If your child caught a cold
Where does a runny nose come from?
Everyone knows that when we catch a cold, we have a nose, a runny nose, a headache, a fever, and we constantly sneeze and cough. And these symptoms aren’t caused by hypothermia, but by a virus, and they’re manifested because our immune system could not fight back. We’re constantly faced with countless bacteria, and sometimes the body just can't stand the pressure and loses. That's how we get a runny nose.
Strong defense
When the immune system doesn’t have enough strength to withstand infection, we get sick. The body's defense is especially weakened when there’s a lack of mobility and sleep. Only a healthy immune system can develop defensive strategies against cold viruses. It’s known that children who go to kindergarten for several years are much less often ill at school.
Sometimes, both children and adults are completely immune to germs, but there’re so many pathogens that they can still easily penetrate into the body through the nose or mouth cavity, and can live all day long on door handles and different surfaces.
How to treat a cold?
Once there is a runny nose, there’s no stopping the cold. First we start sneezing, then we have a nose and a runny nose, to this set add also cough, high fever, headaches and aching joints. In adults, the weakness usually lasts a little more than a week, but children get sick for a longer time.
Unfortunately, it’s not in your power to banish the cold from the child's body, but you can still make him or her feel better. The best way to help with the cold is rest, good sleep and plenty of drinking.
Tea
When a child coughs, blows his nose and sweats, he loses a lot of fluid. Water, tea and soups will restore water balance and help the mucosa to fight the infection.
Inhalations and sprays
It’s possible to support the microbiom of mucosa with a salt solution. Place saline solution in the nose or spray the nose cavity with it. Inhalation is also possible. You don't have to go to the pharmacy to get the saline solution, you can easily do it yourself. Heat 1 liter of water and add 2 teaspoons of common table salt (sodium chloride). The result is an isotonic solution, which fully corresponds to the solution of salts in the blood.
For inhalation, the child should lean over the pot with the solution and breathe in the salt vapor. When the water cools down, you can put some drops it in the nose.
Fresh air
Try to make sure that the air is not too dry, and air the room regularly. Ventilation cleans the room from bacteria that have got into the air through coughing, and moisture the room.
Honey
According to studies, a child sleeps better if after brushing his teeth before going to bed he takes a teaspoon of honey (ca. 10 g).
Make yourselves comfortable and wait
Pay as much attention to your child as possible, because now the days for him or her last longer. Show your support, don't rush: the child needs time to recover. Let your child have a good night sleep. Cook him his favorite dish, pour tea, wrap yourself in a warm blanket and wait. This is the best tactic for a cold.
Do not rush with medication
Anti-edema drops, cough syrup, vitamin C, zinc, garlic, eucalyptus or mucus thinners drugs are good for adults, but not children. Moreover, they can even harm them. So before giving a child any medicine, be sure to consult with a specialist.
Should your child see a doctor yet?
If your child constantly walks tired and wants to sleep or is often ill, make an appointment to see a pediatrician.
