 times a day. Leaves are taken from a plant that is at least 3 years old and kept in the refrigerator for several days;
- Several cloves of garlic are ground in a cup and the baby is allowed to breathe several times a day for 5-6 breaths;
- Honey has strong bactericidal properties. Dilute honey in a 1:1 ratio with boiled water and lubricate the child’s nasal passages with a cotton swab dipped in the solution;
- Make an infusion of calendula flowers (1 tsp per glass of water). Dilute in half with boiled warm water and use to rinse the nasal passages. Calendula has a strong anti-inflammatory effect, so it is especially effective in the treatment of sinusitis;
- Fresh beet juice mixed with water is used for instillation. Beet juice diluted with honey (1 part honey and 3 beets) is also effective for instillation into the nose, and grated raw beets in gauze swabs are inserted into the nostrils for 2 hours;
- Carry out for 10-15 minutes. steam inhalation with decoctions of medicinal herbs (eucalyptus, chamomile, mint), infusions of pine shoots and branches, soda solution, potato decoction. If the child is very small, a napkin with a few drops of eucalyptus oil is placed on his chest;
- Onion oil is prepared as follows: the juice of one onion is poured with hot vegetable oil and left wrapped for 8 hours, after which it is used to lubricate the nasal passages.
Why does yellow snot appear?
The reasons for the appearance of yellowish nasal discharge can be different. In this case, the shade and consistency of the mucus may differ. Yellow nasal discharge in a child may occur for the following reasons:
- The onset of the recovery period. This phenomenon can occur if the child has previously suffered an acute respiratory infection. At first, the snot is liquid and almost transparent. And at the final stage they darken, become more viscous and acquire a yellowish tint. Typically, such discharge easily comes out of the nose, and breathing is restored after the child blows his nose.
- Chronic inflammatory process in the nasal area. This may be a complication of untreated ARVI or influenza, so in childhood it is recommended to treat any pathologies under the supervision of a doctor. If signs of respiratory disease do not subside within 10 days, parents should be wary. Often yellow snot appears after previous sinusitis, otitis or adenoiditis. If they contain reddish-brown inclusions, this may indicate the presence of a purulent process in the nose. Sinusitis is very often the cause of this type of discharge.
- Allergy. Yellowish liquid discharge without any impurities may indicate an allergic etiology of its occurrence. They appear directly when the respiratory tract is exposed to an allergen. But as soon as this stops, the snot will disappear. Rarely, the mucus may be white or bright yellow. Such discharge cannot be thick.
- Injuries to the nasal cavity. If a child has suffered a nasal fracture, this pathology must be treated immediately. Sometimes an inflammatory process begins, and purulent exudate accumulates in the nose, which will eventually burst. In this case, yellow-green discharge will occur. They may have an unpleasant pus-like odor and are thick and viscous.
An infant's nasal discharge may be normal. The small organism gets rid of mucus that entered the respiratory tract during fetal development. But it is still recommended to consult a pediatrician.
After all, only a doctor can determine the exact cause of such a symptom. To make an accurate diagnosis, additional examinations may be required - x-rays or ultrasound. Self-medication can be dangerous to the baby’s health and lead to various complications.
Complications
A common runny nose, if complex treatment is not started in time, leads to a number of serious complications.
The anatomical structure of the nasal cavity of infants does not allow severe congestion. In case of a runny nose, the narrow nasal passages become filled with thick mucus. This phenomenon leads to sleep disturbances, anxiety, and refusal to eat. In extreme cases, suffocation occurs.
A serious complication of colds in newborns is otitis media. Inflammation of the middle ear is painful and severe. Discomfort in the ear haunts the child. If this disease is not detected during the initial stage, there is the option of allowing the formation of pus in the ear and, as a result, rupture of the eardrum. Any injury to the eardrum impairs or completely eliminates hearing.
For older children, the main complication is the transition of the disease to a chronic form. It occurs as a result of a runny nose with prolonged thick discharge, injuries to the nose, or abnormalities in the structure of the nasal cavity. Chronic rhinitis manifests itself in the form of frequent exacerbations.
The appearance of green snot from a child’s nose is a problem even in 2020. She requires a visit to an otolaryngologist. Elimination of signs and symptoms of the disease at home begins only after consultation with a specialist.
It must be remembered that the most harmless runny nose leads to dire consequences, the neglect of which will be much more difficult to cope with. Be healthy!
Treatment with folk remedies
When using traditional medicine, you should know that there are many different methods and recipes. Almost all of them can remove thin and thick yellow snot
But it is important to know some contraindications:
- Do not use any method on children under 1 year of age.
