How to treat infants. Can a baby get infected from a mother or another child, how to protect him? Determining the cause of pain

A common cause of sleepless nights for young parents is disruption of the child's developing intestinal tract: colic, flatulence and constipation. According to statistics, every fifth baby suffers from the latter. Typically, formula-fed or mixed-fed babies are susceptible to this unpleasant disease, but infants are also at risk. What is the cause of constipation and infants, how to avoid it, what emergency measures can be taken and how to ensure comfortable digestion for the baby - tasks of paramount importance. Parents' non-serious attitude to this problem or the use of medications and treatment methods inconsistent with the pediatrician is fraught with a lot of complications for the baby at an older age.

What can be considered constipation in a baby?

From a medical point of view, constipation in a child under one year of age is considered difficulty in defecation or lack of bowel movements in the last 24 hours.

This concept is quite vague, since it is closely related to the specific age of the child: in a bottle-fed baby and in an infant, the frequency and consistency of stool will differ significantly. For example, for newborns under the age of one month, the norm is to have bowel movements in the same amount as there were meals. This is for breastfeeding. For an artificial child, the norm is only 2–3 bowel movements per day.

The instability of the baby's intestines is of great importance. Without the help of a specialist, it is quite difficult to determine when a baby suffers from constipation, and when a decrease in stool frequency is just a physiological feature of the development of a small organism. Therefore, it is important to control not only the number of “passages”, but also the consistency, smell, density and color of feces, and the child’s behavior before and during bowel movements.

Baby stool up to six months has a semi-liquid consistency. It is yellow in color, without an unpleasant odor, and may contain particles of undigested breast milk in the form of curdled inclusions. Artificial feces are denser and may have a characteristic specific odor.

Signs and symptoms of constipation

The main thing you need to pay attention to is the general condition of the child and the consistency of the stool. Symptoms indicating constipation include:
restless behavior of the child during bowel movements: but straining does not lead to any result, expression of pain on the face, pushing, crying;
any attempt to empty the intestines is accompanied by screams and restless movements of the baby;
When a baby is constipated, the feces are hard: either they look like peas, or the first portion looks like a “cork”, followed by a mushy mass;
incomplete bowel movement;
regular stool retention for 1 – 2 days;
restless sleep;
refusal to eat;
absence of gases;
causeless crying;
bloating;
pulling your knees to your chest;
vomit.

The manifestation of one or two of these signs does not mean that the baby is constipated, but if several symptoms are present, you can be quite confident in the diagnosis and begin treatment. First of all, be sure to contact the pediatrician observing the child. It is necessary to exclude the possibility of an intestinal reaction to medications taken, new foods, the start of complementary feeding and other factors that provoke difficulties in the gastrointestinal tract. Be sure to diagnose dysbiosis, allergic reactions and other digestive pathologies. A nursing mother should urgently introduce into her diet foods that activate the motility of intestinal smooth muscles: boiled prunes, beets, pumpkin. For children after six months, in the absence of allergies, these products can also be used as complementary foods.

If the child is calm, does not refuse the breast or bottle, and bowel movements do not cause him discomfort, then this is definitely not constipation. In newborns, mother's milk or formula can be absorbed so well that they simply cannot go to the toilet.

If the listed problems are still present, then before treating constipation, it is necessary to find out the reasons.

Causes of constipation

In the first stages of constipation, it is quite easy to deal with it by simply eliminating the causes that provoked constipation. These include:

Lack of fluid

This is an extremely pressing cause of constipation for bottle-fed infants, especially in hot summers or winters, when the air in the room is dry due to heating appliances. Be sure to increase the amount of water your child consumes. Popular pediatrician Komarovsky strongly recommends supplementing even breastfed newborns.

Poor nutrition of a nursing mother, an adapted formula that is unsuitable for the baby, a lack of foods that stimulate the gastrointestinal tract (beets, pumpkin, dried apricots, figs, apples, peaches, apricots, prunes and others)

Taking certain medications by an infant or nursing mother

Constipation is possible when taking antidepressants and antispasmodics. antibiotics, bismuth and iron preparations, NSAIDs, anticonvulsants, muscle relaxants. Taking and stopping any medications, both by the mother and the baby, must be previously agreed upon with the pediatrician.

Breast milk deficiency

Causes so-called “hunger constipation” in an infant. In this case, all the food consumed is absorbed into the walls of the internal organs and blood, and the intestines simply have nothing to process.

