A child has a cold for 2 months. Colds in newborns. Briefly about the “enemy”, or what a cold is

Cold in an infant

Infants are especially susceptible to various diseases. But most of all, infants suffer from colds. There are even unofficial statistics that in the first two years of life a child catches colds 8-10 times. However, this does not mean at all that you should not pay attention to colds in children. Therefore, young parents should be aware of the characteristics of this disease specifically in an infant.

The common cold is caused by one of many viruses. Signs of the disease include: fever, stuffy nose, sore throat, cough. Doctors recommend: For a common cold, you can rely on home remedies approved by your pediatrician.

However, not all so simple. It should be remembered that even the most common cold can lead to complications. Very often, parents cannot recognize other, more complex diseases behind the symptoms of this disease.

You should immediately consult a doctor if your baby has a severe headache (of course, this symptom is almost impossible to notice in an infant), if the baby has difficulty breathing, or if the temperature is higher or lower than normal. You should be especially concerned when the baby's body temperature rises to 40°C.

During an illness in a baby, parents should do everything possible to ensure that the child recovers quickly. It is important to remember that children, like other patients, need a constant supply of fresh air. If it is warm outside, then you need to take your baby outside. When this is not possible and it is cold outside, the room must be ventilated frequently.

In addition, we must not forget about constant cleaning of dust, which irritates the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract.

The greatest concern for young mothers is what to do if their infant has a runny nose. After all, in this case it is very difficult for the baby to breathe, because they do not yet know how to inhale through the mouth, as adults can. In addition, even the process of eating causes difficulties: it is difficult for the child to suck without inhaling through the nose.

It is important to free the baby's nose from discharge as quickly as possible. To do this, you can buy special suction cups - they are designed specifically for cleaning the nose of an infant. You can also use a regular small rubber bulb.

After the nose is cleansed, drops can be applied. Pediatricians recommend that children under one year of age use breast milk and warm saline solution in a 1:1 ratio. You should not drip liquid into your nose, but actively rinse it. You can also do this with chamomile decoction.

The structure of the nasopharynx of an infant is slightly different from the nasopharynx of an adult, and if an infection gets there, it immediately goes lower, to the pharynx. Thus, if a baby has nasal discharge, then most likely his throat also hurts. It’s also unpleasant that the infection can just as quickly get into the auditory tubes, and this can lead to ear inflammation.

When a runny nose begins to go away, then all the dangers are not far behind. A large number of crusts appear in the nose, and this leads to unpleasant sensations in the child. To remove these crusts, you need to gently clean the baby's nose with a cotton swab. Before doing this, it is advisable to lubricate the lining of the nose with baby oil.

To summarize, the following symptoms are typical for a cold in an infant: elevated body temperature, refusal to eat, tearfulness, cough, runny nose, and diarrhea is also possible.

We must remember that infants under three months of age need to be examined by a doctor at the slightest deviation in health. So it’s not worth self-medicating at all, especially since prescribing medications for children against colds is the competence of a pediatrician.

Colds in a child under one year old

Of course, any parent does everything in his power to protect his child from various types of diseases. For parents, a child’s illness always becomes a cause for concern, brings a lot of grief and requires effort to eliminate it. But, unfortunately, many viruses do not spare even very young children - this will be confirmed by many mothers and fathers who have encountered colds in children under one year old. This problem becomes especially relevant in the autumn and spring, when many viruses circulate in the air that can even infect infants.

If a cold essentially does not pose any obvious threats to an adult and can be cured in a matter of days, then a cold in children under one year of age requires a special approach. It is well known that it is under no circumstances possible to treat children according to the standard regimen that is acceptable for treating adults. This means that it is necessary to eliminate colds in children under one year old using methods suitable specifically for this age.

Colds in children of the first year of life are usually accompanied by symptoms common to this disease. Deterioration in the baby’s well-being is expressed in anxiety, increased tearfulness, and frequent sneezing; then nasal congestion, cough, rapid breathing, a slight and sometimes significant increase in temperature, and watery eyes appear. Doctors strongly recommend that after the manifestation of characteristic cold symptoms in a child under one year old, seek qualified advice: the pediatrician will be able to timely determine the severity of the disease, determine a number of methods that will help cope with the virus and avoid severe cold consequences.

Colds in children under one year of age are very inconvenient for both the child and the parents. A child at this age cannot yet explain what is bothering him, and parents, in turn, cannot use treatment approved for use at an older age. Thus, the treatment of colds in infants is a very responsible task, requiring a special approach and thoroughness.

