After taking antibiotics, green snot appeared. What to do if a runny nose does not go away for a long time? What should a pregnant woman do

Snot is the body's response to foreign agents. In everyday life, we are surrounded by huge hordes of allergens, viruses, bacteria. With strong immunity, all these enemies do not carry danger.

When our immune system fails, any of these agents is able to "settle" in the nasal cavity and create their own cruel joke. So, there was a runny nose. First of all - observation of the nature of the snot. They can vary in color, thickness, transparency, and even smell.

An absolutely healthy person may also have snot as a protective reaction to dry air, dust, dehydration, hypothermia, and other irritants. Such snot is short-lived and passes quickly.

In the presence of liquid and transparent snot, an allergy or viral attack should be suspected. Naturally, the diagnosis is made not only by snot, but also other symptoms that disturb the patient are taken into account.

Only in the case of a change in the color of the snot, namely when discharge becomes yellow, green, with a brown tint, purulent, it can be stated with high accuracy bacterial rhinitis.

Most often, bacterial snot appears in children, as a result of a neglected viral infection. This happens in cases where the child is often ill, or the viral infection has not been properly treated.

White blood cells - leukocytes "live" in our blood. They are always on guard to prevent the reproduction of infectious agents. Normally, the number of leukocytes ranges from 4-9·10 9 /l. In children, the upper limit of normal is higher and depends on the age of the child.

When bacteria enter the body, the number of leukocytes increases dramatically, and the fight begins. As a result of the “battle”, both bacteria and leukocytes die. The accumulation of these dead cells and stain the snot in different shades: yellow, green, brown.

The richer the color, the stronger the infection. Therefore, in most cases of the appearance of green snot, a bacterial infection becomes the culprit.

Green snot can become one of the symptoms of serious diseases, such as:

sinusitis;
sinusitis;
ethmoiditis;
tracheitis;
bronchitis;
meningitis;
others.

That's why, with the appearance of bacterial snot(yellow, green, brown) in adults and children immediately consult an otolaryngologist.

The color of the common cold says a lot about the disease. What does this or that color of snot mean - you can read in the article [what does the color of the common cold mean].

Symptoms of a bacterial cold

dryness, tickling, burning in the nasal passages (in the first days of illness);
headache;
increased body temperature (more often yes than no);
nasal congestion (at the height of the disease);
impaired sense of smell;
conjunctivitis (sometimes);
lacrimation;
unpleasant smell of discharge from the nasal cavity (with a running bacterial process);
irritation and dryness of the wings of the nose;
poor appetite;
pain in the maxillary sinuses.

How to treat bacterial snot in adults and children?

A bacterial runny nose needs to be treated correctly and effectively, and it is best if a qualified doctor takes care of this after examining the nose, ears and throat. As you guessed, a visit is necessary to the lore.

Most often, patients are concerned about bacterial or viral snot. To begin with, the doctor will understand the origin of the common cold, and find out what kind of snot he is dealing with: bacterial or viral. From here, a rhinitis treatment plan will be drawn up.

From the common cold is very difficult to play it safe. Even in the most scrupulous parents, children manage to get sick, and often with complications. Often, mothers simply come to the clinic in a panic and list all the vitamins, prevention methods that they used, but their child is again at home and does not go to kindergarten or school. And the bacterial snot in a child is to blame. It is they who do not go away for a long time, remaining up to 3-4 weeks.

If the snot is of bacterial origin, then they need to be treated antibacterial agents. Viral and allergic rhinitis are not treated with antibiotics.

To begin with, it is necessary to create sufficient air humidity in the patient's room, as well as maintain the room temperature within 20 degrees. Devices for humidifying the air will be useful, and in their absence, the old-fashioned method is suitable - hanging wet towels on radiators. Wet cleaning and ventilation of the home should be daily.

Rinse your nose with saline solutions or chamomile infusion before going to the doctor.. Take a full pipette and pour into each nostril alternately, and so on 3-4 times a day. Blow your nose two minutes after infusing the solutions. This will make it possible to thin the mucus and make it easier to remove it from the nasal cavity.

Salt solution can be purchased at a pharmacy: saline, aquamaris, quicks, salin, others. At home, a saline solution is prepared by dissolving a teaspoon of salt (preferably sea salt) in a glass of lukewarm boiled water. Chamomile flowers insist 40 minutes (a teaspoon of flowers per 200 ml of boiling water).

