Treatment of a cold in a child - what medicines to use. What to give a child when the first signs of a cold are detected How to treat a child with the first signs

When the first signs of a cold appear in a child, parents have a question, how to treat the disease? Medications and non-pharmacological remedies can help in solving the problem. Not all of them are suitable for the smallest and, often, can prolong the duration of the disease. So how to treat a cold and how to avoid mistakes in the process of providing assistance?

A cold develops for several reasons, it may be the result of hypothermia or the child's contact with viruses.

A viral infection has its own specific symptoms, in children it manifests itself as follows:

1. The temperature rises, and the indicator can reach impressive marks, up to 39 degrees.
2. Worried about a runny nose, nasal congestion, as well as a cough, and it can be both wet and dry.
3. General intoxication of the body, the baby refuses to eat, drinks a lot and spends a lot of time in bed.

If hypothermia of the body is to blame, then the symptoms are similar, but there are no signs of intoxication. That is, despite the increase in temperature, which is rarely serious, the indicator does not reach 38 degrees. The kid is ready to play, run, go for a walk. Cough and runny nose do not cause him serious discomfort.

If the body temperature is not elevated, but at the same time the child has a runny nose, cough or signs of intoxication of the body, it is worth suspecting that he has an acute respiratory disease or acute respiratory viral infection.

Among the first signs of a cold:

• general weakness of the body, malaise;
• a slight increase in temperature;
• profuse or not abundant discharge of mucus from the nose;
• slight decrease in activity, cough;
• may be bothered by a sore throat;
• there is redness of the eyes, tearing, dry mucous membranes.

Much depends on the age of the child, newborns and babies of the first year of life suffer from a cold and its manifestations more often. This is due to the immaturity of the immune system.

Most often, the signs described above disturb children during the off-season, as well as in winter. But a cold can also occur in the summer, it’s just that such cases are diagnosed less frequently.

What are the most dangerous symptoms for a child?

The cold itself, like a viral infection, is not dangerous for the baby, until signs of complications appear. Nonspecific or complicated course of the disease is easy to recognize.

Pay attention to the following symptoms:

1. Body temperature rises and lasts more than 3 days in a row.
2. Intoxication of the body increases, the child refuses food, shows indifference to it.
3. He is worried about severe weakness, cannot get out of bed, there is confusion, hallucinations.
4. There is nausea, vomiting, severe coughing that interferes with breathing, convulsive syndrome.

If the usual signs of a cold or viral disease persist for 5 days, their intensity does not decrease, then you should consult a doctor. The problem lies in the fact that during the specified period of time the body must cope with the disease, overcome it.

If this does not happen, then adequate therapy is required. Otherwise, the likelihood of complications is high.

Safe children's cold medicines

In fact, in pharmacology there are none. There is a list of drugs that will not bring serious harm to the body. But the doctor should prescribe them, determine the course of treatment.

What to do if the child does not breathe through the nose?

For younger patients, pediatricians use the following tools:

It is not always worth lowering the temperature, if it does not exceed 38.5 degrees, then do not worry. But children tolerate the increase in performance in different ways, so here it is purely individual. If parents see that the baby is ill, you can resort to the help of such means, it does not even reach the above values.

In fact, in pediatrics, all the drugs indicated in the table are allowed to be used to treat children older than 3 months of age. If the child is not yet 3 months old, then it is strictly forbidden to treat him on his own, it is worth calling a doctor at home.

Treatment for the little ones

Therapy of children under one year old has its own characteristics and consists in an integrated approach to solving the problem. If the baby has a cold, then everyone will have to treat him at once. The reason for this is a poor, weak immune system.

But self-selection of medicines, in such a situation, is unacceptable. Since it is difficult to predict what kind of reaction the body will give to drugs.

Babies often get sick with colds and viral diseases, but you should not panic at the first sign of illness to “feed” the child with pills and syrups. Colds can go away on their own, without taking medication, provided that the child eats well, is properly cared for, and does not have serious immunity problems.

Non-drug remedies

A kind of alternative to medicines is traditional medicine. In combination, they "work" perfectly, help to increase the effectiveness of the main therapy, speed up recovery.

How to treat a child who has the first signs of a cold:

How and with what to clean the ears of a newborn?

What to drink with a cold

Since a cold can be of a different nature, the following drinks can be used as part of its treatment:

• warm tea with honey, lemon or raspberries is a good option for older children who can drink warm without much whims;
• warm milk with butter and honey - softens the throat, helps eliminate dryness, relieve pain, discomfort;
• milk with persimmon and honey - the medicine is prepared using a blender, it resembles yogurt in consistency, it is given to children in small portions, it helps to alleviate coughs, reduce the frequency of urges;
• cranberry juice - this unique berry stimulates the body to produce substances that have an antibacterial effect, cranberries are given to babies over 3 years old, not forgetting that it can cause allergies.

The best option is drinking water in a warm form, it can be given from a spoon. Often parents add honey to the water. It will help you get over your cold faster.

Doctors say that herbal decoctions also have a good healing effect, which can be used:

If during an illness the body does not receive enough fluid, then intoxication increases. Harmful substances accumulate, adversely affecting the functioning of organs and systems.

In addition, the lack of fluid leads to thickening of the mucus, it does not come out, accumulates in the bronchi and lungs, which can lead to complications: pneumonia, bronchitis. Thick mucus accumulates in the nasal passages, thereby making breathing difficult, leading to the development of sinusitis.

Typical mistakes in treating a cold in a child

Parents, like doctors, can make mistakes trying to help the baby get rid of the signs of a cold faster. Let's discuss the most common missteps that dads and moms make, guided by good intentions:

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Classmates

Colds are the cause of certain diseases that occur due to hypothermia of the body: immune forces reduce activity.

The insidiousness of a cold is that, against the background of reduced immunity, it is easier for the virus to enter the body. Chronic diseases can also make themselves felt.

In the article, we will consider what kind of therapy is carried out for a cold, which will help to cure the baby as quickly as possible, as well as what features of treatment are typical for children of different ages.

How to treat a cold in a child if parents notice the first effects of hypothermia? First symptoms may appear within a few hours either at night or the next day. Initial therapy consists in a sparing regimen for the baby.

On the first day and at the first sign of a cold, it is important provide conditions in which the recovery process will go faster:

1. calm down and tune in to positive emotions;
2. ventilate the room, do a wet cleaning;
3. provide plenty of fluids, do not force the baby to eat through force;
4. it is necessary to humidify the air;
5. if necessary, use vasoconstrictor drops and antipyretics.

First aid with a cold is:

• establishing bed or semi-bed rest,
• a simple diet with a predominance of vegetables and fruits,
• plentiful drink.

Colds can run both with and without temperature increase. When the thermometer is raised to 38 degrees, it is not necessary to bring down the temperature, although in each case Better focus on baby's condition..

Important! In the absence of fever, it is important to walk with the child. The air has a healing property, cleanses the respiratory tract, normalizes breathing.

