Babies are much more likely than adults to suffer from acute respiratory infections. Rhinitis in a month-old baby is a common occurrence. Parents are interested in why snot appears in a newborn 1 month old, what to do with them and how to prevent a runny nose.
Runny nose in a newborn 1 month
Creation of comfortable conditions
Toddlers need a comfortable environment. The room where the newborn lives should be clean, dry and well ventilated. Temperature - within 20-22 degrees, relative humidity - at least 40 percent.
Note! In winter, it is necessary to humidify the air.
The crumbs bed should be located in a place where there are no drafts. Otherwise, the risk of developing acute respiratory diseases increases. In addition, the bed should be on the opposite wall from the window.
The children's room must be ventilated at least 3 times a day. For the duration of the airing, the baby should be transferred to another room, and a draft should be arranged in the nursery. The duration of airing in summer is about 30 minutes, in winter - no more than 15.
What provokes the appearance of snot
A newborn baby may have so-called physiological rhinitis immediately after delivery. It arises from the fact that the mucous membrane has not yet adapted to the environment. This produces a significant amount of mucus.
The most common reason for the appearance of snot in a baby is the effect of viruses on the body. Allergy is a possible cause of rhinitis.
If a month old baby has snot and grunting appears, it means that the air in the room is excessively dry. However, this symptom is also characteristic of the narrowness of the nasal passages. During the formation of the nasal mucous membranes, a large amount of mucus is secreted.
Important! "Grunting" is normal and should not be a concern for parents.
A runny nose in a one-month-old baby may appear due to the presence of irritants in the air: dust, pollen, chemical fumes from household chemicals, tobacco smoke.
Finally, snot can appear as a result of excessive cleansing of the nose with pears, cotton swabs, and rinsing with saline solutions. The mucous membrane of the nose is greatly irritated. This irritation provokes the production of more mucus.
Cleansing a child's nose with a pear
Manifestations of a cold in infants
Rhinitis has 3 stages:
- Irritation. At this stage, pathogenic bacteria enter the nasal cavity and irritate the nasal mucosa. In this case, the child feels dryness in the nose, burning, tickling in it. Body temperature may rise slightly - up to 37.5 degrees.
- The serous stage is characterized by the flow of a large amount of liquid mucus from the nose. Nasal breathing is difficult. Conjunctivitis may develop, manifested by profuse lacrimation.
- The stage of purulent discharge. At this time, a large amount of thick purulent mucus is secreted from the nose. It can sometimes smell bad.
The development of a cold in infants has its own characteristics. The nasal passages of newborns are narrow. Even slight swelling of the mucous membrane interferes with normal breathing. This leads to poor feeding and, as a result, anxiety of the baby.
Note! During sleep, babies may experience attacks of suffocation, shortness of breath. They are associated with a violation of physiological respiration.
Symptoms of a stuffy nose
The symptoms of a stuffy nose are pronounced in the first months of life. This is especially true for premature babies. Common signs of nasal congestion are:
- difficulty in the sucking process;
- baby anxiety;
- frequent breathing through the mouth, which leads to swallowing large amounts of air;
- vomiting leading to weight loss;
- dyspepsia.
The child has a stuffy nose
Note! With prolonged respiratory failure, the baby's body experiences oxygen starvation. To facilitate breathing, the baby throws back its head, bending its back.
Against the background of the appearance of snot, cough and fever may occur. The baby can also "grunt".
How long does a runny nose last
Parents are often interested in how long a runny nose can last in a baby. With proper treatment of rhinitis, the average duration of the disease is about a week. If you do not create the right conditions for the baby, then rhinitis may not go away in a week. With good immune protection, a child can be cured within a few days.
If the runny nose continues and does not go away for more than three weeks, then they talk about its chronic course. Lack of treatment leads first to hypertrophy of the mucous membrane, subsequently to its atrophy. This is very dangerous for babies.
Danger of snot in a newborn 1 month old:
- violation of the formation of the chest and facial skeleton (can adversely affect further teething);
- violation of oxygen metabolism;
- disorder of the functioning of the respiratory, cardiovascular systems;
- the likelihood of developing allergic diseases increases;
- there is a risk of developing pathologies of the nasopharynx.
Why does the temperature rise
The main reason for the appearance of a temperature with a runny nose is the penetration of viruses and bacteria into the body. They cause an inflammatory process, accompanied by an increase in body temperature.
Dangerously! With a bacterial infection, the temperature can rise to 39 degrees.
In some cases, allergens provoke an increased temperature with a cold: dust, smoke, fragrances.
How to treat a runny nose in infants
Parents often ask the question of how to treat a runny nose in a 1 month old baby. According to Dr. Komarovsky, one should not rush to use medicines for the common cold. The vasoconstrictor drugs are especially harmful to the child. He believes that it is not worth rinsing the nasal mucosa often, because it is a mechanical barrier for viruses and bacteria, producing interferon. By flushing off natural mucus, parents break local immunity.
Council. Nasal drops can be used when it is necessary to rinse off crusts or irritants (such as dust).
It is necessary to bury a baby's nose in the first month like this:
- drip the solution into one nostril;
- turn the baby's head so that the instilled nostril is on top;
- drip the second nostril in the same way;
- suck off the remaining mucus with an aspirator.
Burying the nose
Antiviral drugs should only be used as directed by a doctor. Sometimes they are used not only for treatment, but also for prevention.
Komarovsky gives advice on how to treat a 1-month-old child with a runny nose, and reminds that the use of folk "grandmother's" recipes for a runny nose is categorically unacceptable. Chamomile, eucalyptus, or aloe juice are undoubtedly effective. However, they can cause severe allergic reactions. It is a misconception that a runny nose can be cured with breast milk.
At elevated temperatures, the baby may refuse to breast. To do this, you need to drink it with expressed milk, best of all - with a spoon. The baby must be fed regularly or it could develop life-threatening dehydration.
Vasoconstrictor drops can only be given as directed by a doctor. The first thing parents need to know is the dosage regimen. The maximum duration of the use of vasoconstrictor drops is 5 days. The nose should be instilled with a slightly warmed medicine.
Dr. Komarovsky also warns against inhalations, because the age of one month is too young to carry out such activities. The infant's respiratory system is still very weak and may develop laryngospasm and bronchial obstruction.
Inhalations for older babies
When to see a doctor
If these symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor:
- difficulty breathing;
- temperature rise above 38.5 degrees;
- the appearance of a cough with wheezing;
- the appearance of thick, sticky discharge, yellow, greenish;
- the appearance of rashes on the body;
- swelling of the face or throat;
- refusal of the child from feeding and drinking;
- baby anxiety.
Preventive Tips
Snot in a 1 month old baby can be prevented by systematic hardening of the crumbs. Hardening procedures increase the resistance of the child's body to adverse environmental factors and strengthen the immune system.
Parents should follow these recommendations:
- At home, it is necessary to maintain a normal temperature regime. Too high and too low temperatures are equally harmful to the child.
- The children's room needs regular wet cleaning.
- For a walk, you need to dress for the weather. If possible, avoid crowded places and avoid excessively long walks.
- You need to breastfeed your baby on demand. When mixed or artificial feeding, it is necessary to use only adapted formulas.
Healthy nose
There are many reasons for the occurrence of a children's rhinitis. Parents need to monitor the health of the baby and know how to treat snot in a 1 month old baby. If you experience symptoms that are unusual for a cold, you need to contact your pediatrician.