Introduction of complementary foods

More often, the introduction of complementary foods helps to normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, but it can also cause difficulties with stool. You should carefully monitor your intestinal reaction to new foods. Also, early pregnancy can contribute to constipation.

Abrupt change in nutrition

This is possible when there is a sudden loss of milk from the mother, replacement of one adapted formula with another, or incorrect transition from one type of feeding to another. Constipation usually disappears after adaptation to the new food.

Psychological constipation

This is by no means a myth, as some people think. A child’s body, finding itself in unusual or uncomfortable conditions (for example, when a baby separates from its mother), responds to stress in exactly this way. Also, the child may be afraid to recover because of the pain that occurs at this moment. In this case, you need to try to return the normal mushy consistency to the baby’s stool by following a diet.

There is another reason for psychological constipation - a child can manipulate adults in this way. If any signs of constipation in a baby cause his parents to panic and the parents begin to constantly feel sorry for, console and fuss around the child, then the baby may deliberately hold back stool. The only way to treat such a situation is to take a calm approach to the problem.

Colds or infectious diseases

An increase in body temperature can cause significant compaction of stool and lead to constipation.

It is extremely important that constipation itself may be one of the signs of serious diseases and pathologies, so it is important not to self-medicate, but to consult a doctor. Such diseases include:

Genetic predisposition.
Anatomical defects of the gastrointestinal tract.
Diabetes.
Disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract.
Rickets.
Diseases of the nervous system.
Myasthenia.
Spinal cord dysfunction.
Liver diseases.
Lactose deficiency.
An allergic reaction to a protein in cow's milk.
Food allergies.
Hypothyroidism.

Diseases that lead to constipation. Fortunately, these diseases are uncommon. These include dolichosigma, Hirschsprung's disease and lactase deficiency.

Dolichosigma is an elongation of the sigmoid colon. Bowel emptying is slowed down due to kinks and excess pressure of the sigmoid colon on itself and the rectum;
Hirschsprung's disease occurs due to disruption of the intestinal innervation. This leads to the fact that some parts of the intestine do not work and are in a spasmodic state;
Lactase deficiency occurs due to the absence or small amount of the enzyme that breaks down milk sugar (lactase). In this case, the baby's constipation will be replaced by diarrhea.

Only a doctor can identify such constipation in a baby, and only a doctor can decide what needs to be done in this situation.

Treatment of constipation

The first task in treating constipation is to determine its cause and eliminate it. To establish normal bowel function in a newborn, you need:

Medical examination.
When breastfeeding, apply more frequently to the breast.
For a child on artificial nutrition, supplementation with special baby water (not boiled) between meals, and the volume of liquid should be equal to the volume of one serving.
For an infant over 6 months old, introduce apples and vegetables into the diet.
For a child after one year, soup is a mandatory dish in the daily diet.

General recommendations for combating constipation also include: correcting the diet of the mother and baby, increasing the amount of fluid consumed, changing the nature of complementary foods, or changing the adapted formula to one that contains more lactobacilli.

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Separately, we should dwell on the issue of complementary feeding. Independent experts have long proven that store-bought juices, purees and other “jars for children,” regardless of the manufacturer, are made with the addition of quite harmful substances and preservatives and are the strongest allergens for children. Try to find some time to prepare really healthy complementary foods. From ordinary carrots or apples you will get many times more healthy and fortified puree or juice. The money saved on purchasing the dangerous “Agushi” can be spent on a convenient blender or juicer, which will make it easier to prepare foods for complementary feeding.

Enemas and laxatives should only be used as a last resort. They wash away beneficial microflora from the intestines: potassium, vitamins, protein, microelements; contribute to a decrease in intestinal muscle tone, lead to disruption of the natural bowel cleansing reflex, and interfere with the absorption of nutrients. Before using these emergency measures in a panic, you should try softer and harmless methods, which in most cases give a positive result. These methods include:

Tummy massage

It is aimed at relieving spasms, increasing intestinal tone and activating intestinal peristalsis. It is performed by soft stroking with light pressure on the baby’s belly. Movements must be performed clockwise. You can additionally place an ironed towel or diaper on the baby’s tummy. Just make sure that it is not hot, but warm. Warm baths and the warmth of the mother's body also help a lot: just lightly press the baby's tummy against your own stomach.