One of the most effective methods to combat colds in children under one year of age are rubbing, therapeutic massage and a healing bath using adapted childhood herbal preparations. It should be noted that such steps can only be taken if the baby’s temperature does not exceed 38 degrees; otherwise, treatment methods will have to be adjusted. Both for rubbing and for medicinal baths, you can use herbal preparations, which include the herbs of thermopsis, thyme, coltsfoot, eucalyptus leaves, and plantain. The massage is carried out by rubbing the skin of the chest, back, neck, legs for 5-7 minutes. For this, products such as bronchicum balm, Doctor MOM ointment, and Doctor Theiss eucalyptus balm are used. Therapeutic baths can be another effective way to fight colds in children under one year old. To prepare a healing bath, herbal preparations bronchicum-bath, eucabal-balsam are used, and the temperature of the water in the bath should not exceed 38 degrees and it must be maintained constantly - adding hot water as necessary.

Since colds in children under one year of age are often accompanied by a runny nose, this problem will have to be solved among all others. Children at this age cannot yet blow their nose on their own, and ordinary nasal drops against a runny nose are contraindicated for them. The task of parents is to make it easier for the baby to breathe and activate the release of mucus from the nose. To do this, the mattress under the child’s head should be raised slightly so that the baby’s head rises slightly: this facilitates the flow of mucus from the nasopharynx, the child can breathe easier, and the risk that he will inhale snot is significantly reduced. In the room where there is a baby with a cold, it is necessary to maintain sufficiently warm and humid air. You can also resort to clearing mucus from the baby’s nose with a cotton swab, and instead of drops, drop a few drops of breast milk into the nose.

If all efforts fail to prevent a cough in time, herbal teas - from nettle leaves, linden or chamomile flowers, ready-made Hipp pharmacy tea consisting of thyme, anise and mint - will help relieve this cold symptom. In addition to using teas, again, you should not neglect rubbing - using special herbal preparations for rubbing makes breathing easier, relieves inflammation, thins mucus, thereby promoting its elimination, and generally reduces coughing. It is also possible to use cough syrups for children in the first year of life - in strict accordance with the instructions and preferably after consulting a doctor. To reduce cough during colds in children under one year old, Doctor Theiss syrup, Doctor MOM herbal cough syrup are allowed to be used, for older children 8-12 months old - Bronchicum or Tussamag cough syrups.

Regarding temperature, which also often accompanies colds for the smallest: until the temperature rises above 38-38.5 degrees, it is not recommended to bring it down. An increase in temperature is evidence of the baby’s body fighting the virus, during which the necessary immunity is developed. And it is quite possible that the child will be able to cope with the pathogen on his own, thereby further strengthening the immune system. But if the temperature nevertheless rises beyond the limit of 38.-38.5 degrees, measures should be taken to reduce the fever. To reduce the temperature, you should initially use available methods: rubbing with warm water (with the addition of a small amount of vinegar), be sure to drink plenty of fluids and temperature regime in room. It is necessary to do everything to make the child sweat: heat will go away along with sweat, which means the temperature will drop. So, the temperature in the room should be no lower than 18 and no higher than 22 degrees; it is not recommended to wrap the baby tightly - this can provoke an even greater rise in temperature. As an antipyretic drug, it is better to use drugs based on paracetamol or ibuprofen, preferably in the form of rectal suppositories. But it should be borne in mind that it is necessary to bring down the temperature gradually - a sharp decrease in it can lead to the occurrence of febrile convulsions. In addition, sudden changes in temperature increase the load on the cardiovascular system.

If a cold in children under one year of age is accompanied by a temperature rise above 38 degrees, it is advisable to immediately call a doctor. The same as in the case if, despite all the measures taken after his visit, the temperature did not drop. Reasons for seeking urgent care medical care There should also be difficulty or rapid breathing in a baby with a cold, the appearance of a rash of any form, wheezing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, watery eyes (may be a sign of conjunctivitis or an ear infection).

A cold is always a difficult period both for a small child’s body and for his parents. You can encounter it all year round, but more often it happens in the off-season. If it happens that the baby has caught a cold, then treatment should be started as quickly as possible. But how to distinguish colds from the same flu and how can they be effectively treated? These two questions are now spinning in the head of every mother whose baby begins to experience health problems. Let's look for answers together on this burning topic.

The child's body is especially susceptible to colds in the autumn-winter period.

Where does a cold come from?

The root cause of a cold is the child’s reduced immunity. Factors that trigger the inflammatory process of colds are usually:

• hypothermia;
• periods of exacerbation of chronic ailments;
• a series of negative emotions experienced one after another;
• problems in the gastrointestinal tract.

How not to confuse the symptoms?

The first symptoms of a cold, unlike the fulminant flu, appear after a day or two. It could be:

External and behavioral signs of a cold

Are there any signs that, if you notice, you can guess that you have small child cold? Yes. These are signs of a change in your baby's behavior:

• refusal of food (even from your favorite food);
• lethargy or increased excitability;
• restless sleep (screams are possible);
• cloudy eyes;
• pale skin;
• cheeks that are too pink or very pale;
• increased sweating;
• rapid or slow breathing.

The doctor knows how to help!