- Do not use recipes that recommend dripping onion or garlic juice into your nose.
- If purulent yellow snot is released from the nose and the baby has a fever, then it is forbidden to do steam inhalations, take hot foot baths or use mustard plasters.
- Use honey and juice of medicinal plants carefully, as they can provoke allergies.
For treatment, it is better to use the following recipes from traditional medicine:
- Cut and squeeze the juice from the aloe and place a few drops in your nose. Aloe will help you cope with the virus and remove snot, and even purulent sinusitis.
- For purulent discharge, propolis can be used in the form of an oil emulsion or a water-based solution. The plant quickly heals tissue and strengthens the immune system.
- For rinsing, you can make a decoction of calendula flowers. Used for sinusitis.
- Any remedy that contains eucalyptus will help cope with almost any cause of snot. Decoctions, tinctures and oil are made from the plant. There is practically no allergy from it and eucalyptus is a strong bactericidal agent.
Thick yellow snot indicates the defeat of the disease and the healing process. But headaches in children, fatigue and difficulty breathing should alert parents, as these may be complications. Complications may also be accompanied by an unpleasant odor from the discharge.
What conclusions did I personally come to?
The first time Maxim got very sick was at 5 months old with a terrible cough, vomiting, snot and fever. Then we pulled him out on “chamomile”, that is, only plenty of warm drinks, rinsing the nose with Aqualor, inhalation with saline solution. Of course the high temperature was brought down. It was very difficult psychologically, but I didn’t risk giving such a small child medicine, even though the doctor didn’t prescribe anything to us. We were sick for a total of about 3 weeks before complete recovery. Now on popular medical websites they write that the child’s body itself is able to cope with ARVI without “pherons”, sprays in the nose and mouth, etc. And these methods are becoming increasingly popular among mothers. Refuse vaccinations, all medications and rely only on the strength and immunity of the body.
Six months later we had a terrible adenovirus infection with a river of green snot, conjunctivitis, cough and fever. They treated everything the same way with “chamomile” + they put protargol in the nose. There is now a lot of information about the latter about toxicity and prohibition in Europe, BUT, of course, it does not need to be taken in case of a mild ARVI with clear snot, and when it comes to a bacterial infection, I think it has no equal. For children, make only a 1% solution and drip for no more than 3-5 days. Just so you know, protargol is a mixture of antibiotics and hormones that specifically burns the mucous membrane.
After another half a year, we became acquainted with laryngitis, bronchitis and a persistent runny nose. Here we could no longer manage with “chamomile”; we took inhalations with medications and an antibiotic in the nose (on the strong recommendation of a doctor), although now I understand that we could have managed without it.
So this is the conclusion I came to:
Children are all different and so are viruses, no one can feel better than a mother how seriously ill her child is (unless, of course, for a mother this word is not a fantasy). Medicines are harmful to a child’s body, but are acceptable if they can prevent more serious complications of the disease. That's why doctors are doctors to prescribe pills; they don't know the characteristics of your child. I have verified from my own experience that the more anxious the mother is, the more medications the doctor will prescribe.
Therefore, my advice to young mothers is not to treat pneumonia with chamomile, and clear snot with an antibiotic!
Consult with competent doctors on issues that concern you, look for these competent doctors, and over time you will understand at what point the child can cope with the disease on his own, and at what point urgent medical help is needed. Our body has powerful resources for self-healing.
Prevention of yellow snot in children
Preventing a disease is always easier than spending time, mental energy and money on its treatment. Therefore, compliance with preventive measures can protect you, and, most importantly, your baby, from many troubles:
Always try to dress your child appropriately for the weather to avoid hypothermia.
Particular attention should be paid to shoes - wet feet invariably lead to a cold. However, excessive wrapping is also unacceptable, because
leads to a decrease in the level of immunity; Start treatment of bacterial and viral infections in a timely manner, do not put it off until later or strive to cure the disease yourself - this can cause complications and serious disruptions in the functioning of the immune system; Provide the baby with everything necessary to comprehensively strengthen the immune system: a complete and balanced diet, feasible hardening procedures, if possible, sports or swimming, a normal psycho-emotional climate in the family.
Treatment with folk remedies
To eliminate yellow snot, drops are made using olive oil. Add 1/3 of the volume of onion and garlic juice to it. The antiseptic is instilled no more than 3 times a day, 1-2 drops into each nostril.