Abdominal massage for constipation:

Mechanical stimulation of the intestines

It is performed by irritating the anus. Can be done using a cotton swab generously lubricated with baby cream. The stick is inserted shallowly into the anus and gently turned several times. Usually, a bowel movement occurs within a few minutes.

When carrying out the procedure, there is a risk of scratching the epithelium of the anus with the stick, so you need to act extremely carefully, with light movements, and do not abuse this method.

For similar purposes, a special gas outlet tube is provided. It is also carefully inserted into the rectum, which allows you to activate the process of defecation.

Glycerin suppositories

You can use special rectal suppositories for newborns. They quickly soften stool and help cleanse the intestines. For a newborn, 1/3 of a suppository is enough. It must be carefully cut and, smoothing the sharp ends with your finger, slowly and carefully inserted into the anus.

If an hour after the introduction of the suppository the child still has not emptied his intestines, you should call a doctor. Sometimes suppositories can cause unpleasant sensations: burning, itching, allergic reactions, so glycerin suppositories are also considered emergency measures.

There is an old and supposedly effective “grandmother’s” method of treating constipation, in which a bar of soap is used instead of a glycerin suppository. You need to know that this is a very dangerous method: soap contains alkali and other harmful substances that can lead to burns of the rectum. Even when using baby soap, it is difficult to guarantee that it is made without dangerous ingredients.

Enema

An enema is considered an emergency measure for relieving constipation. A syringe (20 – 30 ml) with cooled boiled water or a decoction of medicinal chamomile is inserted to a depth of no more than 1.5 cm into the baby’s anus and all the liquid is slowly injected. The required liquid temperature is about 37 °C. It is advisable to dissolve a pinch of table salt in the enema water and add a couple of drops of pharmaceutical glycerin. When purchasing a syringe, choose a rubber or silicone tip rather than a plastic one; they are less traumatic. First, the tip of the syringe must be generously lubricated with baby cream or oil. Too warm water should not be used: it will simply be absorbed into the intestinal walls, and the desired result will not be achieved.

A modern analogue of an enema with a milder effect, designed specifically for newborns. It is a micro-enema based on a water-salt solution with the addition of glycerin. The effect of Microlax occurs a quarter of an hour after application. You must first read the instructions for use and do not insert the tip into the rectum beyond the drawn line.

These methods can be used as emergency measures, especially for regular constipation. Frequent use of an enema disrupts the functioning and favorable microflora of the intestinal tract and causes dysbiosis, which will have to be treated with probiotics.

Laxatives

Taking laxatives is only necessary when nothing else helps. Most laxatives are contraindicated for an infant under one year of age. An exception is Duphalac syrup and similar lactulose-based preparations. To induce bowel movement, Duphalac must be given to the baby in a volume of 5 ml. If the baby is fed breast milk, then the product can also be used by a nursing mother.

A six-month-old child can take Forlax. Its great advantage is that it can be used for up to three months.

Before using any remedy, remember that medications can only be prescribed by the attending physician, and emergency measures are allowed to be used only if absolutely necessary: when all methods of treating constipation have proven ineffective.

Small children often have tummy pain. How to help a child? What are the best treatments for constipation for an infant? Do I need to use medications or can I use folk remedies? All these questions are answered by Galina Viktorovna Orlova, a pediatrician at the House Doctor with extensive experience:

Preventive measures

The simplest and most effective treatment method is to prevent the disease. The health of children under one year of age requires constant monitoring and attention. Don’t wait for the first signs of constipation; start preventive measures immediately.