Most young parents, when their child shows the first signs of a cold, begin to panic or attribute the symptoms to teething. Neither of the two lines of behavior is correct. The child feels your inner excitement very well and begins to worry himself., thereby giving the disease the opportunity to develop faster and stronger. By sinning on your teeth, the teething of which reduces the body’s defenses, and by letting the course of the disease take its course, you risk developing a cold. Such “ignoring” can lead to very serious unwanted complications. The smartest thing to do is call the doctor, which will help determine what exactly the baby is sick with.

How can you keep your child safe?

Is it possible to prevent a child from getting a cold? Undoubtedly. Timely vaccination will help you develop immunity against most viruses. What you can do yourself:

Often, traditional methods fighting a cold is not enough. Then doctors prescribe a baby, a weak electric current can work real miracles.

Exercises in the pool will help infants increase their immunity and feel great. Almost all city swimming pools have groups for the little ones. For more detailed information click.

Cold in an infant

If you can’t protect yourself from a cold, then you need to start treating it as soon as possible.

Colds in infants require increased attention from parents because it is dangerous to treat a child with medications familiar to us at such a tender age due to the fact that the latter can cause an unpredictable reaction, and incorrect or late treatment can cause complications that can take years to fight.

A sick child requires increased attention and care.

When to call an ambulance and a doctor?

Treatment of colds in infants is an individual process.

If a baby 3 months or younger has a temperature above 38 0 C, call an ambulance immediately.

It is during this period of development of the baby’s reaction to medications that it is impossible to predict. If the baby is more than 3 months old and the temperature is not higher than 38 0 C, there is no need to knock it down. Let the body fight the disease itself, developing valuable immunity. When the thermometer shows more than 38.5 0 C, emergency qualified help should be called for every infant. If the numbers on the thermometer are lower, call your local children's doctor to your home.

Actions of the mother before the arrival of specialists

Before the doctor or ambulance arrives:

If the elevated temperature does not cause obvious discomfort in the child, then there is no need to bring it down, but It is better to refrain from swimming.

Medicines, especially antibiotics, that you give to your child to calm yourself without a doctor’s prescription can give a short-term positive effect, but soon the situation may be complicated by a second wave of colds, which is much more difficult to get rid of. Therefore, never treat your child yourself, without the advice of a wise doctor.

How to get rid of a runny nose?

The mainstay of treatment for colds in infant is the timely removal of excess mucus accumulated in the nasal passages. Your baby's nose needs to be cleaned before every feeding, even at night. What is needed for this:

• turunds - small cotton flagella;
• oil or soda solution.

Cotton buds can be purchased at any pharmacy.

We twist a small piece of cotton wool into a flagellum and dip it in oil or soda solution(for 200 ml of water use 1 teaspoon of soda). We carefully insert the moistened turunda into the baby’s nostril 7-8 mm and twist it while pulling it back. We do the same with the second nostril. If the mucus does not come out well, drop 2-3 drops into each nasal passage. boiled water or saline solution and wait a little and repeat the procedure with the turunda.

After cleansing your nose, if necessary, drop a few drops of breast milk into each nasal passage - it relieves inflammation thanks to its protective elements. If you feed the baby with a mixture, then instead of milk you can drip it heated in a water bath vegetable oil- it will soften the nasal cavity and prevent the nasal passages from “drowning” in mucus and becoming crusty. Do not put more than 3 drops in one nostril - they can easily penetrate the baby’s middle ear and cause inflammation.

Fighting a runny nose using folk recipes

Great for a runny nose carrot and . It is diluted in equal proportions with water and 2-3 drops are dripped into each nasal passage. After six months, you can try dripping aloe juice diluted in half with boiled water. If the baby does not like the instillation procedure, simply moisten a cotton swab with juice and insert it into each nostril for a few minutes.

Beet juice - effective remedy from snot.

An effective method that helps remove mucus and quickly get rid of a runny nose - massage of the wings of the nose. It should be carried out with stroking movements from the bridge of the nose to the nasal openings. Together with the nose, you can massage the baby’s ears and forehead. Ask your doctor for advice before testing on your child. folk remedies from a cold.

Interferon- recognized by many doctors as a means of combating colds. The drug can be used from birth. Interferon is dripped every 2 hours 5 times a day. Treatment time is 3 days.

Hot foot baths are a simple and effective way to relieve nasal congestion.

Warming your feet in warm water when you have a runny nose is great! It is possible from 9 months and at a low (up to 38 0) temperature in the baby. First, we lower the child’s feet into warm water up to the ankles and let him get used to the temperature in the basin. Gradually add hot water into the basin, mixing it with your hand with the cooled water. The temperature in the basin should be about 40 0. When your feet turn red, pour cold water on them and dip them in hot water again. Repeat the procedure 3 times. Then dry your child’s feet with a towel and put woolen socks on them. Now you can go to bed.

You can steam your feet only at low temperatures.