Aloe juice has a healing and softening effect. 1 drop is enough, the frequency of instillation depends on the baby’s health. After aloe, active discharge of mucus with sneezing is observed. There is no need to be afraid of this.
Propolis relieves swelling. Alcohol extracts are not used to treat children; they make a soft paste by moistening dry crushed propolis with water. Apply it to the turunda. The medicine is placed in the child’s nose 1 hour before bedtime for 3-5 minutes, no more.
An aroma lamp with eucalyptus and tea tree oil will disinfect the air and soothe the baby's mucous membranes. Frequent contact with essential oils causes headaches.
When to see a doctor
Sometimes, to eliminate snot in children, it is enough to simply humidify the air in the apartment, ventilate it more often and fight dust. This is especially true if he has allergies to dust or frequent nosebleeds. When you have a cold, rinsing your nose with antiseptic solutions helps. It is sometimes possible to eliminate yellow snot using folk remedies.
But you should not self-medicate; you must consult a doctor if your child has the following symptoms and has yellow snot:
- runny nose does not go away for more than 2 weeks;
- body temperature rises;
- mucus contains blood impurities;
- he cannot breathe through his nose, sleeps poorly, snores in his sleep, his mouth is constantly open, and there is an unpleasant smell from it;
- the baby is capricious and complains that he has a headache;
- there are swellings on the face in the nose area;
- pain is felt when pressing on the cheek;
- Symptoms of otitis media, throat and respiratory diseases are observed.
The doctor must examine the child and prescribe appropriate treatment.
Warning: When using folk advice for treating a runny nose, you must first try the proposed methods on yourself to make sure that they do not cause pain to the child. Unfamiliar means and drugs in doses inappropriate for age can cause burns to the mucous membrane and seriously complicate the situation.
Possible complications
The reasons for the appearance of complications of bacterial rhinitis, in which thick green snot is released, are due to the incompetence of the parents. They try to cure the child using “grandmother’s” methods, after which the condition may worsen.
The main group of complications of a runny nose with green snot includes:
- sinusitis is an inflammatory disease of the maxillary (maxillary) sinuses, accompanied by headache, aggravated by bending over, irritability, and constant nasal congestion. Discharge from sinusitis is scanty and viscous. If treatment is not timely, a purulent process may develop, which is complicated by meningitis or encephalitis;
- frontal sinusitis and ethmoiditis - the inflammatory process is located in the sinuses of the frontal and ethmoid bones. In most cases, the causes of the appearance of the inflammatory process in this localization are represented by the addition of streptococcal and staphylococcal flora. The progression of this condition is accompanied by the release of a large amount of pus, destruction of mucous tissue and bones;
- otitis - in the nasopharynx there are two passages leading into the middle ear cavity. They serve to normalize the pressure in it. Often, during infectious processes of the nose or pharynx, pathogenic microflora through these passages will enter the ear, provoking the occurrence of an inflammatory process in it. This condition is more typical for children over 6 years of age. If there is an inflammatory process in the ear, the child complains of pain in it, a feeling of fullness, due to a significant increase in pain, bending becomes impossible. Without appropriate treatment, the child gradually loses hearing (the auditory nerve is involved in the process);
- meningitis and encephalitis - most often appear after the onset of ethmoiditis or sinusitis of another localization. This complication threatens the child’s life. When the first symptoms appear, namely: headache, convulsions, head thrown back, difficulty bending the head forward, you must urgently seek medical help;
- Thrombosis of the cavernous sinus is the most serious complication, leading to the rapid death of the patient if treatment is not started in a timely manner. It manifests itself as severe headache, high body temperature (up to 40 degrees), rapid onset of coma, the appearance of a hematoma under one or both eyes, and protrusion of the eyes.
Do not panic at the first appearance of green snot in your child and stuff him with antibiotics. These actions will lead to the emergence of bacterial resistance to these drugs and a significant deterioration in their effectiveness with subsequent occurrences of pathology. It is necessary to figure out why the child has green snot and what contributed to its appearance. If any difficulties arise, you should consult a pediatrician. He will help you figure out what caused them and how to get rid of green snot at home.
Traditional methods
Modern parents do not neglect traditional methods of treatment. Mothers want to use natural resources to cure their child in this way, without harming his health. However, this approach can be much more dangerous than traditional treatment regimens.