A simple but effective method is very useful: before feeding and after eating, carry the baby in a column for several minutes;
Do gymnastics regularly. To do this, place the baby on his back, carefully and smoothly lift his legs bent at the knees and lightly press him to the tummy. Repeat several times, avoiding sudden movements. It is also useful to do the bicycle exercise;
Provide the baby with the necessary amount of liquid. Instead of tea and juices, it is better to drink special bottled baby water. There is no need to boil it. When introducing complementary foods, juices must be diluted with water;
If the baby is more than 4 months old, prune juice is an excellent remedy for constipation. Two teaspoons is enough. After six months you can use prune puree. Both fresh fruits and dried fruits are equally effective. You can add prunes to compotes;
Don't wrap your baby up. Overheating, along with dehydration, is one of the main causes of constipation. This is also true for colds and infectious diseases: if the baby has a fever, give him food as often as possible, otherwise constipation after illness cannot be avoided;
Effective drinks for constipation - dried fruit compote with dried apricots and prunes, raisin water. To prepare it, just pour boiling water over a spoonful of pure raisins and leave in a thermos;
Give preference to vegetables with a “laxative effect” and a high content of coarse fiber, fruits rich in potassium. These are figs, green apples, prunes, dried apricots, beets, carrots, peach, apricot, pumpkin. These same products should be included in the diet of a nursing mother;
Preparations with bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, fermented milk products, and natural yoghurts are extremely beneficial for the intestinal microflora. They are indicated for both the child and the mother;
Try to breastfeed your baby for as long as possible, the first six months are especially important. If this is not possible, give preference to adapted fermented milk mixtures;
If treatment with antibiotics is necessary, at the same time as taking them, start giving drugs to prevent dysbacteriosis.

There is no need to panic if your baby is constipated. The first step to recovery is identifying and eliminating the causes of the disease. But do not self-medicate and do not use grandmother’s treatment methods without consulting a doctor. Most often, it is enough to improve your diet, drink more fluids and do not forget about massage and gymnastics for the disease to recede. In emergency situations, Duphalac, glycerin suppositories or an enema will help. Pay maximum attention to the treatment of constipation. The formation and normalization of the gastrointestinal tract in the first year of life is the key to the future health of the child.

On the topic of newborn stool:

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Almost all young parents have encountered the problem of infrequent bowel movements in their infants or their absence. Constipation in a baby can be difficult and scary for some new mothers. On almost all forums you can see the question: “If a baby has constipation, what should I do to properly solve the existing problem? How to help a 2 or 3 month old baby?

Many parents want to save their beloved child from any torment, so this problem is quite relevant.

Pediatricians do not recommend the use of folk remedies, as they believe that such help can greatly harm the health of the little person. There have been cases when, after treatment with folk remedies, infants developed hemorrhoids and other unpleasant consequences. However, some young parents buy glycerin suppositories at pharmacies, use various enemas and gas tubes, and do not even think about why constipation occurred and why the baby does not poop.

What is constipation in a newborn?

Constipation is a fairly common phenomenon that sometimes occurs in newborn babies. If for 3 days the baby has rare stools, he does not poop, or certain difficulties arise during bowel movements, then you can sound the alarm. The stool depends on the amount of nutrition and the age of each little person.

For example, if a 2-3 month old child has constipation, but at the same time he eats exclusively breast milk and poops one, two or several times during the day. It all depends on the number of meals and its volume. But this option can rightfully be called ideal, and it happens quite rarely in small newborn children under the age of 2-3 months.

The baby, who eats a specially adapted formula, has some difficulty with bowel movements and poops only once a day. As for the consistency, it differs from that observed in a breastfed baby. The stool is hard and has an unpleasant characteristic odor.

To determine that an infant has constipation at 2 or 3 months, it is necessary to analyze the picture over several days. Maybe one day he drank less milk or slept more. There is no need to immediately sound the alarm and administer various enemas and tubes. Normal stool in a 2-3 month old baby should have the consistency of soft porridge, and hard stool is obvious constipation.

To help with constipation, a baby should be given prunes, pumpkin or beets in a specially prepared form. But such products can be given to a child only after six months, when complementary feeding is introduced. Today, many pediatricians and specialists recommend the use of these remedies, because they maximally stimulate intestinal activity and help soften stool.

Prunes and pumpkin contain a large amount of dietary fiber. These foods contain all the necessary natural compounds that can stimulate smooth muscle motility in the digestive tract. Thanks to this, you can cope with constipation in an infant.

As soon as the child turns six months old, problems with stool will gradually go away, because by this period complementary foods can already be introduced and the intestines begin to function normally. Constipation in an infant, if he is only breastfed, is quite rare. He defecates several times during the day, and the stool does not have any unpleasant odors.

Pediatricians say that cheesy inclusions in newborns are considered normal, that is, small lumps can be seen in the total mass. This indicates that some of the mother's breast milk has not been digested.