If the baby is not yet 9 months old, then warm the soles of his feet with mustard plasters. Dip the mustard plaster into warm water and, taking it out, straighten it in the sock. Place the sock on the child’s foot, and then another sock on top of it. You need to keep the mustard plasters on the soles of your feet for 40-45 minutes.

Reviews from most parents about mustard plasters and warming baths are positive, but where are there no exceptions? Evgenia shares the consequences of warming up with mustard plasters:

“The child has a cold. We warmed our heels 2 times a day for 40 minutes. The first day yielded small positive results, and on the second the child developed a high fever. The ambulance arrived: they said it was overheated. It was necessary to hold the mustard plaster for less time (up to half an hour), since the baby is only a month old. I didn't experiment anymore. We managed without mustard plasters. Now healthy and happy!

During a runny nose at night, place your baby so that his head is much higher than his body - this will make it easier for him to breathe through his nose.

Let's get rid of the cough

The most important thing when treating a cough is to drink large quantities. Warm water, tea with lemon, raspberries or rose hips (if there are no allergies), compote will help remove phlegm as quickly as possible.

Cough can be treated well with mustard plasters, but if the baby has a high fever or is allergic to anything, then immediately discard this option. An alternative to mustard plasters is inhalation. They can be done with:

• honey- dilute it in hot (about 40 0) water 1: 5;
• sage- 2 tbsp. Infuse spoons of plant leaves into a glass of boiling water for a third of an hour under the lid;
• chamomile- 2 tbsp. spoons into a glass of boiling water, leave for 20 minutes and add a liter of boiling water. Chamomile is an excellent antiseptic;
• soda- 2-3 tbsp. spoons per liter of fresh boiling water.

Essential oils and herbal vapors help remove mucus.

Place a pan or bowl with the inhalation solution near the baby's crib for at least an hour. You can also cut up an onion or a few cloves of garlic and place it near the head of the crib.

Magic compress

A couple of hours after inhalation, if there is no temperature, give the baby an oil compress:

• heat the vegetable oil in a water bath to 40-45 0;
• wet a cotton napkin with it;
• place it on the baby’s chest and neck;
• cover the top of the napkin with cellophane;
• put denser material on it;
• wrap the material in a towel;
• tie the towel with a woolen shawl or scarf.

The compress should keep the baby warm for 2 hours. After the baby, you need to wash off the oil so that it does not interfere with the removal of unnecessary substances used by the body through the pores.

The only compress that can be applied to a baby at a fever is cottage cheese. The curd must be heated and the whey separated from it. When a thick curd mass remains, place it in a double layer of gauze and place it on the baby’s chest for about half an hour. When you remove the compress, wipe the area where it was applied with a cotton swab dipped in warm water and blot dry. Any compress is effective if done several times a day.

Dry warm cottage cheese is used for a compress.

The type of cough is important

Cough syrup can only be given to a toddler from six months of age. What kind of baby needs syrup? - it depends on the type of cough: dry and barking or %20%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%81%D1%87%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BD% D1%8B%20%D0%BD%D0%B0%20%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%88%D0%B8%D0%B9%20%D0%B2% D0%BE%D0%B7%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82,%20%D0%B4%D0%B0%20%D0%B8%20%D0%BD%D0%B5 %20%D1%85%D0%BE%D1%87%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%81%D1%8F%20%C2%AB%D0%BF%D0%B8%D1%87%D0 %BA%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%8C%C2%BB%20%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B4%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D0 %B0%D1%8E%D1%89%D0%B8%D0%B9%20%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B3%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0 %BC%20%D1%85%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B8%20 %D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%89%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B8?%C2%BB%20target=%C2 %BB_blank%C2%BB>%D0%B2%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B9%20%D0%B8%20%D0%B3%D0% BB%D1%83%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9%20%D0%B3%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0% BE%D0%B9 .%20%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%B8%20%D1%81%D1%83%D1%85%D0%BE%D0%BC%20%D0%BA%D0 %B0%D1%88%D0%BB%D0%B5,%20%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE% 20%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B8%20%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D1%81%20%D1%80%D0%B5% D0%B1%D1%91%D0%BD%D0%BA%D0%B0%20%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%BF,%20%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0 %B4%D0%BE%20%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BA%20%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%BD%D0%BE%20%D0%B1%D1 %8B%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B5%20%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D1%80%D0 %B0%D1%82%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%8F%20%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%81%D1 %82%D0%B8%20%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%BE%20%D0%B2%D0%BE%20%D0%B2%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0 %BD%D1%8B%D0%B9.%20%D0%94%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%8F%20%D1% 8D%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE%20%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%BD%D0%BE%20%D0%B5%D1%81% D0%BB%D0%B8.

Most often, children suffer from colds. Unfortunately, not a single person, and especially not a child, is immune from viral infections, of which there are almost 300 types in the world. What to do if a cold has overtaken a very small and defenseless person - a baby?