If the child has a cold and urinates frequently, this may indicate the beginning of the inflammatory process of the urinary system. In no case should this symptom be ignored, since the infection spreads very quickly and can develop into real torment in a few hours.

Carefully! Immediately go for a consultation with a pediatrician, or rather a narrow specialist (pediatric urologist), taking a urine test with you.

Often, at the first signs of the disease, many parents try to give antiviral drugs: in case of a cold, they do not kill the virus, because it does not exist, but help the immune system recover faster.

Symptomatic therapy is the basis of the treatment of a cold.

It often happens that the baby catches a cold while receiving medication for any disease. The question of its continuation, for example, whether it is possible to inject Cortexin or another drug indicated to the baby, is decided by the local pediatrician and the narrow specialist who prescribed it (if any). Doctors assess the risks of drug withdrawal or decide on its compatibility with the treatment of the common cold.

For babies from 1 year to 3 years

Therapy for babies from the first to 2 years of life based on the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, antipyretics. The advantage in the treatment of a one-year-old child is given to medicines in the form of syrup and rectal suppositories.

If the child is 1 year old and the parents know for sure that he has a cold (i.e., hypothermia), then the first thing to do is within the next few days minimize visits to public places, nursery, circles. If it's time for your baby to get vaccinated, put it off for a week and keep an eye on your baby.

On a note! From the age of 3 years, the list of drugs approved for use increases. Therefore, before starting treatment, seek the advice of a pediatrician who can choose a remedy for age.

When coughing inhalation with saline is allowed and "Lazolvan", with nasal congestion - the use of vasoconstrictor drops. As an immunostimulant (only after consultation with a pediatrician), Viferon suppositories are used.

From 4 years to 6 years

Treatment of children aged 4 to 5-6 years involves the use of the drugs mentioned above. At this age the child can independently gargle with a decoction of chamomile swallowing tablets and capsules. It is better to reduce the temperature with traditional ibuprofen or paracetamol.

Carefully! Do not use aspirin to reduce fever at home.

From the first days of a cold, as a rule, effective drugs for a given age are prescribed. antiviral drugs:

• rimantadine,
• Ingaverin,
• Arbidol,
• Ergoferon.

From 7 years to 10

For younger students aged 7 to 10 years, the principle of treatment remains the same:

• antiviral drugs,
• symptomatic treatment,
• plentiful drink,
• creation of favorable conditions for the child.

Be sure to carry out daily wet cleaning and ventilation, humidify the air.

For children of this age, dosages of drugs may change. Sometimes dose calculation can only be carried out by a doctor, based on the body weight of the child. And still what to accept to the child, the doctor should solve. Therefore, consultation with a pediatrician before starting treatment is required.

What to give

For a cold, pediatrician prescribes a combination of drugs helping the baby's body to cope with the disease. The only effective medicine for a cold has not been invented.

1. Antivirals. Especially effective in the early stages of the disease. These can be rectal suppositories "Viferon", nasal drops "Derinat", "Grippferon", "Genferon".
2. Antimicrobial nasal drops. They are used for thickening of the common cold and for purulent discharge from the nose: Collargol, Pinosol.
3. Warming ointments: oxolinic, turpentine, Doctor Mom ointment.
4. cough syrups: "Ambrobene", "Lazolvan", "Prospan" and others. The choice of drug depends on the nature of the cough.
5. Antipyretics. Paracetamol or ibuprofen can be used at home.
6. Anti-inflammatory drugs(after consulting a pediatrician).
7. Solutions for the treatment of the mucous throat. The most common of them is Miramistin.
8. Medications that increase immunity: "Arbidol", "Anaferon".

Anti-inflammatory

The fact that with a cold the baby began inflammation, show certain signs:

• temperature,
• swollen lymph nodes,
• redness of the eyes.

Anti-inflammatory drugs are divided into several groups:

• hormonal,
• non-hormonal,
• basic.

Important! For the treatment of children, “soft”, non-toxic medicines are selected. The dosage is selected by the attending pediatrician.

There are several forms of release of drugs in this category. These are suppositories, syrups, tablets. For the treatment of children syrup and suppositories are considered the most suitable.

On a note! Rectal suppositories and syrups are approved for use from the first days of life, tablets - for children over 7 years old, capsules - from 12 and older.

Among the most prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs for children are:

• "Ibuprofen". Approved for use from birth.
• "Nise". It is recommended for children from 12 years of age in tablet form, for children from 2 years of age - syrup.

All drugs with paracetamol as the main active ingredient are used according to age dosages.

Carefully! The drug "Flurbiprofen" is intended for children over 12 years of age, at a younger age it is taken strictly according to the doctor's prescription in the form of rectal suppositories. Self-medication with this drug is unacceptable.

Warming ointments

Ointments have several therapeutic actions, among which:

• diaphoretic,
• warming up
• antiseptic.

Warming ointment in children is also used to improve blood circulation. Ointment a thin layer is applied to the chest, feet and back of the child, the wings of the nose.

Carefully! This type of therapy is not used at high temperatures and is not applied to areas of the chest near the heart.

The following ointments are distinguished:

• « Doctor Mom". Apply to chest, feet and back. Thanks to the menthol and camphor oil included in the composition, blood flow improves.
• « Dr. Theiss". Apply a thin layer on the chest and back. The child is recommended to be wrapped in a warm blanket and put to sleep.
  The ointment has contraindications, including whooping cough, a tendency to convulsions, damage to the skin. The medicine should not be applied to the wings of the nose, as you can get a slight burn.
• Oxolinic ointment. This remedy is better known as a prophylactic ointment. A thin layer is applied to each nasal passage before going outside. It is very important to wash it off with plain water after a walk in order to avoid problems with the respiratory tract.
• In addition to the above mentioned means, turpentine ointment, ointments "Pulmex Baby", "Roztiran". The principle of operation is approximately the same.

Calcium gluconate

Tablets "Calcium gluconate" increases the body's resistance to the attack of viruses and other pathogenic microorganisms. Its action is based on the thickening of the vessels through which pathogenic microbes enter the bloodstream.

This drug shown only in complex therapy. Calcium gluconate is a maintenance drug.

On a note! In the treatment of colds, calcium gluconate tablets are used. The dose is selected individually, taking into account age.

The approximate daily dosage is shown in the table:

Carefully! Calcium gluconate is not recommended for children under one year of age.

Particularly effective drug in the treatment of rhinitis. To relieve puffiness, apply up to three times a day. In parallel with taking the tablets, every 30-40 minutes it is necessary to clean the nasal passages by instilling saline into them, which is then blown out by the child or sucked off with an aspirator.

From the flu

Before giving a child, especially if he is under 3 years old, drugs to fight the flu virus, you need to consult a pediatrician. Self-treatment fraught with serious complications.

In pediatrics in the treatment of influenza it is advisable to prescribe two main drugs, which fight strains A and B, including the symptoms of bird flu. These new generation drugs include Tamiflu and Relenza. The use of these drugs gives an effect on the second day and reduces the risk of complications by 50%.