Causes of constipation in infants

The following are the main causes of difficulty during bowel movements in newborns:

A rather abrupt and unexpected transition from breastfeeding to specially adapted formulas;
A sharp change from the usual mixture to another brand and manufacturer, as well as a change in number according to age;
Any violation of the diet of a nursing mother or the use of a certain product. You can often encounter the phenomenon of constipation in a newborn due to poor nutrition;
Lack of breast milk may be the initial cause of constipation in a newborn. In this case, all the food received is not fully absorbed and the child has nothing to go to the toilet with. To avoid this phenomenon, it is necessary to carefully monitor your weight gain over the week;
Complete or partial absence of muscle tone in the rectum. To examine and eliminate the cause, a consultation with a neurologist is necessary;
Lactose deficiency;
A cold or infectious disease, which can also significantly affect constipation in an infant;
Water scarcity. If the baby eats artificial formulas, then he must drink a certain amount of water during the day. To determine the daily norm as accurately as possible, it is necessary to take into account age and weight;
Incorrect introduction of basic complementary foods. If a young mother decided to introduce complementary feeding and did not comply with the established norms and deadlines, then constipation in an infant may occur in 95% of cases;
Allergy to cow protein. Statistics show that this is a fairly common and common cause of constipation in newborns and problems with bowel movements. If we talk about artificial newborn children, then an incorrectly selected mixture that contains cow protein provokes a problem. You can cope with it, but you will need to give a 1-2 month old baby the right formula that will be ideal.

Treatment of constipation in infants

To get the most accurate information on how to help a baby with constipation and understand why he does not poop, it is necessary to determine its original cause. Otherwise, the treatment will not give the expected result, and all efforts will be unjustified. Only a qualified pediatrician - family doctor should deal with the cause. You should not do such things on your own or trust your relatives. Only after a complete examination and a doctor’s verdict can the prescribed treatment be used.

Treatment for constipation in infants may not be necessary if the infant does not have bowel movements for one day, but the child’s overall health is normal. Young parents need to be patient and wait a while. There are cases when the baby’s body may work slowly due to irregular intake of mother’s milk.

As practice shows, almost all problems with stool can disappear on their own at the age of about 3 months. Only severe constipation in infants 2-3 months of age requires treatment with medications.

Emergency measures:

First of all, you can do a special massage, which will be shown by your pediatrician;
An exercise for a child called “bicycle” will be an excellent way to stimulate the intestines;
Taking a warm bath for mother and baby;
When a problem occurs or before feeding, you can put the baby on his tummy for a few minutes;
Using a glycerin suppository. Today they are sold in pharmacies without a prescription or prescription. But you shouldn’t self-medicate anyway.
Enema. This method is used only in extreme and quite severe cases. To prepare an enema, you need to use a soft syringe or a weak infusion of dried chamomile flowers. For a baby you only need 30 ml. diluted liquid.

Sometimes parents are faced with the problem of anatomical obstruction in the intestines. Such a diagnosis can only be made by a doctor who can prescribe effective treatment.

Preventing constipation in an infant

To prevent constipation in a baby in time, you can periodically massage the tummy and bend the legs towards it. This exercise will help stimulate proper bowel activity.

If the child is 4-5 months old, then you can prepare prune puree for him.

Every mother should monitor her child’s fluid intake throughout the day, in addition to formula or breast milk. It is not recommended to give boiled water to an infant because it does not contain all the necessary minerals. Many pediatricians recommend buying special baby water at pharmacies.

The birth of a child is not only joy, but also worries, worries and concerns about his health. Unfortunately, in early childhood (up to 1 year), children can develop a variety of diseases, some of which progress from the first days after the baby is born.

Omphalitis and

The umbilical wound is formed in a newborn by the 3-5th day of his life and is located at the site of the fallen umbilical cord remnant. Pediatricians warn parents that until the umbilical wound is completely healed, the baby should be bathed only in boiled water with the addition of potassium permanganate (“potassium permanganate”) until it turns pale pink. This period corresponds to two weeks. After the child has been bathed, it is necessary to carry out a number of manipulations, but only with clean, washed hands:

moisten a cotton swab in a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide and use it to remove the remaining secretions directly from the wound;
take a new stick and remove the remaining hydrogen peroxide;
lubricate the umbilical wound with a solution of brilliant green (2% brilliant green).

Important! Baby vests, rompers and diapers need to be ironed on both sides after each wash, infants' underwear is changed several times a day, and care must be taken to ensure that the umbilical wound is not covered with a diaper.