The drug has a softening, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect.

Nasal passages can be lubricated with an ectericide or instilled a few drops into each nasal passage up to three times a day.

Vasoconstrictor drops for bacterial rhinitis are not used, they can provoke swelling of the nasopharynx and aggravate the patient's condition.

Usually, the doctor prescribes antiseptic and antibacterial agents locally (in the nose). Washing, irrigation, instillation of nasal passages are used. The following drugs are used: furacilin, dioxidin, chlorophyllipt, miramistin, protargol, collargol, sulfacetamide.

Vasoconstrictor agents are used very rarely (tizin, sanorin, galazolin). They are indicated in cases where nasal breathing in patients is almost impossible.

A good effect is the use of antibacterial agents: fusafungina, isophras and polydexes. The doctor chooses one of the means. In addition, IRS-19 spray can be prescribed, which actively stimulates local immunity by producing immunoglobulins.

In some cases, when a bacterial runny nose has just begun, you can use a spray Cameton or pinosol. Due to the antiseptic action of the essential oils contained in these preparations, inflammation in the nasal passages is relieved and breathing improves.

Do I need to take antibacterial tablets with green snot?

According to all the rules for prescribing antibiotics, it is first necessary to determine the bacterium by bacteriological culture, and select an antibiotic to which the infectious agent will be sensitive.

Unfortunately, the results of culture with antibiogram come only after 10 days, and at best - after 5 days. What comes out? Sit and wait for the results, and let the infection spread itself?

Of course not. The doctor will prescribe an antibiotic. In most cases, it is possible to cope with the infection at random. But, if the drug does not work, you can already know for sure what caused the green snot and which antibiotic will be 100% effective.

Important! The main thing is that bacterial culture from the nose and throat is taken before the use of antibacterial agents.

With prolonged green snot, antibacterial agents are prescribed systemically(in the form of tablets or injections). For this, antibiotics of various series and generations are used. Most often, with a bacterial rhinitis, the following antibacterial drugs are resorted to:

amoxiclav;
ampicillin;
flemoxin-solutab;
augmentin (a popular antibiotic in pediatric practice);
sumamedu;
zinnatu;
macrofoam;
cefuroxime or cefazolin or ceftriaxonucefazolin or ceftriaxone;
ofloxacin;
ciprofloxacin;
moxifloxacin.

A systemic antibiotic is prescribed only by a doctor, taking into account the age, weight and condition of the patient. With green snot, as a rule, an antibiotic is used for at least 7 days.

Can a bacterial cold be cured without antibiotics?

Traditional medicine for bacterial snot

Infection is a serious matter, so relying only on weed-ant will be imprudent. Folk methods should only complement the main drug treatment green snot.

Herbal nasal rinses

Allowed nasal lavage with infusions:

chamomile;
lindens;
calendula;
sage;
oak bark;
yarrow;
eucalyptus;
turns.

Herbs to insist until cool, after brewing 10 grams of raw materials with boiling water (200-300 ml).

Pour 2 ml of infusion into each nostril. The head should be slightly tilted back. Blow your nose after two minutes.

Juices from green snot

Antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects are instilled from juices:

beets;
cranberries;
geraniums;
celandine (always diluted with water: 2 drops of juice per 100 ml of water);
potatoes.

2 drops of fresh juice are injected into each nostril. For children, the juice is diluted with water or saline in a ratio of 1:1.

Propolis drops

Propolis tincture has excellent antibacterial properties. To prepare nasal drops, you need to take:

15 drops of pharmacy tincture of propolis;
5 grams of sea salt;
200 ml of boiled water.

Mix all the ingredients, the drops are ready. Rinse your nose twice a day. Inject 1 ml of propolis drops into each nostril.

Additional treatments for bacterial snot

For the successful treatment of bacterial snot while taking antibacterial agents, the patient is shown additional methods:

vitamin therapy;
diet food;
treatment of intestinal dysbacteriosis;
normalization of weight;
abundant intake of herbal infusions and fruit drinks;
walks in the fresh air (at normal body temperature);
homeopathy;
resort treatment (marine climate, coniferous forests, salt mines);
psychotherapy.

Any disease is easier to overcome in the bud, but when it comes to complications, self-medication is not the best choice. To cure a bacterial runny nose, and prevent a chronic process, seek help from the ENT department.