Tamiflu

Children allowed from 12 months. When prescribing a dose, the weight of the child must be taken into account: it must be at least 15 kg, only in this case the body will cope with the active substance.

Important! There are cases when similar anti-influenza therapy is carried out for children of the first year of life. Then the dose is reduced several times and is selected individually.

For the treatment of influenza in young patients, a powder is used, from which a suspension is prepared. Approximate dosage by weight:

A drug applied both before and after meals. If the taste suits the baby, then it is not necessary to drink the medicine.

Tamiflu is sometimes mistakenly classified as an antibiotic. it a special type of antiviral agent, which does not completely kill the virus, but allows the child's body to develop antibodies to the flu.

On a note! To date, Tamiflu is sold exclusively by prescription in state pharmacies.

Relenza

Another effective remedy for the first signs of influenza in children. Issued in the form of rotadisks, inside which there is a powder for inhalation.

The drug is indicated for influenza in children and adults, its action applies to any type of pathogen. Relenza should be taken as soon as possible. The ideal period is 2 days from the onset of the first signs of influenza.

Carefully! Such anti-influenza therapy is contraindicated in children under 5 years of age.

Relenzoy inhalations are carried out only with a special device attached in the package to the medicinal powder. The recommended dose for a child is two inhalations per day.

Other means: how to cure a baby

The cold manifests itself in different ways, and therefore treatment is carried out depending on the prevailing symptoms. The beginning cold is insidious in that it is unlikely that it will be possible to immediately pick up an effective remedy. The onset of a cold can be acute, or it can “disguise” itself as a bad mood.

On a note! If you see that the baby is getting sick or is already sick, then in order to cure him as quickly as possible, keep a disease diary and record changes in the child’s behavior and well-being in it. Thanks to this information, it will be possible to respond to subsequent episodes of the disease faster and more precisely.

In addition to the above medicines used in therapy:

• antiviral drugs,
• ointments and creams for the external manifestation of a cold,
• nasal ointments,
• patches,
• nasal drops.

Let's talk about each of them in more detail.

Antiviral drugs

Such drugs have a directed effect on the fight against the virus. Although the common cold is not a viral disease, many pediatricians begin treatment with antiviral drugs. Some of them recommend taking as a prophylactic during cold and flu season.

Acyclovir

Medicine for colds prescribed very rarely, since its effectiveness in this disease is rather doubtful. It can be prescribed to children only if the baby has have a predisposition to herpes, which, due to a cold, can be activated again.

"Acyclovir" is available in the form of tablets, ointments and injections. In case of a cold only tablet form is used allowed for children from 3 years. The ointment is used when a cold has provoked herpetic sores on the lips.

Important! From powdered acyclovir, a suspension is prepared for use in children over 2 years of age. The regimen of admission can only be selected by a pediatrician, based on a specific history of the disease.

Ointment for the nose

Nasal ointments are also popular for colds. These can be cold remedies or antivirals, most often combined means are used.

plasters

Using cold patches is the most painless for the baby. This is another remedy for colds. For the most part, their action Designed to help relieve nasal congestion. They will help not only cure a runny nose faster, but also, thanks to the essential oils that are part of them, will act as a disinfectant.

In addition, there are plasters that, with their heat given off, are capable of alleviate the general condition of a sick child. The most popular are:

• Magicoplast. It is applied only on linen. It is unacceptable to stick directly to the skin of a child. The patch gives off its heat for 8 hours, but if the slightest signs of discomfort, itching, burning, redness appear, the therapy is immediately stopped.
• Pepper plaster. It is impregnated with a mixture of rosin with rubber, belladonna extract, petroleum jelly and lanolin. When heated from the body, it gives the active substances to the child. The shepherd is especially effective at the first sign of a cold. It is glued on both sides of the spine below the shoulder blades and the baby is put to sleep, covered with a warm blanket.
• « Nozzle". This drug will reduce swelling of the nasal mucosa and make breathing easier. It contains eucalyptus and camphor. It is used to treat children from 2 years. Sticks to clothes or bedding.

Nasal drops

The main component of symptomatic treatment for colds are drops. As a rule, these are vasoconstrictor drugs, can facilitate breathing and relieve swelling.

Balm Vicks

This drug is used for:

• runny nose,
• sore throat,
• temperature.

Created for inhalations and rubbing. It has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic action. Eucalyptus oil, which is part of the drug, stimulates sputum discharge.

Carefully! The use of the balm is not recommended for children under 2 years of age.

During treatment, the agent is rubbed 2 to 4 times a day in the neck, back, on the area above the thoracic region. The procedure is best done before bedtime. so that later it would be possible to put the child to sleep, covered with a warm blanket. The daily rate of ointment for crumbs should not exceed 15 ml.

Children over 5 years old inhalations are allowed with Wix Active. They are made only under the supervision of adults. Add 1-2 teaspoons to hot water. You need to breathe over the formed steam for 10-15 minutes.

Kagocel

This is a new generation antiviral drug. It contains substances that help stimulate immune cells, increase the body's resistance.

Important! The drug is prescribed for children from three years old for the treatment of colds, flu, intestinal diseases, progressive pneumonia.

In childhood, "Kagocel" must be taken with great care, since it may cause allergic reactions. In this regard, this drug is often replaced by milder analogues.

If, nevertheless, the need for use exceeds the risks from use, Kagocel is taken according to the proposed scheme below:

Citrosept

The drug is a natural antibiotic obtained from grapefruit seeds, peel and connective films. To date considered a biologically active food supplement in the treatment of colds. Available in the form of drops and capsules.

Main indications for use are considered:

• all types of herpetic eruptions,
• prevention and treatment of viral infectious diseases,
• diseases of the upper respiratory tract.

On a note! At the first symptoms of a cold, a drug in capsules is recommended. Drops are used for various skin problems and in childhood.

The dosage is calculated according to the principle of 1 drop per 1 kg of body weight. When treating a child the drug is diluted in water or oil. Reception is carried out several times a day. The ideal dosage for a baby is 4 drops per glass of water or 1 drop per tablespoon of sunflower oil.

Fenistil

Often in the complex are used "Fenistil" drops. In addition to the antihistamine action, the drug also has an immunostimulating effect. Drops recommended for use in:

• allergic reactions,
• skin infections,
• with a cold, especially if there are problems with the throat.

Important! Allowed from the first month of life.

The dosage of "Fenistil" is as follows:

How to help at home

In most cases, colds do not require hospitalization and are treated at home using medicines prescribed by a doctor. In addition, some parents believe that homeopathic medicines also have a beneficial effect on the course of the disease.

"Grandma's" funds are good, if the child does not have a temperature. The baby can do inhalation, rubbing, foot baths. Depending on the expected effect, it is determined with what to soar the legs (mustard, salt, essential oils).

Homeopathy

Many consider homeopathy a pseudoscience, and therefore its methods are ineffective. homeopathic therapy has a number of disadvantages: the result of treatment is not immediately visible, the price of drugs in this group is quite solid.

