How to treat green snot in children?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Winter in the yard. Children on sleds, on skates. They run and rejoice. Good for them. But then your child appears at the door, and your mood deteriorates. Snot to the knees! They stand out so well on the rosy cheeks of your children. "Really ill?" - the first thing that comes to mind of a worried parent, despite the fact that the picture is often quite familiar. Fortunately, this is not always the case. Not always. It happens that snot causes serious concerns! And this is indicated by their color. Color green!

Taste and color

What is the first symptom we see most often in children? Of course, a runny nose! Children in kindergartens and educational institutions are especially susceptible to it. Many of them regularly experience unpleasant wet smudges near the nose. They arise for various reasons, and the color of these secretions is also different. It directly depends on these reasons. Typically white or yellow-brownto green. The viscosity also changes. Thick and liquid - such snot appears to the eyes of others, and then doctors.

Caution! Green color

If the snot in children is green, it not only looks frightening, but also gives rise to serious concerns. It is the green color that indicates the presence of a bacterial infection in the nasal cavity. If you observe thick green snot in a child - how to treat? This is already a serious reason to contact a pediatrician who will examine the child and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Fire of the lesion

Being the most characteristic symptom of colds and acute respiratory infections in children, a runny nose appears most often in autumn, winter and spring. It is during these periods that there is a weakening of the protective functions of immunity and, as a result, susceptibility to this kind of disease. Children are most exposed to these risks by attending childcare facilities and coming into direct contact with those who could transmit the infection to them. If viruses enter the upper respiratory tract, the discharge is clear and liquid. If the treatment process is not started at this stage, an environment appears on the nasal mucosa that is beneficial for pathogenic bacterial microflora (streptococci, staphylococci). At the same time, the discharge becomes thick and has a yellow-green, and sometimes just a green color. In children, thick green snot contributes to shortness of breath and painful sensations, which greatly complicates the course of the disease.

Why green?

In fact, this color of discharge can both scare and reassure. After all, he, first of all, says that there is a problem, but the mechanism for solving it has already been launched. Neutrophils began their action to destroy pathogenic bacteria. They accumulate in the nasal cavity, absorb and break down malicious violators of human he alth. And as a product of this struggle, green secretions signal that a special enzyme (it is he who has a specific green color) has begun his work. But! The richer the green color, the more bacteria work to eliminate the inflammatory process. Remember this!

What are green snot talking about? Possible diseases

Green snot in children, first of all, are signs of some diseases. Here they are: rhinitis, ethmoiditis, sinusitis, frontal sinusitis. All of them represent inflammatory processes of certain parts of the nasal cavity.

There are cases when children with allergies develop complications of allergic rhinitis. The characteristic green color of the snot clearly indicates this.

Treat!!

But how to treat green snot in a child? It is necessary to take care of the correct treatment of the child. After all, any runny nose is the cause of serious discomfort in children. The difficult breathing caused by it often causes headaches, and, as a result, the child becomes capricious. Sleep disturbances are also possible, which can cause chronic fatigue in a child. However, we mention this only to emphasize the importance of timelytreatment. First of all, immediately contact an otolaryngologist. This is a specialist in the problems of diseases of the nasal cavity, and it is he who will help, having examined the child, prescribe the correct treatment. Given that bacteria are a major factor in disease, a special analysis may be needed to determine the susceptibility of identified pathogens to antibiotics.

From simple to complex

If the form of the disease is not severe, it is best to limit yourself to local therapy. It includes procedures to normalize the outflow of mucous masses. Washing and the use of antiseptic preparations will also help in this case. With snot that has a green color and has arisen on an allergic background, the use of antihistamines will be most effective. They will help reduce inflammation and cope with swelling of the nasal mucosa. Drinking plenty of fluids will help your child get better at this stage of the disease. Do not forget about the correct temperature and humidity in his room. With a relatively normal condition of the child, walks in the fresh air will be appropriate. Certainly not in extreme weather. And it is important to remember that with green snot, in no case should you self-medicate! To the doctor! Only to the children's doctor! He will definitely help you by prescribing the drugs necessary for the treatment of your child.

To know and be able

Of course, washing the nasal cavity is best done in a children's clinic. It is possible at home, but only after receiving from a specialistinstructions on how to do it correctly without harming the child. Improper rinsing can lead to unwanted and even negative phenomena in the form of inflammation of the middle ear!

For the little ones

Most of all problems with flushing occur with babies under one year old. How to treat green snot for a child at this age? After all, many skills of an adult are inaccessible to him. For example, blowing out. Therefore, you will have to tinker with the kids, using special devices (aspirators, syringes). If the child is accustomed to the nipple, it is necessary to free the mouth from it, as there is a risk of ear barotrauma. Ordinary physiological solutions or sea water solutions can be used to moisten the mucous membranes and rinse the nose. These sprays are great for treating babies. Mention should be made of the frequency of prescribed procedures. They need to be done three times a day. For babies who are breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, just before feeding, so that a clogged nose does not interfere with them during meals.

Healing drops

In some cases, as prescribed by a doctor, it is advisable to use therapeutic drops. The doctor will help you choose the type and dosage of such drops, taking into account the age and condition of the small patient: a two percent solution of Protargol, Albucid, Isofra, Polydex and Bioparox. These are a number of drugs that may be prescribed to treat your child. It is also possible to treat green snot in a childeffective "complex" drops. They are based on drugs with antibacterial activity, antibiotic solutions and antiallergic substances. You can make them, in principle, by yourself according to a doctor's prescription, or order at a pharmacy. It is still worth adding to this that some well-known pediatricians warn against the use of antibiotics in the treatment of green snot in children. They recommend, if possible, to do with washing procedures, walks in the fresh air and maintaining the necessary microclimate in the house.

In special cases, it may be necessary to use vasoconstrictor drops. As a rule, this need arises with severe difficulty or complete absence of nasal breathing. But they can be used only when absolutely necessary, for example at night. You should always be aware of the extremely negative consequences that their misuse can lead to.

Prevention and precautions

Green snot in a child is a reason for parents to think about the prevention of this unpleasant factor after treatment. It implies, first of all, the maintenance of immunity, the prevention of the incidence of acute respiratory infections and timely and qualified therapy at the first sign of a runny nose. Provide your child with good nutrition, regularly walk with him in the fresh air, provide an opportunity to play sports and keep your home clean and microclimate. Here are those simple rules for the prevention of green snot inbaby.