This is what traditional medicine offers for treating children of all ages from viscous yellow snot:
- inhalations with boiled potatoes, salt water, adding aromatic oils;
- radish juice, which has an antibacterial and sputum-thinning effect, is administered 3-4 drops several times into each nostril;
- Wrap chopped onions in gauze and apply a compress into each nostril for 5-10 minutes;
- beet juice, diluted with water in equal proportions, is instilled into the nasal passages to eliminate pathogenic flora;
- aloe juice is a universal remedy for a runny nose of any origin, eliminates pathogenic microorganisms;
- decoctions of chamomile, sage, and thyme have an anti-inflammatory and expectorant effect.
When using traditional methods of treatment, it is necessary to carefully monitor the child’s reaction. If you experience strange symptoms such as allergies, headaches or dyspeptic disorders, you should immediately seek medical help.
How and with what to treat yellow snot in a child?
It is advisable to use proven traditional medicine recipes:
- Inhalations. It is quite possible to get rid of yellow snot from a runny nose using essential oils of fir, eucalyptus, pine needles, thuja and medicinal chamomile. The aroma of essential oils can be diffused using an aroma lamp. Treatment will be effective if you do inhalations with their addition.
- Nasal rinsing. Literally with any runny nose, rinsing with saline solution helps. To prepare it, dissolve 1 tsp in a glass of warm water. sea salt. The nose is washed several times a day.
- Instillation of natural drops.
Traditional recipes for nasal drops
A decoction of medicinal herbs is ideal for young children: calendula, celandine, mint and chamomile. To prepare the drops, you need to take a teaspoon of the dry mixture and pour 250 grams of it. boiling water The broth should steep for 30 minutes, after which it should be strained. Apply 4 drops into the nose 3 times a day. The course of treatment is 7 days.
For those who are older, juice from onion and garlic, mixed with sea buckthorn oil and with the addition of bee honey, is quite suitable as drops. All components are taken in equal proportions. It is recommended to use such drops no more than twice a day. When using them, you may feel a slight tingling sensation in the nose. However, the therapeutic effect occurs literally on the third day after starting to use this product. The medicine is an excellent antiseptic and quickly relieves inflammation.
For the treatment of children at any age, the optimal solution is drops of aloe and Kalanchoe juice. These house plants have a place in any home. Medicinal drops quickly cope with colds and help strengthen children's immunity. To achieve an effective effect, it is enough to drop 3 drops into each nasal passage 3 times a day.
Folk remedies won’t quickly cure a child’s runny nose, but they will help ease breathing
Pharmacy nasal drops
In addition to folk remedies, the pharmacy chain offers a wide selection of nasal drops designed to treat a runny nose of any etiology.
The most popular drugs for children are:
- Vibrocil;
- Protargol;
- Sanorin;
- Isofra and a number of others.
In some cases, the drops contain antibiotics. Such treatment is required when nasal discharge becomes more abundant, thicker, and acquires a rich color.
With a more complicated course of the disease, the snot becomes orange or has an intense yellow color. Treatment should be carried out under the supervision of a pediatrician, since many drugs cause side effects and the drops may need to be replaced with others.
The use of drugs that have a vasoconstrictor effect for the treatment of thick snot is not advisable. Such drops and sprays are not effective in this case: they dry out the nasal mucosa and can cause irritation.
Causes
Yellow snot in a child can be associated with various reasons:
- Viral infection (usually adenovirus), allergic manifestation, hypothermia.
- Congenital or acquired defects of the nasal septum - they always increase the secretory function of the nose. If mucus stagnates, bacteria begin to multiply in it.
- Injury to the nasal mucosa when a child inserts various small objects into it. In response to injury, pockets of inflammation appear in the nose with increased secretion.
- Against the background of a prolonged runny nose, more than 7-10 days, yellow-green snot indicates complications. This means the penetration of pathogenic microflora into the internal sinuses and the development of sinusitis. Then the mucous membrane swells, nasal congestion, fever, headaches, and mouth breathing appear.
- Until the age of 5 years, the circulatory system of the nasal mucosa is formed in the baby; the vessels can sometimes burst. Then the blood components mix with nasal discharge and give a yellow-brown tint. Nosebleeds occur quite often before age 5.
- If the allergic rhinitis is chronic, sniffing leads to the penetration of snot deep into the nose, where the mucus stagnates. Then it thickens and changes color.
- Dry air in the room dries out the mucous membrane and the body increases its secretion to moisturize it. Microbes try to multiply on the mucous membrane, die, and the color of the secretion changes.
- Bright yellow discharge appears with sinusitis - it dries out and forms crusts.
- In infants, colored, thick sniffles appear after hypothermia or infection from adult family members.
- The growth of adenoids also provokes the secretion of thick, light yellow mucus. Such diseases are common from 2 to 5 years.