How to treat bacterial sinusitis

Diseases of the nose are often accompanied by green snot, especially in childhood. Such a symptom is a signal of the addition of a bacterial infection. Staining of secretions in green occurs during the destruction of bacterial cells by neutrophils. To determine the causative agent of the disease, it is necessary to do a bacterial culture. Based on the data obtained, and also depending on the severity of the disease, the otolaryngologist may prescribe antibiotics for green snot. But in some cases, treatment with other drugs is also possible.

When to Take Antibiotics

Antibiotics for green nasal discharge are not always needed. However, there are situations when their use is necessary. Such cases include:

confirmed bacterial infection, accompanied by a pronounced inflammatory process;
green snot is accompanied by the release of pus.

Antibiotics are needed in order to prevent the further spread of the disease and restore sterility to the sinuses. After all, nearby tissues are quickly involved in the inflammatory process, which is fraught with the development of serious complications.

Therefore, when green snot appears, you should not delay a visit to the doctor and self-medicate. Only a specialist can diagnose and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

Used antibiotics

The choice of an antibacterial agent is the task of the doctor. Based on the results of the tests and the examination, he concludes that it is necessary to take an antibiotic and prescribes a specific remedy. As mentioned above, this may be necessary in moderate and severe cases of the disease. If the disease of the nasopharynx is mild, then doctors try to avoid unnecessary use of antibacterial agents and manage with safer drugs.

topical antibiotics

It is antibiotics in the form of a nasal spray that are most often used for green snot. The most popular are.

Isofra contains framycetin, which has antibacterial activity against the main pathogens of the nasopharynx. The spray is well tolerated and approved for use from 1 year of age.
Polydex has a complex composition. The drug contains simultaneously 2 antibiotics (polymyxin and neomycin), a vasoconstrictor (phenylephrine) and a hormonal (dexamethasone) component. Thus, the spray not only kills pathogenic bacteria, but also relieves inflammation, eliminates puffiness, restores nasal breathing and promotes free outflow of snot.
It is impossible not to mention the drops of Sulfatsil. They belong to sulfanilamide preparations, however, they exhibit an antibacterial effect. The fact that the drops are intended for the eyes may be alarming, but they do an excellent job with green discharge from the nose and have been used for this purpose for many years.

Systemic antibiotics

Green discharge alone is not a reason to prescribe oral antibiotics. Such drugs are used only for serious bacterial diseases of the nasopharynx.

The first line drugs are penicillins. They are quite effective against most pathogenic microbes and are well tolerated. Amoxicillin or its enhanced clavulanic acid form is most commonly used:

augmentin,
Amoxiclav,
Flemoklav Solutab.

If the effectiveness of penicillins is not enough, then a representative of the cephalosporin series is prescribed. These antibiotics are effective against a larger number of pathological microflora and are also fairly well tolerated by patients. Their use is impossible in the presence of an allergy to penicillin antibiotics due to the similarity of the structure, which is the reason for the same reaction of the body to their intake. Representatives:

Cefalexin,
ceftriaxone,
Cefixime,
Cefotaxime.

In case of intolerance to drugs from the first two groups or their ineffectiveness, macrolide antibiotics are prescribed. They show a pronounced antibacterial effect against the most common pathogens of the nasopharynx. A characteristic feature of these drugs is the presence of moderate anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Representatives:

erythromycin,
clarithromycin,
Azithromycin,
Macrofoam.

In particularly difficult cases, drugs from the groups of fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, carbapenems and tetracyclines can be used.

Nasal lavage

One of the most effective methods to quickly get rid of green snot is to rinse your nose. Thanks to this procedure, the nasal passages and sinuses are freed from secretions and pus accumulated there, as well as pathogenic bacteria. At the same time, nasal breathing is noticeably facilitated, swelling of the mucous membrane is eliminated and the effect of other medicines is improved.

For washing, special saline solutions in the form of drops and sprays, saline sodium chloride solution or sea salt solution can be used. In addition, others are used that have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, regenerating and other properties. Examples of such drugs:

Miramistin,
Rotokan,
Dioxidine,
Furacilin,
Chlorophyllipt.