First signs of a cold speak for themselves - the baby does not want to eat, sleeps poorly, cries for no reason, does not leave his mother’s arms, he is lethargic and sleepy. With all his behavior, the child shows his mother that something is wrong with him. Even more obvious symptoms are a rise in temperature, a runny nose and a cough. At the first signs of an overdose of vitamin D or why the child is not sleeping well. treatment must be prescribed by a doctor. You shouldn’t delay calling a doctor, because it’s not the cold itself that’s scary, but its complications - the virus helps open the way for lung inflammation and other ailments.

Should I lower the temperature? Take your time. Temperature is the first signal that the body has begun to fight itself. The higher the temperature, the faster the metabolic processes, and the faster the immune system is mobilized.

When to lower the temperature:

· if it rises above 38.6 degrees,

· if the baby is not yet three months old,

· if he already has heart or lung disease.

In this case, the child needs to be given an antipyretic in the form of syrup or a suppository with paracetamol, or ibuprofen can be used. It is better to choose a candle, as it begins to act faster. In addition, after taking the syrup, the baby may vomit.

If your child has a fever, you don’t need to wrap him up like cabbage to make him sweat. This makes it more difficult for the body to “breathe” and remove toxins. If the temperature is high, you need to remove the baby’s diaper (by the way, you will immediately notice that the mark on the thermometer will drop several notches), put on cotton pajamas and socks. It's enough. If you have chills, cover with a warm blanket.

Likewise, you shouldn’t fight your cough right away. Coughing is the same protective reaction of the body as fever. A cough indicates that the body is trying to get rid of excess things. Although it is clear that the mother suffers when she hears the child “dying,” it is not the cough that needs to be treated, but the reason that caused it. Warm milk with a piece of butter or a pinch of soda will help relieve a sore throat.

Under no circumstances should you give your child antibiotics on your own, without a pediatrician’s prescription. The task of antibacterial drugs is to fight bacterial infections; influenza and ARVI are caused by viruses, not bacteria. Antibiotics should be taken only and exclusively as prescribed by a doctor and provided that the child’s fever lasts more than 4 days.

How to treat a runny nose? A runny nose in very young children is treated with saline or saline solution. Using a nasal toilet is a must - you can clean it with cotton swabs soaked in a salt solution (1 level teaspoon per liter of water), or pump out the snot using an aspirator. Do not get carried away with vasoconstrictor drops - they are addictive and dry out the nasal mucosa - they can be used for no longer than five days.

Relieve the baby's condition can drink plenty of fluids - let's more water, tea, compotes and fruit drinks made from currants and cranberries help a lot (if there are no allergic reactions). The more your baby drinks, the faster his body will cleanse itself of toxins.

Baby's daily routine during illness should be as gentle as possible - more sleep and fresh air. You should do wet cleaning more often and ventilate the room more often; the optimal air temperature is 20-21 degrees. If possible (if there is no fever, frequent paroxysmal cough and stuffy nose), you should not give up short walks. Don’t force your child to eat when he’s sick; if he doesn’t want to, don’t, let him drink more and more often.

Believe me, your appetite will return very, very soon. On average, a cold lasts from 4 to 7 days; with timely and correct treatment, it will go away quickly and without complications.

For the treatment and prevention of colds and flu, many mothers and pediatricians have been using Anaferon for children for 10 years now. Caring mothers who prepare in advance for the autumn-winter and spring cold seasons carry out routine prophylaxis with Anaferon: one tablet for 3-4 weeks before the flu and cold season.

And if you did not have time to take care of prevention in advance and the child showed the first signs of a cold, then the baby should be given Anaferon for children as quickly as possible: in the first two hours, one tablet every 30 minutes - a total of five pieces, and then during the day - more three tablets. From the second day until complete recovery, take a tablet 3 times a day. Anaferon for children can be used even by the smallest infants, starting from one month of age. For children under three years of age, the tablet is dissolved in a tablespoon of water. room temperature. Anaferon acts in a complex manner - it blocks the reproduction of viruses and activates immune defense.

A cold in a baby, especially the first one, is a special test for parents; be prepared in advance so that later you don’t have to find out in a panic what is possible and what is not. And be healthy.

Just the facts

Every year in Russia about 50 million people suffer from colds - this is every third child and every tenth adult

Every year, 500 thousand people die from complications of influenza worldwide

48% of parents in Moscow and 78% of parents in other cities bring down their child’s temperature, even when it has only risen to 37 degrees

The highest body temperature during the flu that doctors have ever recorded is 46.5 degrees

If you are treating a child in a hospital, it is likely that 90% of the time you will be prescribed antibiotics. Not always necessary for the child

There are still many children in Russia who take antibiotics 180 days a year

Planned prevention and vaccination prevents influenza in 70%

Parents often confuse colds in children of the first year of life with teething: many of the symptoms are similar.