It is up to parents to decide whether to take homeopathic remedies, after weighing all the pros and cons. Therefore, what is better for a particular child - drug therapy or homeopathic - depends on the severity of the disease, the individual characteristics of the baby and consensus with the attending pediatrician.

Among the most popular funds:

• "Allium Cepa". At the first sign of a cold and flu. Basically it has a tincture of onion.
• "Aconite". Fights the symptoms of a cold, reduces fever, relieves inflammation.
• "Aflubin".
• Oscillococcinum.
• "Euphrase".
• "Ferrum Phosphoricum" relieves inflammation and redness of the throat.
• "Arsenicum album" reduces the profusion of the common cold.

Inhalation

Inhalations for colds are considered quite effective, especially if the upper respiratory tract is affected. This procedure is carried out only if the baby has no temperature.

Permissible inhalations steam and nebulizer. In the latter case, alkaline solutions (mineral water, saline), sputum thinners are used as medicines.

With steam inhalation sea ​​salt can be used which is added to hot water.

Jacket-boiled potatoes are a traditional method of inhalation for colds. Steam inhalation is also effective. dried eucalyptus leaves: 1 tablespoon of leaves is poured into two glasses and brought to a boil. Filter the finished broth, add 1 teaspoon of salt to it.

Is it possible to walk and massage

Spending time outdoors at high temperatures, with a severe runny nose and sore throat is not worth it. Walking is good when the child's condition returned to normal: the temperature subsided, the symptoms are mild.

After illness, walking time increases gradually, starting from 10 minutes. In the acute period of a cold it is better to refrain from visiting the street.

The second exciting question is whether massage is acceptable for a cold. This procedure has practically no contraindications. The main condition for any type of massage therapy is no high temperature, the acceptable limit is 38 degrees.

Especially effective massage at the first sign diseases. For example, after walking, the baby's feet should be massaged well using a warming cream.

The simplest manipulations can be performed at home (see table).

lingering

If a in two weeks the child has not recovered from the illness, and the symptoms have not disappeared, an urgent consultation with a pediatrician is necessary. With a protracted cold, a change in treatment and a thorough examination are required.

Important! Self-medication in this case is unacceptable, especially the self-prescription of antibacterial drugs to the crumbs.

The pediatrician must give a referral to complete blood count with decoding of leukocytes, general urinalysis. If a cold is accompanied by a persistent runny nose, bacteriological culture of the contents of the nasal mucosa may be required.

Useful video

Treatment of a cold in children in the program of Elena Malysheva:

Conclusion

1. The best remedy for a cold is the one that will ease its course. Therefore, when choosing a therapy, do not try to cover everything, be selective based on the most severe symptoms.
2. Treatment of colds is symptomatic and is carried out in order to prevent the development of chronic foci of inflammation. A cold is not a virus, but hypothermia.
3. As a rule, imported medicines that relieve the symptoms of a cold have good inexpensive analogues. Before buying a drug, check with your doctor what analogues are presented on the pharmaceutical market of your region.

In contact with

Ekaterina Rakitina

Dr. Dietrich Bonhoeffer Klinikum, Germany

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A cold in a child is a common and ubiquitous phenomenon. Some babies get colds up to 10 times a year. This problem is especially relevant during the off-season, as well as in the cold season. What is a cold actually, how to treat and what to do if a child gets sick often, we will tell in this material.

What it is?

Such a disease as a cold, in the medical sense, does not exist at all. What is popularly called a cold, from the point of view of physicians, may turn out to be SARS, acute respiratory infections, influenza, the herpes virus, a manifestation of an existing chronic respiratory disease. The well-known pediatrician of the highest category, Dr. Evgeny Komarovsky, claims that approximately 95% of all childhood diseases referred to by mothers and grandmothers as “colds” are of viral origin.

Then why has the concept of “cold” been established among the people? The answer to this question is quite simple: when a child gets supercooled, gets under drafts, his immune defenses decrease. We are surrounded by several hundred different viruses that are just waiting for the immune system to “fail” in order to penetrate the body and begin to destroy healthy, full-fledged cells, adjusting them to our own needs.

If a child is cold during a walk, gets his feet wet, and the next day he has a runny nose, cough, fever, the parents immediately conclude that he has a cold. Indeed, thermal instability caused a decrease in local and general immunity, and viruses got the opportunity to start their destructive work.

Thus, speaking about a cold in a child, one can suspect that he has one of the acute respiratory viral infections - rhinovirus, adenovirus infections, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus, parainfluenza and about three hundred different ailments that differ only in the name of the causative virus and have only minor differences in the clinical picture.

Sometimes cough, runny nose, red eyes, which parents mistake for a cold, are symptoms of an allergy. And rashes on the lip, in the nose, on the chin, which have characteristic watery blisters, which are also habitually called a cold, are nothing more than a manifestation of a herpes virus infection - the herpes virus of the first type or herpes simplex.

All viruses, except for herpes, use the upper respiratory tract to enter the child's body. They affect the cells of the ciliated epithelium of the nose, nasopharynx, larynx. And then, when the protective epithelium is defeated, they penetrate into the bloodstream, causing characteristic symptoms - intoxication, vomiting, fever, chills, muscle pain, headaches.

The herpes virus replicates locally, but it has the amazing ability to stay in the body forever. If an infection with a herpesvirus occurs once, the pathogen will remain in a dormant state in the body of its carrier for life, from time to time (for example, during hypothermia) letting you know about yourself with characteristic rashes and itching.

With allergies, respiratory manifestations are usually not associated with a cold, unless, of course, the child is allergic to cold (this type of allergy is known to medicine, but it does not occur often). For the appearance of an allergic rhinitis and cough, as well as allergic conjunctivitis, an aggressive allergen is required. It is far from always possible to track it, and therefore, at the time of the onset of symptoms, the cause is not obvious.

By themselves, viruses are not too dangerous for a child, they act at the cellular level and are active only until the patient's immunity is able to develop specific antibodies to the pathogen. Usually it takes from 3 to 7 days, after which the child recovers. Complications of viral infections are dangerous.

The younger the child, the weaker his immune system. A cold threatens newborns to a lesser extent, since children up to six months are protected by passive immunity, which they inherited with maternal blood in utero. The baby also receives antibodies to common viruses with breast milk. But such immunity "works" not always.

Most often, colds (we will call them as the reader is more familiar with) occur in children aged 6 months to 7-8 years. Then the immunity begins to grow stronger, “learns”, accumulates information about the viruses carried by the child, has a reserve of antibodies. Diseases as a result can proceed latently and more easily.

Children aged 6 months to 1 year and from 1 year to 3 years are most severely endured by respiratory diseases. They have the highest percentage of deaths from influenza and complications from all other SARS. A kid at 2-3 years old is sick more often than a one-year-old baby, since he already attends a kindergarten and is in contact with a large children's team.

