How long does the physiological runny nose in a newborn

Newly-born parents feel a great responsibility before the newborn baby. They do everything to protect him and protect him, protecting him from hypothermia and viral diseases. Meanwhile, some time after discharge from the hospital, most babies still have a runny nose. Parents start to panic: what to do, how and what to treat such a crumb, because he does not know how to blow his nose at all?

Before resorting to any means of drug treatment, you need to first clarify the nature of the disease. Perhaps it's just a physiological cold in the newborns. About this state, what are the reasons for its appearance, and how to treat it, we will tell in detail in our article.

What is the physiological cold of the newborn?

It should be noted that there are three types of common cold: infectious (viral or bacterial), allergic and physiological. About the latter just and let's talk more.

A physiological runny nose in a newborn is the appearance of mucous discharge from the baby's nose in the first weeks of his life. "Has arisen without a reason," they say about the sight of the common cold in the people. And indeed, the physiological runny nose appears suddenly, and disappears unexpectedly, even if it is not treated at all. As a rule, he does not give any discomfort, except for the rare cases when the baby's nose stops breathing well, which can cause his anxiety.

To understand the nature of this cold, you need to understand the reasons for its occurrence.

Causes of the problem

The main reason for the appearance of a physiological cold in infants is the immaturity of the nasal mucosa. The fact is that in the womb of the mother the child was in an aquatic environment, where the aforementioned mucous membrane of his nose was constantly moistened. After his birth, the baby gets into completely different conditions, and he, his organs and systems need to adapt to life in them. While this did not happen, the mucosa requires additional moisturizing, and the baby's body begins to produce a special substance. The physiological rhinitis in the newborn is a protective reaction of his body to external stimuli.

Since the cause of the phenomenon described does not lie in viruses, allergens or bacteria, but in the immaturity of some organs and systems of the baby, it is also called neurovegetative.

The physiological rhinitis of the newborn: symptoms

The reason for the appearance of rhinitis in infants has become clear. But how to make sure that this is the same physiological cold in the newborn? Symptoms of this rhinitis are as follows:

• The child is cheerful and cheerful, sleep and appetite are not broken;
• Separated mucus is transparent, has a liquid consistency;
• The runny nose is often accompanied by sneezing;
• Breathing, as a rule, is not difficult (provided that there is sufficient humidity in the room);
• An abundant amount of mucus (with dry air in the baby's room) causes the formation of crusts in the nose that impede breathing;
• During sleep the child breathes his mouth;
• During lactation in the prone position due to difficulties with breathing, the baby becomes restless and refuses to breast.

Thus, in some cases, physiological rhinitis still leads to a disruption of the usual rhythm of life of the mother and newborn.

Than to treat?

Apply any medications, especially vasoconstrictive, for the treatment of physiologic rhinitis is strictly prohibited. This can lead to the fact that the mucous membrane will dry out, and the next time the mucus will be produced even more than before. All the treatment of a physiological cold in newborns is limited only to instillation into the baby's nose in case of extreme need for a solution of sea salt. You can prepare it from a teaspoon of salt and a liter of boiled water. With the help of such a solution it is possible to remove from the nose the crusts formed as a result of the air dryness and thus facilitate the breathing of the newborn.

In addition, to ease the condition of the baby during this period of life will help the following tools:

• The air humidifier should work in the room regularly, the humidity in the room where the babe sleeps should be maintained at 60%;
• The temperature of the air in the room should be 20-22 degrees, if the house is heated too much, it will be appropriate to put special thermoregulators on the batteries;
• The room should be regularly ventilated;
• Wet cleaning should be done regularly.

All these tools will help to transfer the described state easily and quickly.

Duration

Let's consider, the physiological rhinitis at the newborn how many lasts. The immature mucous membrane of the nose of a newborn baby is finally formed only to the age of 2.5-3 months. On average, this rhinitis lasts no more than 10-14 days. This happens when parents do not interfere in the natural physiological process and do not try to dry the nasal mucosa by additional means, which is extremely rare. Most often, the situation occurs when the mother actively seeks to remove the mucus from the spout, greatly drying it.

In this case, the rhinitis in the baby continues how much? The physiological runny nose of a newborn can last for irrational treatment for a very long time. In some cases, such an unreasonable use of medications, especially vasoconstrictive drugs, can lead to a chronic cold, which can not be eliminated even in adulthood.

Danger to newborns

In some cases, due to ill-considered acts, inactivity of parents or for a number of other reasons, neurovegetative rhinitis leads to complications.

The physiological rhinitis in a newborn is as follows:

1. The kid ceases to gain weight and even drops it, because due to stuffy nose it can not normally suckle the breast.
2. With a prolonged runny nose, the nasal mucosa is so irritated that painful ulcers form on it.
3. Due to a prolonged runny nose, the baby can develop ear inflammation and upper respiratory tract. The newborn has a cough that still has to be treated to avoid complications in the form of acute bronchitis and pneumonia.

Cough with a physiological cold in babies: what to treat

Before the appointment of therapy for a cough caused by a physiological rhinitis, determine the degree of severity of the complication. In most cases, it is a reflex response of the body to a copious mucus secretion in the common cold. How does this happen? In this case, the mucus simply flows down the back wall of the nasopharynx, thereby interfering with the child, and he reflexes it reflexively.

Cough with a physiological cold in a newborn in this case is treated by eliminating the cause of its occurrence, that is, removing mucus from the nose. In turn, in order to get rid of it, it is necessary to create favorable conditions in the room: humidify the air, regularly ventilate the room and maintain the optimum temperature regime in it. In this case, the child should be under constant observation of the doctor until all the symptoms of the disease disappear completely.

The opinion of the pediatrician Komarovsky EO

Dr. Komarovsky gives his assessment of the physiological rhinitis. He emphasizes that curing rhinitis, which occurs in the first trimester of a baby's life, is medically forbidden by medications. This is not the rhinitis that is eliminated. It is associated with the adaptation of the nasal mucosa to the air composition of the environment. Once this happens, the rhinitis will pass by itself. That is why you should not treat a physiological cold in a newborn.

Komarovsky recommends creating favorable conditions for the child in the room for natural moisturizing of the mucous membrane and not allowing it to dry out. The doctor is outraged that some mothers are trying to dig in the baby's nose with breast milk, considering it a panacea for all diseases, and especially for the common cold. In fact, this is completely pointless, especially since there are more effective and simple methods that can quickly alleviate the condition of the newborn.

Prevention

This type of cold runs without increasing the temperature and does not need medication, but it will not be avoided either. The task of the mother is to alleviate the condition of the baby during this period and to do everything possible to end it as soon as possible and without consequences.

For this you need:

• Maintain the optimum temperature and humidity levels in the room;
• For additional moisturizing, dig in the child's nose with saline solution;
• In time, cleanse the nose of dry crusts with the help of cotton buds and flagella.

The above measures of prevention will help quickly forget what a physiological cold in a newborn. Meanwhile, it is worth remembering that the optimal temperature regime and air humidification are necessary for the child always to grow healthy and active.