Vasoconstrictor drops

The use of vasoconstrictor drugs is necessary for severe swelling of the mucosa and nasal congestion. Such drugs can eliminate these symptoms, restore nasal breathing, facilitate the outflow of sinus contents and improve the effectiveness of other topical agents.

The choice of vasoconstrictor drops and sprays is extremely large. Dozens of such drugs are presented in any pharmacy, which allows you to choose the right drug for each patient. Just be sure to consult your doctor before purchasing. Possible appointment:

Galazolina,
Vibrocil,
Nazivina,
Rinazolin,
Otrivina,
Tizina,
Nazola and others.

Mucolytic agents

Mucolytics may be prescribed to clear mucus buildup and clear the sinuses of green mucus and pus. The most common use is . It has mucolytic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and vasoconstrictive effects. The spray is convenient because it practically does not enter the bloodstream and can be used from 2 years of age.

In more complex cases, it is possible to use mucolytics inside. Among these funds, perhaps the most famous Sinupret. The composition of this drug contains extracts from medicinal plants. It works quite gently and effectively. In addition to the mucolytic and secretolytic action, Sinupret exhibits anti-inflammatory, immunostimulating and antiviral properties.

This disease is divided into varieties, depending on the causes and accompanying symptoms.

Given the factor that provoked a runny nose, we can distinguish its types:

Infectious;
Vasomotor;
Allergic;
Traumatic.

The first type of disease is caused either by viruses or bacteria. It occurs due to a decrease in immunity and contact with a carrier of microorganisms.

Vasomotor runny nose appears due to impaired blood circulation in the nose. Often it can be triggered by excessive use of vasoconstrictor drops. Because of this, the mucous membrane is not sufficiently supplied with blood and swells, breathing becomes difficult. Also, pathologies of the cardiovascular and nervous systems can become the cause of vasomotor rhinitis. First of all - VSD (vegetative-vascular dystonia).

The allergic form of the common cold is caused by an incorrect reaction of the human immune system to allergens. They can be mites that live in house dust, animal hair, plant pollen, substances that make up products, chemical compounds that are found in perfumes and household chemicals, etc.

Traumatic rhinitis appears due to mechanical, chemical or thermal damage to the nose.

Types of chronic rhinitis, depending on changes in the mucous membrane:

atrophic;
hypertrophic.

In the first variety, the nasal mucosa becomes thinner, and the nerve endings in it die off. The disease is characterized by a deterioration in the sense of smell and the presence of green crusts in the nasal passages. Such rhinitis appears for one of the following reasons: lack of vitamin D or iron in the body, improper functioning of the endocrine system, infection. Since this form of the disease is chronic, sometimes such a runny nose does not go away for a month, and even for a longer time.

Hypertrophic rhinitis is characterized by overgrowth of nasal tissues. It can occur as a complication of a runny nose that has arisen for any reason: due to infections, allergens, improper use of medicines, hypothermia, etc.

The reasons

The reasons why a runny nose does not go away for a long time depend on the type of disease:

A runny nose of an infectious nature does not go away for a long time due to constant contact with a carrier of the disease. This can happen in a kindergarten where children with snot go. Also, treatment may take longer due to improperly selected medications or reduced immunity.
Vasomotor rhinitis may not go away due to incorrect diagnosis. Often it is mistaken for allergic or infectious. In order to cure this disease, it is necessary to completely stop the instillation of vasoconstrictors or treat the underlying disease (disorders in the circulatory or nervous system).
Allergic rhinitis is prolonged due to the incorrect definition of the substance that caused it. In this regard, the patient continues to come into contact with the allergen, and the runny nose does not go away for a week or even more.
Traumatic rhinitis can also be delayed due to improper treatment, due to which it becomes chronic.

Possible Complications

This disease develops in several stages.

Stages of development of the common cold:

First stage called reflex. It occurs almost immediately after contact with the factor that provoked the disease (allergens, viruses, bacteria, low temperature). This phase lasts only a few hours. At this stage, first there is a narrowing of the blood vessels, and then their expansion, due to which there is swelling of the nasal mucosa, redness. There is also a feeling of dryness and burning, sneezing.
Second stage- catarrhal - lasts the next 48-72 hours. At this stage of the development of the disease, the following symptoms appear: breathing through the nose is difficult, the sense of smell is reduced, watery discharge comes out of the nose.
Third phase replaces the second on the 4-5th day of illness. At this stage, all previous symptoms persist, and nasal discharge becomes mucopurulent, greenish, yellow or brown in color. This stage usually lasts for several days, after which recovery occurs. However, if the immune system is weakened and unable to fight the infection, or if the patient remains in contact with the allergen, then a runny nose does not go away for 2 weeks in an adult or even 3 weeks in a child.