Infection occurs by airborne droplets and contact, all respiratory viruses and herpesvirus are very contagious, and therefore easily cause epidemics and even pandemics.

Allergic manifestations, similar to a cold in the clinical picture, are not contagious and are not transmitted to other children even through close contact, exchange of toys, utensils, things.

The reasons

The common cold in its popular understanding has only one reason - hypothermia. If you look at the question more broadly, it becomes clear that the true reason lies in the decrease in immunity, because strong immunity can well resist viruses, and in childhood, immunity is weak and not “trained”.

The most susceptible to colds are children born prematurely - premature babies, as well as babies who have diseases and anomalies of the respiratory system, kidneys, and the cardiovascular system since birth. The risk group also includes children with severe disorders of the immune system (HIV, AIDS, a number of rare genetic syndromes with congenital immunodeficiency).

Children under 3 years old, even healthy ones, without exception, are all at risk due to age-related weakness of the immune system. The virus is more likely to cause disease if the child is underweight, does not eat fully and balanced, suffers from vitamin deficiencies, and leads an inactive, mostly sedentary lifestyle.

The chances of getting sick in a child are higher if there are infected people in his family. Although if a nursing mother falls ill, then the child most likely will not have a disease, because with breast milk she will pass on to him the antibodies developed in her body to a specific virus.

For children who have already grown out of infancy, contact with the sick is dangerous. It is important to be able not to infect a child if mom or dad is sick. Children are most susceptible to colds if their immunity has been weakened by a recent illness following surgery.

A drop in immunity occurs during periods of severe psychological experiences and severe stress, which is why children so often start to get sick when the familiar world collapses for them - parents get divorced, they are sent to kindergarten, school attendance begins, parents leave for a long time or the whole family moves to a new place residence.

Frequent diseases are sometimes due to improper care, or rather, gross mistakes on the part of parents. In families where “greenhouse” conditions are created for children from birth, they wrap the child up, try to protect them from the sun and wind, from any draft, wrap up and overfeed, they get sick more often. Attempts by parents to protect the child from diseases by frequent use of medications for any reason also adversely affects the state of children's immunity.

In the families of nomadic peoples, where there are many children and they run barefoot down the street all summer and autumn until the snow appears, they swim in rivers, where they are not forced to eat soup or a cutlet, where the child does not receive food when it's time for dinner, and then, when he wants to and asks for food, SARS, flu and other colds are rare.

The mucous membranes of a child with normal immunity are a reliable barrier against viruses. If something is wrong in the child’s condition or external conditions do not contribute to the health of the mucous membranes, then infection occurs.

We have dealt with internal factors, but external ones need clarification. Mucous membranes, in order to resist viruses, must be sufficiently well hydrated.

If in the room where the child lives, the windows are always kept closed and the heaters are turned on (so that the child does not catch a cold and does not freeze!), Then the likelihood of falling ill increases tenfold, since drier air dries out the mucous membranes, thins this barrier.

signs

Usually, a cold becomes noticeable with the appearance of the first signs of malaise. But the disease begins earlier, from the very moment of infection, just during the incubation period, the child may not feel anything unusual. The duration of the incubation period can be different - from several hours to several days, and here the specific pathogen and the age of the patient play the main role. The younger the child, the shorter the incubation period. On average, the imperceptible period in most colds lasts about 1-2 days.

Attentive parents already at this stage may notice some oddities in the behavior of the child. So, the baby can often scratch his nose or rub his ears. This is due to a feeling of dryness and itching in the nose, which may be slightly pronounced after infection. Often in the incubation period, children become more lethargic, distracted, they get tired faster, sleep longer. In the absence of other signs of the disease, few of the parents at the same time can suspect the onset of the disease.

At the end of the incubation period, the virus enters the bloodstream and noticeable, obvious signs of the disease begin. As a rule, a viral infection starts with an increase in temperature.

The highest temperature is observed with influenza (up to 40.0 degrees), with adenovirus and rhinovirus infections, the thermometer can show from 37.5 to 39 degrees. Muscle pains, chills, aching joints, pain and a feeling of pressure in the eyeballs, photophobia are added to the heat.

Parents can pay attention to the fact that the child has watery eyes, the child may complain that his legs, arms, and back hurt. The temperature can last from 2-3 to 5-6 days. The duration of the febrile period depends on the specific virus. With influenza, it lasts about 4-5 days, with adenovirus infection - up to 6-7 days. The most difficult thing is for parents of infants, for whom it is important to distinguish such a fever from the temperature sometimes observed during teething.

During a viral infection, the temperature is always high and persistent, while during teething it is easy to reduce it with antipyretics.

High temperature can cause symptoms of intoxication - the child will have vomiting and diarrhea, abdominal pain. In this case, it is important to exclude an intestinal infection, and this task cannot be completed without a doctor. In young children, when the virus enters the bloodstream, a small rash may appear associated with impaired vascular permeability and integrity. Babies can bleed from their noses.

Mandatory symptoms for most colds are a runny nose, cough. A runny nose with influenza is characterized by the absence of discharge from the nose, but with most other acute respiratory viral infections, it is usually accompanied by rhinorrhea (outflow of clear liquid nasal mucus). Cough during a viral infection is always dry and frequent at first, gradually it becomes wet - with sputum, the body begins to get rid of the affected particles of the ciliated epithelium and dead viruses by the time of recovery.

Shortness of breath with a cold most often develops in young children. It is considered quite a dangerous symptom.

With a mild course, all the symptoms, although they are acute and rapid, are somewhat erased. With a severe infection, the symptoms are more pronounced. And with the most severe toxic form of a cold, convulsions, loss of consciousness, and delirium can be observed.

Complications

As already mentioned, colds are dangerous precisely for their complications. What can threaten a child and how to protect him from this? First of all, it should be understood that complications can develop both during the disease and after it.

In the first case, the most common threats are the development of febrile convulsions against the background of high temperature, dehydration against the background of intoxication, vomiting and diarrhea, as well as hemorrhagic syndrome associated with a violation of the integrity of the blood vessels by the virus. Due to the high heat, disturbances in the functioning of the central nervous system may occur.

After the illness, other complications may appear. Most often, respiratory symptoms acquire a protracted and even chronic course. So, often due to a viral illness, a child develops bronchitis. Pneumonia can be a dangerous consequence. Bacterial rhinitis, tonsillitis, tracheitis are unpleasant and difficult to treat.

It often happens that after suffering the flu or SARS, the child began to hear badly. Be sure to visit a doctor, because hearing loss can be a sign of otitis, which is successfully treated, and a sign of neuritis of the auditory nerve, in which the changes are almost irreversible. Complications on the ears are one of the most common. Pus in the eyes may indicate the development of bacterial conjunctivitis, pain in the legs and joints may be a sign of polyarthritis.

The likelihood of complications is higher the younger the child. Also, negative consequences can occur with improper treatment of the primary disease.

According to experts, the probability of complications as a result of a viral infectious disease averages about 15%. In infants, it is about three times higher.