If the umbilical wound begins to get wet, blood and/or pus appear, the skin around the navel becomes red, then the visiting nurse or pediatrician should be notified. Most likely, we will talk about inflammation of the umbilical wound of bacterial origin, caused by or. With this pathological condition, the overall well-being of the baby will change:

the baby shows anxiety and constantly cries, or, conversely, becomes noticeably lethargic;
the baby sucks poorly;
weight loss occurs;
in some cases, body temperature rises.

Treatment of omphalitis consists of treating the umbilical wound four times, and in severe cases, the pediatrician may prescribe treatment.

Note:If hygienic care for the umbilical wound by parents is carried out in strict accordance with the rules, then there will be no omphalitis. This inflammatory process is always a consequence of insufficient care.

This is the name for the exit of internal organs through the large umbilical ring - this is the weakest point in the anterior abdominal wall of a newborn. This pathology is diagnosed in infancy quite often, parents can see it themselves: when the baby cries or strains, a hernial protrusion appears, which is a consequence of increased intra-abdominal pressure.

As soon as an umbilical hernia is detected, the child must be shown to a surgeon - the doctor will repair the hernia for the child and apply a special plaster for 10 days. Such treatment sessions can be used several times in a row; additionally, physical therapy and massage are prescribed - procedures that should only be performed by a specialist.

If the baby already knows how to hold his head, then he should be placed on his tummy on a hard surface. Such simple “measures” will help not only to move organs back into place, but also to normalize stools and eliminate constipation.

In some cases, a child’s hernia does not disappear even by the age of one, and in this case the child will be indicated for surgery. As a rule, surgical interventions for umbilical hernia are carried out only from the age of three, but if the hernia occurs too often, then experts recommend such radical treatment earlier.

Most often, the icteric coloration of the skin and mucous membranes in newborns is a physiological manifestation of the adaptation period after birth. Jaundice appears, as a rule, 2-3 days after the birth of the baby and this occurs due to the lack of a sufficient amount of enzymes that neutralize it. Normally, bilirubin, neutralized in the liver cells, is released after a series of transformations from the body in feces or urine. But in a newborn, the liver does not have time to neutralize all the bilirubin; its level in the blood rapidly increases, which leads to a rapid discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes yellow.

Such jaundice in newborns is a physiological process and does not pose any danger to the life of the child. Jaundice develops in 60% of full-term infants and in 90%, disappears spontaneously in a maximum of three weeks.

There are cases when physiological jaundice persists for longer than three weeks in a row, which may be due to the transition of physiological jaundice to breastfeeding jaundice.

The fact is that mother’s breast milk contains a substance that can inhibit or block the formation of liver enzymes - this phenomenon has not yet been fully studied, but it does exist. As a rule, jaundice of natural feeding does not pose a threat to the health and life of the child, but a full examination of the baby should still be carried out.

In some cases, the cause of such prolonged jaundice may be: massive destruction of red blood cells -;
hemolytic jaundice dysfunction of liver cells –;
hepatic jaundice obstruction of the bile ducts –.

obstructive jaundice

The named pathologies require constant monitoring. If this indicator does not exceed normal limits, or the increase is insignificant, then doctors simply monitor the newborn. But in the case of a sharp increase in the level of bilirubin in the blood, surgical treatment may be required, since such a development of pathology is fraught with serious consequences for the brain.

Skin problems

The baby's skin is very delicate and easily vulnerable, the blood vessels are located superficially, and even when the baby is slightly overheated, moisture begins to evaporate from the skin. These three factors cause skin problems in children under one year of age.

Diaper rash

This is the name for inflammation of individual areas of the skin when there has been prolonged exposure to moisture or friction. Most often, diaper rash occurs in the armpits, neck, inguinal, intergluteal folds or behind the ears.

Depending on how diaper rash occurs, doctors distinguish three degrees of its severity: first degree
– slight redness, the integrity of the skin is not compromised; second degree
– redness becomes bright, microcracks and erosions appear; third degree

– intense redness, cracks, erosions and pustules appear on the skin. Diaper rash causes pain, burning and itching, which leads to restlessness and whims of the baby. The causes of the skin problems under consideration can be both increased skin moisture and excess weight of the baby.

Provoking factors can also be identified:
inadequate drying of the skin after bathing or washing the baby;
violation of child care rules, skin irritation under the influence of urine and feces;
child overheating;
the baby's skin on the material from which the diapers are made.

