In the treatment of the common cold, drops are the most popular form of drugs, as they quickly and easily deliver the drug to the desired area. But, if a child has a runny nose, drops should be chosen very carefully, since such drugs have age restrictions, contraindications, and some nuances of use.
Operating principle
Drops used in the treatment of the common cold have the following effect:
- Moisturizing. These drops help soften dried mucus and are also used to prevent rhinitis.
- Antiviral... Drops with this effect are effective for viral rhinitis at the onset of the disease.
- Vasoconstrictor... The use of these drops relieves nasal congestion and makes breathing easier. They are often used for severe rhinitis that interferes with sleep and food intake.
- Anti-inflammatory... Such drops relieve inflammation in the nasal mucosa.
- Antibacterial... Drops with this effect are indicated for rhinitis caused by bacteria.
- Antiallergic... Such drops are indicated for rhinitis caused by exposure to allergens.
- Immunomodulatory... Drops with this effect stimulate the defenses of the child's body.
Kinds
Depending on the composition and method of manufacturing, drops against the common cold are:
- Pharmacy... These are drugs prescribed by doctors and recognized by traditional medicine. For their manufacture, mainly synthetic substances are used.
- Home... These are products that are prepared independently according to folk recipes using natural raw materials.
- Combined... These are drops, for the manufacture of which pharmacy components are used at home.
One of the ways to get rid of mucus in children using traditional medicine is described in the video below.
Remember that you can use self-made medicines only after consulting a pediatrician!
Indications
Drugs in the form of drops are prescribed:
- With acute rhinitis.
- With allergic rhinitis.
- With a chronic form of the common cold.
- For the prevention of a runny nose during the epidemic season.
- For moisturizing and cleaning the nasal cavity.
- With adenoiditis.
- For acute or chronic sinusitis and otitis media.
- For rhinoscopy.
- To prepare for surgical treatment of the nose.
- After operations in the area of the nose.
When can you not do without drops?
In many cases, a runny nose is treated without drugs, and sometimes they are not treated at all, but there are situations when the use of drops is justified:
- If the child has nasal breathing problems, especially if you have difficulty breathing through the mouth.
- With increased body temperature.
- For pain in the ear (timely treatment with vasoconstrictor drops helps prevent otitis media).
The best drops: a review of medicines
Most often, in the treatment of a cold, the following drugs are used in drops:
- Aquamaris... The main action of such drops based on sterile seawater is moisturizing the mucosa... The drug attracts by the absence of contraindications and side effects, as well as the possibility of using it in infants. It is available in 10 ml vials and is prescribed from the first day of life, 1-2 drops from 2-3 times a day.
- Vibrocil... Such drops with vasoconstrictor and anti-allergic action Available in 15 ml vials. At the age of one year, the drug is instilled 1 drop 3-4 times a day. For babies over a year old, a single dosage can be increased to two drops in each nasal passage, and for children over 6 years old - up to 3-4 drops. The medicine is not prescribed for atrophic rhinitis. The duration of use without consulting a doctor should not exceed 1 week.
- Otrivin... The active substance of this vasoconstrictor is xylometazoline. The medicine is available in 10 ml vials in different concentrations - 0.05% for children under 6 years of age and 0.1% for children over 6 years of age. The agent is instilled in 1-2 drops up to 3 times a day for no longer than 1 week.
- Nazivin... The active ingredient of such a drug is oxymetazoline, which is noted vasoconstrictor action. For children under one year old, the drug is released at a concentration of 0.01%, for children from 1 to 6 years old - at a concentration of 0.025%, and children over 6 years old are prescribed a drug with a concentration of 0.05%. The drug is instilled twice or three times a day, 1-2 drops in each nostril, using the agent for no longer than 3-5 days.
- Aqualor Baby... Such moisturizing drops contain seawater. They are produced in 15 ml vials and are prescribed for both newborns and older children, 1-2 drops in each nostril from 2 to 4 times a day.