Treatment

Often, not only adults, but also children suffer from colds and flu. However, not all cold medicines are approved for use in children. Fortunately, there is a children's form of AntiGrippin from Natur Product, which is approved for use in children from 3 years old. Like the adult form of AntiGrippin, it consists of three components - paracetamol, which has an antipyretic effect, chlorphenamine, which facilitates breathing through the nose, reduces the feeling of nasal congestion, sneezing, watery eyes, itching and redness of the eyes, and ascorbic acid (vitamin C), which is involved in regulation of carbohydrate metabolism, increases the body's resistance.

Correctly treating colds means maintaining immunity, creating conditions for the child under which his natural defense mechanisms can mobilize as soon as possible and give a decent immune response to the invasion of the virus. The sooner parents pay attention to the "harbingers" of an impending disease, the more likely it is to minimize its consequences.

At a very early stage, the child will be helped by abundant irrigation of the nasal mucosa, gargling, steam inhalation and plenty of warm drinks. Anything that can moisturize the mucous membranes and increase their resistance to the action of the virus will benefit. The disease will manifest itself, but in a mild form and the child will recover quickly.

If symptoms have already appeared, treatment will also be aimed at supporting immunity, but in addition, the child will need symptomatic treatment. First of all, at the first signs of a cold, you need to measure the temperature, and if it is high, put the baby to bed and call a doctor. A pediatrician is needed for all babies under 3 years old, even if the symptoms are not very pronounced, as well as for all older children with severe symptoms.

You need to call not the clinic, but immediately the “ambulance” if the fever in a baby under 3 years old does not subside after the use of antipyretics, if vomiting has opened and diarrhea has appeared, the first signs of dehydration have appeared. Loss of consciousness, confusion of speech, delirium, convulsions are also a reason to call the ambulance.

The called doctor, of course, will give an appointment. Usually such remedies as "Anaferon for children" in tablets, "Immunal" (drops), "Oscillococcinum" (dragees), "Viferon" (candles) are usually recommended. These medicines are homeopathy. In relation to them, not only the antiviral effect, but also the effect in general, has not been proven. The doctor was not mistaken, he just knows that these remedies cannot harm the child, and only his own immunity can cure him. Therefore, parents can, with a clear conscience, refuse such drugs and focus on organizing proper care for a sick baby.

It is preferable to treat children under one year in a hospital due to the high risk of complications. The rest of the children, if the disease is mild, can be treated at home. To mobilize immunity, a small patient should be in a well-ventilated room. The air temperature in the room should not exceed 21 degrees Celsius. Humidity in the room should be at least 50-70%.

If there is no special device - an air humidifier, you can simply hang wet towels over the radiators and make sure that they do not dry out, wetting them in a timely manner. In such a microclimate, recovery will go much faster, since the mucous membranes will not dry out.

The second prerequisite is to drink plenty of water. It should not be hot or cold. Give your child drinks at room temperature, so the liquid will be absorbed by the body faster. Not suitable for drinking carbonated drinks, juices, milk. But rosehip broth, chamomile tea, homemade cranberry juice and dried fruit compote are perfect. If the baby cannot or does not want to drink, it is not possible to give him a drink due to his age, it is better to immediately contact the "ambulance". Especially if the child has vomiting and diarrhea.

With severe intoxication, the baby should be given not just to drink, but to drink special solutions that will help compensate for the loss of water and mineral salts in the body. Powder "Smecta", "Rehydron" "Human Electrolyte" is easy to dilute and apply. If it is not possible to drink the child with such a solution, he should be taken to the hospital as soon as possible, where saline, vitamins and the necessary supplements to compensate for mineral metabolism will be administered intravenously.

The temperature in colds is important. It promotes the production of interferons, activation of the immune response. Therefore, without the urgent need to fight the heat is not worth it. Only if the temperature has exceeded 38.0 degrees should the child be given antipyretics.

Drugs based on acetylsalicylic acid should be avoided; they are not suitable for children. It is best to give paracetamol or any drug based on it ("Nurofen" - syrup or "Cefecon D" - suppositories). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Ibuprofen in an age dosage, can also help.

With nasal congestion, vasoconstrictor drops can be used (Nazol Baby, Nazivin Sensitive, Nazivin), but not more than five days in a row. Such drugs facilitate nasal breathing, retain their effect for quite a long time, but cause rapid drug addiction. A sore throat can be gargled with saline or furacilin solution. With severe intoxication, a child can be given antihistamines, such as Suprastin, they can reduce the sensitization of the body.

Muscle pain will help to reduce any warming ointment, the use of which is not contraindicated at this age. You can remove the manifestations of a herpes infection on the lip or nose by topical application of Acyclovir, a drug designed specifically to combat herpes viruses. With a dry cough, mucolytic drugs in syrup are prescribed.

During treatment, it is often recommended to give the child Calcium Gluconate and vitamins. For parents who are very fond of treating children with several drugs at once, the following information will be useful:

• if you give a child two drugs at the same time, there is a 10% chance that they will negatively interact with each other;
• if you treat a child with three drugs at once, the likelihood of side effects and allergic reactions increases to 50%;
• if you give your baby five medications in one course of treatment, the likelihood that they will enter into an inadequate reaction rises to 90%.

With proper treatment, the child will recover in 3-5 days without complications and negative consequences. Self-medication can end very sadly - at home, with an unprofessional look of a mother or grandmother, it is very difficult to consider the symptoms of incipient complications.

How can the virus be treated?

As already mentioned, improper treatment increases the chances of developing complications, and therefore parents should be aware of the most common mistakes that moms and dads tend to make if a child suddenly falls ill with colds:

• You can not do inhalation at high temperatures.
• You can not rub a child with badger fat, lard, if he has an elevated body temperature.
• Attempts to rub a child with vodka or vinegar can lead to critical vasoconstriction.
• You can not treat a child with a cold with antibiotics if he does not have bacterial complications. The use of antibacterial drugs increases the likelihood of severe complications, and viruses are completely insensitive to antibiotics.

• It is impossible to wrap up a child in the heat, he must be undressed to shorts and a T-shirt, he can only be covered with a thin sheet.
• It is strictly forbidden to independently prescribe certain drugs to a child, to give funds from the field of alternative medicine, without consulting a doctor.
• You can not apply ice to the temples of a child with a high temperature - this is fraught with a spasm of the vessels of the head.
• Do not force your child to eat at any cost. It is easier for a hungry body to cope with the disease, because energy is not wasted on digesting food. That is why sick children refuse to eat. You need to feed on demand. But drinking is a must.
• During a cold, you can’t feed your child with sweets and sweets - such products will obviously not benefit him.

Folk remedies

Folk methods for the treatment of colds are known to many, but not all of them are equally useful. Inhalation of the vapors of boiled potatoes in their uniforms often causes burns of the mucous membranes of the respiratory organs, and instillation of onion juice into the nose can cause the membranes to die. Therefore, in the treatment of children, you should not blindly trust all the remedies that are positioned as effective for colds and flu.