Failure to do so in a timely manner may result in serious problems with the health of the baby, up to pneumonia.

It is important to know the signs of a cold in an infant in order to call a pediatrician in time, begin treatment, and avoid serious complications.

A change in behavior during a developing cold is a characteristic symptom that a young mother needs to pay attention to.

With ARVI, he becomes overly irritable, often capricious, cries, or, conversely, for most of the day he shows apathy and lethargy against the background of dehydration and a deficiency of nutrients.

Some babies sleep longer than usual or wake up during the night, but unscheduled feedings do not calm the baby.

If active child has changed behavior dramatically during the day, you need to check for other signs of a cold.

When detecting mucous discharge from the nose, high temperature, sneezing, difficulty breathing, you need to call a doctor or go to an ambulance; if the thermometer rises above 38 degrees, the baby’s well-being quickly deteriorates.

Whims

A cold prevents a baby from fully receiving and assimilating mother's milk: a clogged nose and sneezing create problems during feeding.

A hungry baby worries, screams due to lack of food and breathing problems, and does not fall asleep for a long time.

Infants with a cold are often capricious, irritated for no reason, attempts to calm crying baby do not always end in success. In most cases, a cold develops over several hours: a sharp change in the baby’s behavior and causeless crying should alert parents.

It is difficult to maintain peace of mind and a friendly atmosphere in the family if a child cries for hours, is capricious, refuses to eat, cannot breathe through his nose, or suffers from. Parents should avoid exposing their baby to double stress: children feel the bad mood of adults and become even more nervous, which worsens the course of the disease.

Sleep problems

Insomnia is one of the signs of a cold in young children.

Reasons: mucous mass in the nasal passages, poor saturation due to problems during feeding (it is difficult for the baby to breathe, the process of breastfeeding is disrupted).

The baby wakes up several times at night, cries, and is capricious.

Motion sickness helps for a short time, sneezing, coughing and a stuffy nose prevent the baby from getting a good night's sleep. The exhausted baby falls asleep for a short time, and after the next awakening all the problems appear again.

Nasal discharge

In the initial stage of a cold, the mucus is liquid; as the disease progresses, the color and nature of the mass changes.

The body fights viruses and microbes, the mucus becomes thicker, and crusts form in the nasal passages.

In the middle of the disease they are thick, greenish-brown, and it is difficult to completely remove the dried mass. It is difficult for the baby to breathe, the baby refuses to eat, severe crying, whims, and irritability appear.

To treat the nasal passages of a baby, it is useful to use sea water to soften and moisturize irritated areas. Cotton swabs must be used very carefully: the nasal passages of infants are shorter than those of adults and it is easy to damage delicate tissues. The best option is to roll the turundas from a bandage, moisten them with a composition based on sea water (Humer, Marimer), carefully treat the dried mucous membranes, and remove the crusts.

It is important to use a humidifier to help keep your nasal passages from drying out less when your baby has a cold.

Sneezing

Children under one year old cannot blow their nose on their own, dried crusts irritate the mucous membranes, and the baby sneezes. During the physiological process, particles of liquid or thick secretion are removed from the nasal passages.

During viral infections, pathogens irritate the delicate mucous membranes of the nasal passages. The negative influence of dangerous pathogens, the impact of waste from pathogenic microbes provokes a specific reaction of the body. A characteristic sign of a cold in an infant is sneezing several times in a row.

Voice change

Hoarseness, cough, rougher tones when crying and “humming” are characteristic signs of a cold.

All the symptoms are related to each other: against the background of nasal congestion, hunger and the inability to be completely satisfied, the baby cries often and loudly, irritation of the delicate mucous membrane of the throat occurs, and the voice changes.

Another negative factor is the prolonged penetration of mucous secretions from the nose into the throat area.

The baby does not know how to blow his nose, the discharge constantly flows down. An additional danger is that a mucous mass with microbes or viruses, pus also penetrates into the ear canal, and inflammation of the middle ear develops, which makes the cold worse.

Temperature

In most cases, a feverish state in a child with a cold develops sharply, the thermometer rises to -38 degrees. Many mothers panic if the temperature readings deviate from the norm, but the reaction must be correct: several options for the course of the disease must be taken into account.

Important details:

• a moderate increase in temperature (no more than 38 degrees) is a good sign indicating the body’s resistance to bacterial or viral infection;
• if there are all the signs of a cold, but the baby is lethargic, the temperature is normal or low, then the immune defense is weakened, which negatively affects the course of the disease and the recovery process;
• in a serious condition, the baby may overheat, dehydration develops, convulsions appear, the child breathes frequently, and his health worsens.

Nutrition

Exhaustion is one of the negative consequences colds in children.

It is difficult for a baby to receive breast milk; the baby often refuses feedings.

Often, against the background of a high temperature, a baby will belch like a fountain or vomit profusely after feeding.

