Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!
You must have heard a lot of different opinions about a childhood runny nose - that a baby's runny nose is harmless, that it can be a symptom of an allergy, that a baby with a runny nose must not be bathed … Which of them are real and which you should not believe?
A runny nose in a babyis an unpleasant ailment - it makes breathing difficult and prevents the baby from sleeping at night. It especially annoys babies who cannot yet breathe through their mouths. Here are the most common opinions about the common cold.
True judgments about a baby's runny nose
- You have to go for walks with a runny baby
Cool air constricts the blood vessels and mucosa in the nose, so the baby breathes more easily. If your child does not have a fever and it is nice outside, go for walks for up to two or three hours a day.
- Qatar is not treated with antibiotics
A runny nose is caused by viruses (or allergens), and antibiotics treat bacterial diseases. During a runny nose, the child can be given - at the request of the pediatrician - vitamins that will strengthen the child and help fight the infection. Antibiotics may only be needed after bacterial superinfection occurs and the child becomes feverish, coughing, or overall he alth deteriorates. The pediatrician decides on the method of treatment.
- Chronic runny nose may be an allergy symptom
A constantly clogged nose, clear discharge oozing from it, bouts of sneezing - these are signals that it is worth going to an allergist. Your child may be allergic to dust mites, bedding feathers or one of the dietary ingredients.
Myths about runny nose in children
- Runny nose in babies is harmless
It must not be taken lightly, as complications of rhinitis can lead to inflammation of the ears or sinuses. In a young child, the Eustachian tube is short and wide, and since the infant lies most of the time, the secretions that have not been removed in time run down to the ears. There it dries up, creating a breeding ground for bacteria that start to multiply in it, leading to otitis after a few days. It may appear faster if the nasal discharge is greenish or yellow in color. Go to the doctor as soon as possible. It is also necessary when the toddler often grabs the ear or cries a lot.
- During a runny nose, the little oneshould be dressed warmer
Overheating weakens the immune system. Therefore, always dress your little one according to the weather. Whether he is too warm or too cold, you can check by putting your hand to his neck. If it's hot, it's a sign that you've gone overboard. If the nape of the neck is cool, put on an extra piece of clothing or cover the baby with a blanket.
- Aspirators to extract excess secretions damage the mucosa
The tip of the aspirator is contoured - only a small fragment of it is inserted into the hole, which does not touch the walls of the nose directly. So there is no danger that - as is the case with rubber nasal blisters - the mucosa may be accidentally sucked inside the apparatus.
- A runny child cannot be bathed
There are no contraindications, even if the baby has a fever. Moisture in the bathroom while bathing dilutes the secretion in the nose and makes it easier to drain away, thanks to which the child breathes more freely. However, it is important that the baby does not stay in the water for too long and that the room is warm. After bathing, make sure not to cool or overheat your baby.
- If you have a runny nose, it is better not to put the baby to the breast, but to bottlefeed it
Mom's runny nose is not a reason to stop breastfeeding your baby. There are antibodies in breast milk that will protect your baby from infection. If a child has a runny nose, it should also be placed on the breast, and more often than usual - during an infection, especially when it is associated with a fever, the child may be thirsty. The toddler has to drink a lot, and at the beginning of feeding, the milk is thinned, thanks to which it satisfies the baby's thirst.
"M jak mama" monthly