- Nazol Baby... it vasoconstrictor drops in a bottle of 15 ml, prescribed for acute rhinitis under the age of one year, 1 drop, and for children 1-6 years old, 1-2 drops in each nasal passage. The medicine is instilled a maximum of 4 times a day and no longer than 3 days in a row.
- Zyrtec... Such drops containing cetirizine are prescribed for allergic rhinitis.
- Pinosol... These drops contain eucalyptus, pine and mint oils. Their application has anti-inflammatory, emollient and antibacterial effect. It is often prescribed for the atrophic form of the common cold, by instilling one or two drops into each nostril up to 3 times a day.
- Sanorin... Such vasoconstrictor drops prescribed in childhood at a concentration of 0.05%, instilling the drug 2-3 times a day, 1-2 drops in each nasal passage.
- Eucasept... This preparation contains fir, mint and eucalyptus oils, due to which it has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effect... The agent is instilled up to 4 times a day, 1-2 drops in each nostril for 5-7 days.
- Derinat... These are drops with a complex effect on the body, which can be used not only to eliminate the common cold, but also to prevent this disease.
- Protargol... The composition of such a drug contains silver ions, which provide antimicrobial action. The medicine is prescribed 3-5 drops in each nostril twice a day.
Choosing a drug by age
- You need to be especially careful when choosing drops for newborns and infants up to a year. At this age, it is permissible to use Vibrocil, Aquamaris, Otrivin 0.05%, Marimera, Protargola, Nazola Baby, Aqualor Baby. Of the folk remedies, the most common use of breast milk.
- For the treatment of rhinitis in children from one year old, you can use drops Nazivin, Zyrtek, drops based on sea water, Protargol and Vibrocil. Folk remedies used in children over a year old are juices of onions, aloe, carrots, beets. Honey and herbal decoctions are also often used.
- For children 2 years of age, such drugs are prescribed in the form of drops as Tizin 0.05%, Sanorin 0.05%, Pinosol, Eucasept. At this age, drugs used from birth, for example, Aqualor, Vibrocil and Aquamaris, do not lose their effectiveness.
- For children 3 years old, all those nasal agents that are permissible for use from birth, from one year and from two years can be used. The concentration of such drugs usually does not exceed 0.025-0.05%.
- From the age of 6, drugs are prescribed in a higher concentration, for example, Tizin 0.1% and Nazivin 0.05%. Moisturizing drops, oil preparations, and other products recommended in childhood are also often given to schoolchildren.
How and how to treat a baby with a runny nose and a stuffy nose, see the video.
How Do I Pick Good Drops?
The main factors that are taken into account when selecting drops for a cold are the child's age and the type of cold, as well as the duration of the disease... The best tactic would be to see a doctor who can determine which drug will help in a particular case. Drops that are safe for children, which parents can purchase and use on their own, are moisturizers, such as Marimer or Aquamaris. If the mucus in the spout has dried, oil drops are shown, for example, Eucasept or Pinosol.
Instructions for use
The drug is instilled alternately into each nostril at short intervals, after removing excess mucus from the nose. To do this, you need to put the baby on the bed and slightly raise his head. When instilling the medicine into the left nasal passage, turn your head slightly to the right, and vice versa. At the end of the procedure, press the wings of the nose and, having seated the child, slightly tilt his head forward.
You can clearly see how to properly bury drops in a child's nose in the video.
Tips
- Do not administer vasoconstrictor, antibacterial and antiallergic drops to your child.
- Remember that u drops against the common cold have side effects, especially if drugs with a vasoconstrictor effect are used... The most common of these are sneezing, nasal congestion, dry mucous membranes, and a burning sensation. If your child has such phenomena, you should refuse to use nasal drops.
- Before using be sure to read the annotation and make sure your child falls within the age range of medication use... Do not exceed the permissible dosages and the recommended duration of the drops.