When receiving complementary foods, the child also refuses many types of food, which can lead to dangerous consequences.

What to do if, due to problems with nasal breathing, the baby does not want to actively suck? Doctors advise putting the baby to the breast, but reducing the portion: the baby will receive as much milk as the body can absorb in case of poor health, failure of the immune and digestive systems. Be sure to give your baby extra food to prevent dehydration, especially in case of bowel dysfunction, which often develops against a background of high temperature.

To increase appetite, children receiving complementary foods need foods rich in vitamins. Vegetable and fruit purees are a suitable option for replenishing nutritional deficiencies.

The baby should receive at least half the normal amount of breast milk to prevent severe malnutrition.

In children of the first year of life, the immune defense is quite weak; microbes and viruses often attack the tiny body. Colds are often transmitted to a baby from a sick mother. It is important to know the specific signs indicating the development of a cold in an infant in order to contact your pediatrician for help in time.

Before you start treating your baby's runny nose, important rule- this is an immediate request for pediatric help. After the examination, the doctor will make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

In newborns up to two months, the presence of a runny nose is not always the beginning of a respiratory disease. At this age, in children, the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx cannot yet fully perform its functions; its work is not sufficiently regulated, so mucus can be released in sufficient quantities. large quantities, This physiological runny nose at the baby.

Causes of runny nose in infants

Of course, the main reason why a baby develops a runny nose is a common cold, as well as an acute viral infection or flu. During infections, a runny nose in children under one year of age is always accompanied by severe swelling of the mucous membrane, which significantly impairs the baby’s breathing.

The air in a metropolis or even in a small town, and indeed all modern life The human condition is full of the presence of various chemical irritants, to which a fragile baby may have an allergic reaction, which is manifested by a runny nose and sneezing, swelling of the nasopharyngeal mucosa.

In any case, especially if an infant gets sick for the first time, an examination by a pediatrician is required. If your baby has a fever, you should call a doctor at home; if there is no fever, you should come to the appointment. You especially shouldn’t put off calling a doctor if your child has a cough, watery eyes, refuses to breastfeed, or becomes lethargic or tearful.

Features of a runny nose in infants

It is easy to notice that a child has developed snot; there are no differences in the symptoms of a runny nose in a newborn and an adult - the baby sneezes, breathing through the nose becomes difficult, and mucous discharge appears from the nose. The child sniffles, sniffles, refuses to suck normally, and often throws away the breast or pacifier. But at this age, he still cannot blow his nose on his own.

Therefore, the nose must be cleaned using a special mucus sucker - an aspirator, which are sold in pharmacies or departments for infants. You can use a syringe with a soft spout, which should be boiled, cooled, pressed to pump out the air, inserted into the nasal passage, and released. All the mucus will be in the enema.

You cannot use regular cotton swabs with a hard base that can damage the baby’s delicate nose. You should also not use syringes, due to the fact that in such early age mucus from the nose can easily enter the Eustachian tube under pressure, which can cause otitis media in the baby.

In case of lack of nasal breathing and shortness of breath, newborn children cannot always switch to mouth breathing. Medicine knows of cases where a prolonged runny nose in a child, blockage of the nasal passages with thick mucus, became the cause of death of the infant, since the child was suffocated. With a large accumulation of mucus and an unclean nose, it flows into the bronchi and provokes bronchitis, and if it enters the ear through the Eustachian tube, otitis media develops. Take this seemingly minor ailment in children under one year old, like a runny nose, very seriously.

Treatment of runny nose in infants

How to treat a runny nose in a newborn? The first thing to do, as we have already said, is to clear the baby’s nasal passages of mucus using an aspirator. It is very convenient to use, you just need to get used to it. If there is not a lot of discharge, as happens with infants after birth, you can make a cotton swab and twirl it in the baby’s nose; after the procedure, the accumulated mucus will end up on the flagellum, and the nose will be cleared. Just don’t push it deep!

When a runny nose is accompanied by a fever, it is not recommended to walk with the child, especially in frosty weather; you should also not bathe the baby. When the temperature becomes normal, you can go for a walk, but in calm weather, you can bathe 4 days after the child’s condition has clearly improved.

As for nutrition, when a child has a runny nose, his appetite is reduced because it is difficult for him to suck with a stuffy nose. During sucking, he suffocates, and when she is forced to breathe through her mouth, the lips are not closed completely and sucking, especially the baby is unable to breastfeed. Also, against the background of ARVI, a decrease in appetite is natural, since the body is actively fighting a viral infection and there is an additional burden on digestive system, the liver is not needed in this case.

If a child refuses to eat, make every effort to ensure that the baby can breathe freely, clear the nose, do not be lazy, and instill vasoconstrictor drops. Infant even during illness, he should eat at least a third of the serving of milk, and the interval between feedings should be shortened. If he does not breastfeed, feed from a spoon, from a cup, from a syringe; it is important that the child receives nutrition, since life-threatening problems occur very quickly.