Children from 6 years old, provided that there is no allergy, essential oils can be used in small quantities - fir, pine, eucalyptus. They are added drop by drop into the inhaler and the vapors are inhaled if the baby does not have a temperature and complications. With heat and bronchitis, such a “treatment” will only hurt.

Care should be taken with herbs, referring to the instructions for the use of herbal remedies, because they are quite allergenic. The use of honey and bee products in the treatment of a cold in a child requires special care; for children under 3 years old, such recipes are not recommended at all. Propolis tincture for babies over 3 years old must be water-based, not alcohol-based. Honey for preparing a warm drink must be of high quality. But the main thing is that the child should not be allergic to all these products.

Acupressure well helps to relieve headaches, and chest massage at the stage of recovery, the so-called drainage massage, will help to expel sputum from the bronchi as soon as possible.

There are also recipes that do not stand up to criticism - for example, advice to bury a baby in the nose with a runny nose breast milk. Milk is a breeding ground for bacteria, and a viral runny nose very quickly runs the risk of becoming a severe bacterial rhinitis that will require serious antibiotic treatment. Mustard, generously poured by a grandmother's hand into the socks of her beloved grandson, can only cause severe allergies, but will not bring recovery any closer.

Prevention

Precautions and common sense will help protect your child from a wide variety of colds. The child should not be cold. But when choosing winter clothes and shoes for him, remember that overheating is no less terrible than hypothermia. If the baby sweats throughout the walk, he is more susceptible to a decrease in immunity and the occurrence of viral and allergic diseases. The child should not walk in wet shoes. If your feet get wet, be sure to change your shoes into a dry pair. In winter, you also need to ensure that the baby's hands and face do not freeze on the street.

If the baby walks around the house barefoot, there is nothing wrong with that. Many parents believe that walking barefoot contributes to hypothermia. In fact, the vessels of the lower extremities can narrow without negative consequences for the body and not release internal heat. It is impossible to catch a cold from such a walk. But if the baby sits booty on a cold surface, then hypothermia is very, very likely.

In the season of high incidence, you should not take your child to where there is a large crowd of people, if possible, it is better to refuse to travel by public transport.

There is a vaccination against the flu, and it should not be neglected. Vaccination will not only reduce the chances of contracting this dangerous infectious disease, but will also allow the disease to proceed more easily if infection does occur.

There is no vaccination against other infections, but there is protection - strong and healthy immunity. Parents should strengthen it, preferably from the very birth of the crumbs.

How to increase the immune forces of the body?

The process of working on strengthening immunity should be systematic and long-term. After the appearance of the baby in the family, parents need to decide how exactly they intend to strengthen the health of the crumbs. Hardening can be practiced from 1 month. It should be gradual, phased, so as not to catch a cold baby. Usually, dousing is used after ordinary bathing with water, the temperature of which is slightly lower. First one degree, then two, and so on. Dr. Komarovsky recommends gradually bringing the temperature of the water for evening bathing to 25 degrees Celsius.

When the child grows up, he does not need to be protected from walking barefoot on grass, sand, pebbles, on the floor in his own apartment. Useful for immunity bathing in open water and pools. Not only water, but also sun and air baths can make children's immunity stronger and more resilient.

You should not refuse preventive vaccinations prescribed by age - they allow the baby to form protection against the most dangerous viruses and bacteria. Vaccinate your child annually against the flu, and in the summer, if you have a trip to the sea, against rotavirus infection. Not vaccinating does not make a child stronger, this is one of the common misconceptions about vaccination.

In infancy, you should not give up breastfeeding early - a child receives many antibodies with mother's milk. Artificial milk formulas, even the most expensive and healthy, will not be able to give him such protection. When the son or daughter grows up, it is important to instill in the child a good habit of eating right and balanced as early as possible. In the diet of the child should be enough meat and fish, dairy products, butter, and, of course, fresh vegetables and fruits. Babies who are "spoiled" with pizza and burgers rarely grow up healthy and strong.

It is worth taking care that the child from a very early age has an activity to his liking, preferably active and outdoors. Computers and tablets are not the best helpers in strengthening immunity.

When choosing a sport for a child, you need to understand that a chess club, boxing, karate are sports in which training usually takes place indoors. But skiing, cycling, swimming, figure skating, hockey and football, equestrian sports are what you need for a child whose immunity needs to be hardened.

If the child does not have any inclination for sports and he demonstrates a natural inclination for drawing or playing music, you can start a good family tradition - in the evenings, all walk together in a park or square, go to nature on weekends, play badminton and volleyball, swim and sunbathe.

If the issue of improving immune protection has never been faced by parents and the child has grown up often ill, there is no need to despair. It is not too late to start hardening, gymnastics, walking and playing sports at any age. True, a more reverent attitude to the correction of lifestyle will be required. Before starting hardening and choosing a section for a child, it is imperative to consult a doctor.

By the way, the pediatrician can also suggest some effective remedies - food supplements that activate the immune system. These supplements include echinacea and rosehip syrup.

Strengthen the immune system with frequent colds will help the correct approach to the period of recovery of the child. Parents just need to break the vicious circle of constant illness. To do this, after another cold infection, you should not take your child to kindergarten or school immediately after recovery. Give him time to recover, walk more in the fresh air, even in winter, play active games outside.

Do not rely on medicines that are positioned by manufacturers as a means of preventing diseases during the cold period. Usually they are homeopathic and have absolutely no effect on the immune system.

For a frequently ill child, it is important to observe the daily regimen, sleep enough at night (at least 9 hours), alternate activities more often - after the baby has painted a little, you definitely need to take a walk, and then you can plan quiet reading or games. It is necessary to protect the baby from situations in which he will experience strong feelings. Watch the psychological climate in the family, take an interest in the affairs of the baby in kindergarten or school. Teach him to calmly endure troubles and blows of fate, and then his immune defense will be stronger and more reliable.

Frequent illness at an early age is no reason to believe that this will always be the case. In 90% of cases, respiratory problems and susceptibility to viruses "outgrow", and by adolescence, the child begins to get sick less often.

For information on how to properly treat a cold in a child, see the following video.

1 Instructions for medical use of the drug AntiGrippin

There are contraindications. Need to consult a specialist

A cold in a child is a viral infection upper respiratory disease lasting less than one week. A cold is not a threat to the life of the baby, but even despite this, young mothers often panic, which in no case should be done. Therefore, parents should not sound the alarm if the child often suffers from colds.

A cold can be dangerous if complications arise. To protect from this, mothers should surround their child with warmth and care, providing him with the right care.

Often, a sharp jump in temperature, especially at night, signals the manifestation of a cold. This may also be evidenced by the primary state of the baby, if he has become capricious, restless, has a poor appetite, gets tired quickly, drowsy, changes his mood dramatically and refuses to play.

• The kid sneezes;
• Eyes redden;
• tearing;
• stuffy nose;
• Enlarged submandibular, cervical and axillary lymph nodes;
• and malaise.