If the third stage of the disease is delayed, a number of complications may occur:

Otitis. Appears due to the spread of infection through the auditory tubes. It is characterized by such signs as ear pain, congestion, due to which hearing loss occurs, body temperature is above normal, and fatigue. This disease, in turn, can lead to other complications, so treatment should be started immediately.
Sinusitis. Appears due to the spread of infection in the maxillary sinuses. At the same time, pain is felt in the nose, sometimes in the temples, body temperature rises, tearing appears, especially in sunny weather. As with a runny nose, there is purulent discharge from the nose.
Frontit. This disease is similar to the previous one, but is characterized by damage to the frontal sinuses, and not nasal. It manifests itself with such symptoms: pain in the region of the bridge of the nose and a little higher, fatigue, body temperature above 37 degrees, congestion and discharge from the nose.
polyps. These are neoplasms that grow from the tissues of the mucous membrane and paranasal sinuses. They arise because of a non-passing infectious rhinitis. Symptoms of the disease are as follows: severe nasal congestion, headache. Often polyps in the nose are combined with frontal sinusitis and sinusitis.

Conservative treatment of an infectious disease

Sometimes in the case of chronic rhinitis, surgery is also used. But in most cases, conservative treatment is sufficient.

If a bacterial runny nose does not go away for 2 weeks, then the use of antibiotics is necessary. They are of two types: those that kill microorganisms, and those that block their further reproduction.

With a prolonged runny nose, the following antibiotics are used:

Midecamycin;
Erythromycin;
Amoxicillin;
Ceftriaxone;
Azithromycin;
Cefodox;
Clarithromycin;
Augmentin;
Neomycin;
Novoimanin;
cefprozil;
Framycetin.

Most often, antibacterial drugs are available in the form of tablets and solutions for injection. However, there are also nasal drops containing antibiotics.

What to do with prolonged allergic rhinitis?

If this type of rhinitis does not go away, it is necessary to re-diagnose to accurately identify the cause of the disease. This is what allergy tests are for. Most often these are scarification tests.

They are performed in this way: a drop of a specially prepared allergen solution is applied to the skin of the patient's hand and small scratches are made in the same place, not to the point of blood. The test is evaluated after 1/3 hour. If nothing has changed during this time, the sample is considered negative. If there is itching, redness and swelling on the arm, then an allergy to the alleged substance is confirmed.

Once the allergen has been identified, it is necessary to minimize the patient's contact with it.

You can do this in the following way:

if a person has an individual intolerance to dust mites, you should, if possible, get rid of carpets, take pillows and blankets for cleaning, and once a week carry out wet cleaning;
if allergic to wool, do not contact with animals;
in case of intolerance to medicines or household chemicals, it is necessary to accurately determine the substance that provokes the disease, and carefully study the composition of the product before buying.

If a runny nose of an allergic nature does not go away for a long time, nasal drops containing corticosteroids are prescribed. They are used only for adults, children are contraindicated.

List of corticosteroid drops:

Beclomethasone;
flunisolide;
Nasonex.

Even if the allergic rhinitis does not last long, antihistamine tablets are used. Most often, third-generation drugs are prescribed, which have a minimum number of side effects.

List of antihistamines:

Cetrin;
Tigofast;
Tsetrilev;
Erius;
Aleron;
Eden;
Tigofast;
Erides.

Their use is also necessary for the prevention of the common cold. For example, if you are allergic to pollen, you need to take them during the entire flowering period of plants.

Folk remedies

If the runny nose is prolonged, home-made medicines are also suitable to alleviate the symptoms. However, it should be noted that in no case should they replace traditional treatment. Before using them, you should also consult a doctor, as some folk remedies may not be combined with other drugs and have side effects.

Also, to eliminate an infectious rhinitis, you can drink a decoction of chamomile, raspberry leaves or currants.

Despite the seeming harmlessness, a runny nose with a long course can provoke many complications. They lead to a deterioration in the quality of life due to impaired nasal breathing. Therefore, if a runny nose does not go away for a long time, you need to consult a specialist and undergo a course of treatment. It is also possible to use folk remedies as one of the components of complex therapy.

