Why do children often have a runny nose?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was consulted with Master, Doctor Tran Mai Phuong - Pediatrician - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology, Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital.

1. Causes of a runny nose in children

Seasonal change is the time when children are most susceptible to respiratory diseases such as stuffy nose and runny nose.
1.1. Dry air This is one of the main causes of a runny nose in children, because the lining of the nose is very sensitive to dry air. Dry air dries out your baby's nasal secretions. When a child has a runny nose due to dry air, the child only shows symptoms or snorts but does not have a runny nose.
Parents should not worry because there can be home treatment for children such as using a nasal spray containing physiological salts or increasing the humidity in the baby's room by using a water vaporizer.
1.2. Allergens As mentioned, the lining of the baby's nose is very sensitive, especially to wind, dust, chemical fumes, cigarette smoke and milk (which is brought up to the nose when the baby spits up milk). have a runny nose. When the child's nasal mucosa is irritated, it will cause symptoms such as noisy breathing, clear runny nose, sneezing.... In this case, parents can use physiological saline to handle it. .

1.3. Colds and flu Children are very susceptible to colds and flu, due to their immature immune systems. This is an opportunity for viruses to enter the body, some of which can be transmitted from person to person through the air, but most are transmitted by hand-nose contact. In many cases, a cold can lead to a secondary bacterial infection such as otitis media or sinusitis ...
When a child has a cold, symptoms such as headache, fever, muscle aches, and general aches and pains will appear. body, loss of appetite and fatigue. Signs of a runny nose caused by colds and flu in babies are: clear runny nose, cough, fever, hoarseness, headache, joint pain, muscle pain or sore throat.
1.4. Allergies Pollen, mold, pet hair, insect bites, house dust, allergens contained in milk, food or medicine... are easy to cause allergies, especially for sensitive children. . If symptoms are left untreated, they can last for weeks or even months.
1.5. Amygdales or enlarged VA Amygdales or VA helps the body fight infections by filtering bacteria and viruses that enter through the nose and throat and producing antibodies to help the body fight infections. Amygdales or enlarged VA can cause a runny nose. The symptoms of a runny nose due to Amygdales or enlarged VA such as: stuffy nose, noisy breathing, snoring while sleeping, even during sleep, the child may stop breathing for a few seconds. Amygdales or enlarged VA can cause otitis media.
One of the methods to treat a runny nose caused by Amygdales or enlarged VA is to surgically remove them.

1.6. Foreign body in the nose Foreign body in the nose is a very serious problem for young children, if parents do not detect it soon, it will endanger the child's life. The foreign body could be: seeds, dried beans, popcorn, buttons, marbles, paper, gravel, plastic toys, foam rubber, or a small battery in the nose.
Signs that a child has a runny nose that shows a foreign object in the nose is: noisy breathing, green or yellow discharge, sometimes with blood, the nose may swell and cause pain.
To help the baby breathe normally, remove the object, encourage the baby to snort several times. In case, the foreign body is large, take the baby to the hospital to have the doctor remove the foreign body to avoid causing damage to the nose.
Even if a child has a runny nose due to any reason, parents should not be subjective. Take your baby to the medical facility, the hospital immediately when the child experiences the following symptoms:
The child has a runny nose with high fever, vomiting, crying non-stop... Suspect foreign object entering the nose Have symptoms of runny nose caused by allergy

2. Home remedies for children with runny nose

Most children with a runny nose are caused by colds and flu and can be treated at home such as keeping the baby clean, keeping the body warm. Here are some ways, parents can treat a child with a runny nose at home:
Physiological saline: Physiological saline is extremely safe, for children who do not know how to blow their nose, they can use a nasal aspirator. . Just use 1-2 drops of physiological saline in each nostril of the child, then use a nasal aspirator in each nostril for the child. Make sure the baby is lying on his side to avoid choking. Drinking lots of water, milk, juice, soup or liquid food to make the nasal discharge looser and easier to clear is what you should do for your baby. Foods that are high in fats and oils should be minimized.

Cook warm ginger water for bathing: Warm ginger water loosens nasal secretions, making it easier for the baby to blow out or the mother is also easier to clean with a nasal aspirator. Nose massage: helps children more comfortable when having a runny nose, stuffy nose. Lying with your head up when sleeping: helps prevent nasal discharge from flowing back into the nose, causing nasal congestion, instead, the runny nose will flow out to make the baby more comfortable. The pediatric department at Vinmec International General Hospital is the address for receiving and examining diseases that infants and young children are susceptible to: viral fever, bacterial fever, otitis media, pneumonia in children ,....With modern equipment, sterile space, minimizing the impact as well as the risk of disease spread. Along with that is the dedication from the doctors with professional experience with pediatric patients, making the examination no longer a concern of the parents.

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