A cold in a baby up to 1 year old can be manifested by a change in skin color, respiratory failure, sweating, a change in the feeding regime, the appearance of a rash.

by the most a runny nose is an early sign of a cold, with which you need to resist initially, because very young children still do not know how to blow their nose themselves. Cough is the second sign of the disease. In this case, the baby must be shown to the doctor, since its underlying causes may be different.

The common cold is also characterized by an increase in body temperature. When the temperature is above 37, this signals the onset of inflammation and the fight of the immune system against the causative agents of a viral infection.

Treatment

The common cold is a self-healing disease. Basically, it is not required to treat it with specific methods, it disappears on its own.

Home care

At home treatment is designed to relieve the symptoms and prevent their aggravation. Treatment should consist of the following measures and actions:

• Airing the room to make it easier for the child to breathe (at the same time, move him to another room for a while);
• Change of bed linen 2 times a week (if perspiration - more often);
• Babies need to be turned from one barrel to another to avoid stagnation in the lungs;
• Plentiful warm drink and ensuring proper rest;
• The diet should be rich in carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables.

Antivirals

Before giving your child antiviral drugs, consult your doctor, because he will prescribe exactly the pills that are suitable for your baby. Before you buy antiviral tablets, syrups and similar medicines, you must take into account the main rules for choosing them:

• You know your child’s body better and after studying the instructions you decide that these drugs and medicines are not suitable for him, contact the pediatrician again;
• It is not necessary to give the baby all the pills at the same time according to the principle "the more medicine, the better." It will not work to cure a cold with this method;
• Be aware that just because pills or other drugs are sold without a prescription does not mean they are safe;
• Symptomatic treatment includes various cold remedies and tablets, so it is necessary to consider how these drugs interact with each other.

To restore the normal level of temperature (if the indicator reaches 39C) in children, tablets and drugs based on Paracetamol contribute. When coughing, you can take Gedelix tablets or syrup.

The most popular cold medicines for children, including the following tablets:

• Anaferon for children;
• Donormil;
• Rinza;
• Remantadine;
• Rinicold;
• Barralgetas;
• Grammidin.

Homeopathic preparations

Homeopathy is a new method of treatment according to the rule “like can be cured by like”, which has achieved great fame. Homeopathy is recommended for children and pregnant women, since synthetic pills can cause side effects, while homeopathic medicines exclude them.

Homeopathy, as a medical science, says that medicines should be made from natural substances. Homeopathy includes various remedies for the treatment of a variety of adult and childhood diseases, but they must be prescribed by an experienced specialist with the appropriate education.

Children's homeopathy for colds includes such drugs as Aconite 30, Belladonna 30, Pulsatilla 30, Nux Vom 30, Bryonia 30, Cuprum met and many others in the first-aid kit.

Candles

Candles – cone-shaped preparations, in a solid state, but in the presence of temperature they have the properties of melting, then the drug is absorbed through the rectum, quickly absorbed, which is the main advantage of the remedy.

Doctors advise suppositories based on their benefits:

• Use candles effectively, since the child cannot always swallow the pills;
• Medication absorption is consistent;
• Candles in the fight against viral diseases can be used from birth, but most often rectal suppositories are prescribed for infants and children under 3 years of age.

The most famous and effective candles for children's colds:

• Kalpol;
• Efferalgan;
• Anafen;
• Genferon;
• for kids.

Drops

The use of vasoconstrictor drops helps to relieve the common cold. For children up to a year, these drugs can be used as a 0.01% solution diluted with boiled water. Vasoconstrictor drops have antimicrobial and antiviral effects.

The most popular of these drugs:

• Pinosol;
• Collargol;
• Polydex;
• Protargol.

Doctors do not recommend using drugs such as Xymelin and Tizin more than 4 times a day. It is impossible to abuse the use of nasal drops, as they make breathing easier for the first 3 days and lead to addiction, therefore, further washing of the nose is necessary.

Nasal lavage

A runny nose is the beginning of any cold. To clean the nose in children under 1 year old, use cotton wicks moistened with a solution of soda before feeding.

An effective remedy for a cold is aloe juice, which is diluted with water. This remedy is instilled in the baby 3 times a day, 4 drops. You can rinse the nose with a solution of sea salt - Aquador, or treat a runny nose with a small concentration of antiseptics (Miramistin). In the form of sprays, it is most convenient to use these products.

Ointments

Treatment of a cold in children should be comprehensive, therefore, topical external use preparations are used - namely, ointment.

Most often, in pharmacy chains, parents are offered the following tools:

• Anti-cold ointment Doctor MOM;
• Oxolinic ointment;
• Ointment Vicks Active Balm against the common cold;
• Dr. Thais' cold ointment;
• Ointment Pulmeks Baby for a baby up to a year.

Oxolinic ointment is the most effective and popular, used both for medicinal purposes and for the prevention of colds in children. The ointment is applied 2 times a day, mainly before going to kindergarten, school, or if there are infected people at home.

How to apply

In order to cure a runny nose in a child, this ointment is applied in a thin layer 3 times a day for 4-5 days.

• Ointments Dr. MOM and Dr. Thais are prescribed for children aged 2 years and older. They are characterized by antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and expectorant action.
• Ointment Vicks Active Balm is designed to treat a runny nose and cough with inflammation of the respiratory tract.
• Ointment Pulmex Baby is recommended for use as an adjuvant to cure colds and upper respiratory tract in infants after 6 months of life.

Powder preparations

It is impossible to cure a cold using powder preparations, since these medicines only help to relieve the symptoms. When taking such medications, you need to follow a strict regimen. Often, powders are prescribed to be taken by a child along with a pro-vitamin complex, which helps to cure the disease.

• Ferveks for children;
• Panadol baby and infant;
• Children's Efferalgan;
• children's.

Specified powders have analgesic, antipyretic, antihistamine and tonic effect. Children need to make solutions using such powders that must be taken orally.

Folk remedies

To protect your baby from viral diseases, you need to strengthen his immunity. Folk remedies are widely used both in the prevention and treatment of colds. If you notice that the baby is sneezing, you need to make teas from natural remedies.

Ginger is an effective cold remedy. Tea, which includes ginger, helps the body fight the virus. To prepare it, it is enough to use ginger, lemon, and honey. Since ginger, you can use tea, in which the main component is viburnum.

Viburnum is very effective at temperature. Viburnum is ground with sugar and put in the refrigerator along with the bone. In winter, you can drink healthy tea. For children under 5 years old, when preparing tea, adhere to the following proportion: 1 coffee spoon of any berries per 200 ml of water. P It is useful to make tea from linden or strawberries. You can prepare herbal infusions of mint and lemon balm.

Prevention

Prevention of colds in children will help protect against all sorts of infections and ailments. You bring a child to the kindergarten and notice how a girl from his group sneezes, in this case it is necessary to act, otherwise tomorrow you will see how your baby has become infected and feels bad.