If the child is more than 8 months old and has already tried compotes, juices or herbal teas (see), then you can finish it with such drinks. If the child over a year old, in this case, the main thing is to give the baby a good drink; boiled water can be used as an additional liquid.

It is also worth regularly ventilating the room in which the baby is located, using a humidifier, carrying out wet cleaning daily or hanging wet diapers in the room on the radiator. When the air in the room is dry and dusty, the baby's recovery becomes protracted. If there is a high temperature in infants, it is recommended to knock them down at a temperature above 38C (see. detailed review all in suspensions and suppositories).

Drug treatment for runny nose

The modern pharmaceutical industry is rich in various means from a runny nose. In the absence of fever and other symptoms, treatment may be limited to the use of only local agents for instillation into the nose. For infants, it is more correct and safe to instill drops into the nose than to use various sprays.

Moisturizers

Various sprays advertised and recommended with sea ​​water(Aqualor, Aquamaris, Quix, Otrivin baby, etc.) cannot be used by infants, they are contraindicated due to age. Moreover, they can provoke a purulent runny nose, enter the Eustachian tube, cause otitis media, and provoke a spasm of the larynx.

Vasoconstrictors

When the swelling of the nasal mucosa becomes very significant, vasoconstrictors can be instilled on the recommendation of a doctor. You must be very careful with medications of this type, measure only drops with a special pipette, avoid overdose, and they cannot be used for more than three days.

Among the vasoconstrictor drops for the treatment of runny nose in children, you can use Nazol Baby, Nazivin 0.01% for infants. It is necessary to drip no more than once every six hours, preferably at night or before bedtime. After a one-time instillation, some mothers try to re-instill the instillation or continue to use vasoconstrictor drops for more than 3 days - this is unacceptable. In case of overdose, the child may experience palpitations, vomiting, convulsions and other side effects. Rebound syndrome is also possible, when receptors for the drug are blocked, and the runny nose only gets worse.

You can use Vibrocil (a combination of antihistamine and vasoconstrictor action).

Antiseptic drops

Drugs with an antiseptic effect include Protorgol, a silver-based product (can be ordered in the prescription department). You can also use sodium sulfacyl - Albucid eye drops; they can also be used for instillation into the nose. Even such products should be used only as prescribed by a doctor.

Antiviral and immunomodulatory agents

Any antiviral drugs and immunomodulators can be used only according to indications, since the long-term consequences of using drugs that affect the baby’s immunity have not yet been well studied (see). For a runny nose, if the pediatrician deems it necessary, you can use Grippferon, Viferon suppositories, Genferon-light.

It is more convenient to use a bottle without a dropper, since then it is more convenient to measure the number of drops with a simple pipette. By using the droppers included with the medicine, you can exceed the dosage. As a preventative measure, Derinat is administered to infants who have been in contact with sick people, 2 drops 2-3 times a day for 2-3 days. And if signs of a cold have already appeared, then 2 drops every 1.5 hours.

Traditional methods of treatment

Many people advise starting treatment for a runny nose by instilling breast milk. This should not be done. Yes, breast milk is healthy, it contains antibodies that increase the baby’s immunity, but milk is not an antibacterial or disinfectant; moreover, bacteria multiply in milk at an even faster rate, and this procedure is more likely to harm the baby than help.

For infants, it is not advisable to use folk remedies based on an irritating effect on the mucous membrane, for example, Kalanchoe juice. Many grandmothers recommend bitter aloe juice for instillation into the nose of infants, but before using it, the plucked leaves should lie in a cool place for 2-3 days, otherwise the juice may cause redness and irritation of the child’s mucous membrane due to its high biological activity. If you risk using Kalanchoe juice, then fresh juice should be diluted 1:1 with boiled water and instill 1 drop. 3 r/day.

Complications from a runny nose in newborns

Is it necessary to treat a runny nose in a baby? After all, it most often goes away on its own. It is necessary to treat rhinitis in a child under one year old, first of all, to alleviate his condition; the baby cannot say what unpleasant sensations he has, but we all know how hard it is to breathe when the nose is stuffy, how the head hurts, and the child has trouble sleeping , dry mouth appears and the delicate skin on the wings of the nose and upper lip becomes inflamed.

Read our articles about, as well as. One of the complications that can result from a runny nose in a baby is weight loss and dehydration, since it is difficult for the baby to suckle from the breast or feed formula from a bottle.

Very often, zealous mothers can wipe and “blow” the baby’s nose too often, which can lead to ulcers on the wings of the nose, upper lip and under the nose. This causes pain in the baby, and the child becomes even more capricious and whiny.

It is necessary to treat a runny nose on time until complete recovery. The most serious complication of a runny nose in infants without treatment is:

• Otitis media, purulent
• Acute bronchitis
• Ethmoiditis
• Bacterial conjunctivitis
• Dacryocystitis