Useful video: how to rinse your nose

A runny nose in children accompanies a great many diseases and is rightfully considered one of the most common "children's" symptoms. All parents know that it is the most diverse - from dry to abundant, and the color of nasal mucus - from transparent to gray and yellow-green to purulent.

Often parents do not know what to give the baby if he has green nasal mucus. And with this question they turn to the famous pediatrician Evgeny Olegovich Komarovsky.

A runny nose in children happens so often that experienced moms and dads no longer cause panic. However, you can’t relax either, because timely help with rhinitis (that’s what doctors call a runny nose) will help to avoid serious complications. By the color of nasal mucus, it is quite easy to determine the origin of a runny nose and even guess about its causes. This knowledge will make it possible to treat the baby correctly. Let's see why a child's snot may be green.

And Dr. Komarovsky will help us more clearly understand the reason for the formation of nasal mucus in the next video.

In 9 out of 10 children, a runny nose is caused by viruses. Viral rhinitis is the undisputed leader among childhood ailments. The fact is that viruses enter the child's body most often through the nasopharynx and very rarely through the eyes. Natural protection is designed in such a way that immediately after penetration, mucus begins to be produced in the nose, the task of which is to stop the invasion and prevent further penetration of viruses. Mucus in this situation is produced a lot, it is transparent and liquid. At the very beginning of a respiratory viral infection, parents say about such a phenomenon "from the nose it flows."

Evgeny Komarovsky emphasizes that abundant liquid mucus is completely harmless for the baby, the main thing is not to let it thicken or dry out. Since it is in the dried mucus that there is such an amount of protein that it becomes very free for various bacteria. This is where the color of the snot changes.

Thick and green mucus indicates the bacterial nature of the common cold or its mixed nature - viral-bacterial. The color in this case is due to the presence of dead bacteria and neutrophils that died in battle, which were thrown by immunity to protect against infection. The greener the color palette of nasal discharge, the higher the likelihood of mixed rhinitis. Yellow-greenish snot always speaks only of the bacterial form of the disease.

Whether it is necessary to take antibiotics for green snot, Dr. Komarovsky will tell in the next issue.

With a viral rhinitis, lymphocytes predominate in the mucus, with bacterial rhinitis - neutrophils, with allergic - cells - eosinophils. Knowledge of this allows, according to Komarovsky, to find the true cause of rhinitis, protracted and poorly amenable to one or another treatment. Mucus is taken from the child’s nose for sowing, and by the number of certain cells - defenders, they determine what exactly the baby’s body is trying so hard to defend itself from.

As already mentioned, the green color of mucus appears when dying neutrophils secrete a special substance that gives the snot such a color. Therefore, the appearance of green snot Komarovsky recommends that it be considered a rather favorable sign - it indicates that the defender cells have already begun to fulfill their immediate duties.

About bacterial rhinitis

It usually occurs after the parents failed to keep the nasal mucus thin during a viral infection. But sometimes only bacteria are to blame for the causes. Such rhinitis is characterized by some special symptoms: at an early stage, the nose “itches”, the child begins to sneeze and scratch his nose, as with allergies. This stage, unlike the allergic form of the disease, does not last long - about 2-3 hours, after which liquid transparent mucus is released from the nose for 3-5 days, which quickly begins to thicken.

Nasal congestion appears, the child's nasal breathing is disturbed due to swelling inside the nasal passages, lacrimation, headaches may begin, appetite decreases, the ability to distinguish smells completely or partially disappears. At the final stage, you can observe the same green and yellow nasal discharge, which has already become quite thick.

In infants, especially at the age of 1-3 months, a runny nose can also be physiological, due to adaptation to a new environment for him. All procedures for such babies should be carried out only after consultation with the attending physician, but the general approach to treating infants is the same as in the treatment of older children.

Treatment

How to treat a runny nose, accompanied by green discharge, is best told by a doctor who can establish the true cause of the disease. It can be both pharyngitis and tonsillitis. The task is to prevent complications, which can be quite serious - otitis, sinusitis quite often appear precisely after a bacterial rhinitis, which was treated incorrectly or not treated at all.

Dr. Komarovsky will tell you how to clear a child's nose from mucus in the next video.

Moms have a rather polar attitude towards snot: some consider it a serious illness and immediately begin to demand antibiotics, others are sure that a handkerchief in their pocket will cope with rhinitis, and you can even take such a baby with green snot to kindergarten.

Yevgeny Komarovsky urges parents to be prudent. No need to go to the above extremes. It is possible to treat a bacterial runny nose without antibiotics, but it still needs to be treated.

It is better to postpone visiting a kindergarten or school for a runny nose with yellow and green snot until better times. And to do the normalization of nasal mucus. This does not require expensive medicines, says Evgeny Olegovich, sometimes it is enough just to create favorable conditions.

The mucus will not dry out and thicken if the parents try to create humidified air at the level of 50-70% in the room where the baby lives. This can be done with a humidifier. It is not cheap, and if the financial capabilities of the family do not allow buying it, then you can get a special valve-valve for batteries in the winter, and in any season you can hang wet towels, put a basin of water so that it evaporates freely, after all, buy a small aquarium with fish - it will be both informative and useful.

In a hot room, the snot also dries up almost instantly and the infection begins to progress very quickly. Therefore, you should purchase and hang a room thermometer and make sure that the air temperature in the room does not fall below 18 degrees and in no case rises above 20 degrees.

Fresh air will also help to cope with a bacterial runny nose. Instead of instilling antibiotics, Dr. Komarovsky advises to go for a walk. The more time the baby spends outside (of course, in the absence of elevated body temperature), the faster the mucous membranes will become wet again, and the body will be able to fully resist the bacteria.

And another “medicine” available to everyone is water.. If the child drinks more, then the mucus will soon become liquid and will be easily removed from the nasal passages naturally. Komarovsky recommends giving a drink at a temperature that is equal to the temperature of the child's body. So the liquid will be absorbed and absorbed by the intestinal walls faster, which means that the result will not be long in coming.

About medicines

Parents think about pharmacy drops and sprays from the common cold in the first place, as soon as the child's nose is blocked, says Yevgeny Komarovsky. In fact, you do not need to do this without special instructions and prescriptions from a doctor. The most common cause of rhinitis is viruses, and therefore 90% of rhinitis in children should not be treated with any medication, the doctor believes, because antibiotics are ineffective against viruses, and vasoconstrictor drops too.

About how to treat the nose, Dr. Komarovsky will tell in the issue below.

Without exception, all pharmaceutical remedies for the common cold only temporarily eliminate the symptoms, but in no case cure the cause of rhinitis, says Komarovsky. Vasoconstrictor drops ("Nafthyzin", "Nazivin", Nazol, etc.) can generally cause drug addiction if used for more than 3-5 days. They require great care in use, as they also have a number of side effects. Many drugs in this group are prohibited for children who are not yet 2 years old.

You can often find recommendations for bacterial rhinitis, be sure to start dripping antibiotic drugs, such as Framycetin, Isofra and others. These are good and effective drugs, says Komarovsky, but sometimes they are completely unnecessary. More precisely, in most cases absolutely not necessary. If a child has purulent rhinitis, with a severe course, the doctor, of course, in addition to recommendations on rinsing the nose and walking, will prescribe antibacterial drops, and maybe even complex drops that are prepared in pharmacies where there is a prescription department, strictly according to the doctor's prescription. But he will do this only after a bacterial test has been carried out in order to know exactly which specific bacteria need to be defeated as soon as possible.

Adults often complain that they have a runny nose for a long time. Moreover, other symptoms of the disease may not be observed. There is no particular health hazard in this, but only if the runny nose lasts no more than 2-3 weeks. For what reasons does rhinitis not disappear for a long time and how to get rid of it?

A runny nose does not go away for a long time in an adult for several reasons. For example, these could be:

allergic reactions to dust, flowering plants, pet hair, etc.;
the use of vasoconstrictor drugs for a sufficiently long period of time;
the transition of the common cold into a chronic form;
untimely or poor-quality treatment of rhinitis;
abrupt climate change;
stress;
frequent use of spicy or spicy foods;
injuries or congenital curvature of the nasal septum;
regular inhalation of air containing chemicals, etc.

It is worth noting that if rhinitis lasts about a week, then you should not worry about it - the body needs time to cope with the ailment. It is necessary to start sounding the alarm in cases where a runny nose lasts 10 days or more, and the discharge does not decrease.

You should not resort to self-treatment of rhinitis, and you should not take medicines that helped a relative or neighbor. Everyone's body is different and what's good for one may be bad for another. The most optimal and correct solution in such a situation is a visit to an otolaryngologist.

What to do if a runny nose lasts 2 weeks?

With a protracted runny nose - about 2-3 weeks or more - you must definitely consult a doctor. If a person takes any medications, but rhinitis still continues to bother him, then perhaps the patient receives poor-quality treatment, the drugs he takes do not properly fight the disease.
If a runny nose does not go away for 2 weeks in an adult, then this may be a signal that the ailment has become chronic or the person is constantly exposed to allergic reactions. The patient should immediately pass all the necessary tests, with the help of which the doctor can diagnose the true cause of rhinitis and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

In addition, a person may be attacked by a viral or other infectious disease, but does not yet know about it. Other symptoms have not yet made themselves felt, and a runny nose has already appeared. In this case, taking daily walks in cold air, windy weather, or simply somehow supercools the body. That is why rhinitis can last 2 weeks or more.

If a runny nose does not go away for 2 weeks in an adult, then this is a good reason to see a doctor. The fact is that long-lasting rhinitis, like most diseases, can cause serious complications for human health. These include:

chronic rhinitis;
sinusitis;
purulent sinusitis;
allergies, etc.

A runny nose that does not go away for a month or more is considered even more dangerous. In this case, the doctor will offer the patient to undergo the necessary laboratory and other studies and, based on the data received, will most likely make the following diagnosis: “Allergic rhinitis”. The patient needs to get rid of contact with allergens, ventilate the room where he spends the most time more often, breathe more fresh air.

An adult with a runny nose has green snot - why?

With a prolonged, long-lasting runny nose in adults, green discharge is often noted. As a rule, they acquire a green color due to the presence of special cells, thanks to which the doctor can determine the nature of the infection on a specific pathogen.

Normal discharge from the nose is transparent - this indicates the normal functioning of the mucous membranes. However, when pathogenic microorganisms enter the mucous membrane, it ceases to function in the usual mode, the amount of secretions increases sharply, the snot becomes more liquid in consistency and literally “poured out” of the nose. Over the next few days, the discharge changes its character - it becomes quite thick and acquires a certain color.

With a runny nose, green discharge in an adult may appear not only due to the presence of any disease. The reason may be hidden in the poor condition of the mucous membranes, and in an unfavorable atmosphere. First aid in such a situation includes intensive moistening of the nasopharynx, walking in fresh air, and releasing the nasal cavity from dried secretions. Sometimes such measures are enough for the green snot to disappear on its own.

How to cure a runny nose that does not go away for a long time?

In order to get rid of a runny nose that does not go away for a long time as soon as possible, you need to contact doctor's help. Only he knows the real cause of the disease, and only he knows what treatment will be most effective in a particular case.

Rhinitis is a malaise that is best treated at the very beginning of its development. Treatment of this ailment should be expanded and include the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, immunomodulating agents, antihistamines (for allergic rhinitis), prophylactic agents. The purpose of certain medications depends both on the severity of the common cold, and on the cause of its occurrence. During treatment, the patient needs to restore the normal functioning of the mucous membrane, remove the inflammatory process in the paranasal sinuses, strengthen blood vessels, etc.

With an infectious cold, vasoconstrictor sprays and drops are usually prescribed: Otrivin, Naphthyzin, Vibrocil, Nazivin, Galazolin, Sanorin, etc. Allergic rhinitis requires taking antihistamines, for example, Allergodil, Zirtek, etc.

Antibiotics for a cold in adults are usually prescribed from the group of macrolides. These antibacterial agents are the least aggressive and do not cause much harm to health. Antibiotics most commonly used in the treatment of rhinitis include:

clarithromycin,
erythromycin,
midecamycin,
spiramycin,
azithromycin,
cephalosporins (ceftriaxone, cefodox)
and B-lactam antibiotics (augmentins).

If a patient has a bacterial runny nose combined with an allergic one, then the doctor may prescribe not only taking drugs inside, but also washing the sinuses with antibiotics and the form of solutions.

As an additional therapy, the patient is recommended to humidify the room more often, reduce or reduce contact with allergens, breathe more fresh air, moisturize the nasal mucosa, eat right, and harden the body.