Under no circumstances should diaper rash be ignored! Such pathological skin lesions can quickly spread and become associated with infection. Therefore, parents should be in the room where the baby is - it should not be higher than 21 degrees; the baby should be given air baths regularly.

For the first degree of diaper rash no specific treatment is required, you just need to carefully follow the rules of skin care, change diapers on time (at least every 3 hours), carry out air baths and treat folds with a protective cream. If you cannot get rid of diaper rash within 24 hours, you need to consult a pediatrician - a specialist, having assessed the condition of the baby’s skin, may prescribe the use of medications (for example, Drapolen or Bepanten ointments).

Second degree diaper rash involves the use of special “talkers” - a product that is prepared in pharmacies. The pediatrician may prescribe treatment using tannin or methyluracil ointment on the affected area. If pustules appear, the skin is treated with green paint or methylene blue.

With the second degree of diaper rash, you need to bathe a baby in a weak pink solution of potassium permanganate, and if the baby is not allergic to medicinal herbs, then he can have baths with a decoction of oak bark (the duration is a maximum of 7 minutes).

Third degree diaper rash It is quite difficult to treat, so parents must make every effort to prevent such a development of pathology. If the skin is already wet, then you cannot use any oil ointments for medicinal purposes - a film will form that will prevent the wounds from healing. The best option for solving the problem of third-degree diaper rash is to seek qualified medical help.

Prickly heat

This is the name of the disease, which is characterized by the appearance of a pink, pinpoint rash on the baby’s skin. Typically, such damage occurs in those places where the baby produces the most sweat - natural skin folds and folds, buttocks. Miliaria is usually not accompanied by any unpleasant symptoms, and the newborn’s behavior remains unchanged.

Most often, prickly heat disappears without any specific treatment - it is enough to follow the rules for caring for the baby’s skin, you can lubricate the affected area with Bepanten cream.

To prevent the occurrence of prickly heat, the following preventive measures are used:

all the child’s underwear should be made from natural fabrics;
for walks you need to dress your baby strictly according to the weather;
in the room where the baby spends most of his time, the air temperature should be constant;
use decoctions or oak bark for bathing, but only if the baby does not have allergies;
Use only water-based cream for treating baby skin.

The disease is manifested by redness of the skin, swelling, peeling and the appearance of small blisters. Diaper dermatitis is accompanied by itching and burning, which makes the child restless and capricious, and disrupts his sleep.

If treatment for the disease in question is not carried out, then cracks, pustules and erosions appear on the affected areas of the skin. Next, the surface layer of skin is torn away, ulcers can form, and often an infection – fungal or bacterial – is associated with diaper dermatitis.

It is carried out only as prescribed by a pediatrician or dermatologist.

Pemphigus of newborns

This is a purulent contagious skin disease that is caused by Staphylococcus aureus. The disease occurs in the first weeks of life; an infant can become infected from caregivers with a pustular infection on their hands.

A sign of the disease will be the appearance on the baby’s skin of large blisters with a cloudy yellowish liquid. They often open on their own, leaving behind an eroded surface. The liquid that flows from the burst blisters contributes to infection of neighboring areas of the skin.

Complications in newborns may include abscesses and septic conditions. Treatment of the disease in question is carried out only as prescribed by a pediatrician. Antibacterial drugs must be used in therapy, regardless of the child’s age.

Hormonal crisis

Hormonal crisis develops in healthy, full-term infants and this condition is associated with the entry of mother’s hormones into the child’s body through the placenta or during breastfeeding. Symptoms of this condition will be:

Such changes appear on the 3-4th day of the baby’s life and gradually decrease in intensity over 30 days; no treatment is required. The only thing parents need to remember: it is strictly forbidden to squeeze out discharge from the mammary glands or massage them, as this can lead to the progression of mastitis, which requires surgical treatment.

Thrush

A sign of thrush is that white spots appear on the tongue and mucous membranes of the baby’s cheeks, which resemble pieces of curdled milk. Such deposits are not washed off between feedings, but are removed with a spatula if the disease is mild. With moderate severity of thrush, spots appear on the palate and lips and it is no longer possible to remove them completely.

Severe thrush is characterized by the rapid spread of dense plaque on the gums, the back wall of the pharynx, and the soft palate. The areas affected by the fungal infection are painful, the baby cries a lot, his sleep is disturbed, he either sucks poorly at the breast or refuses it altogether.

Factors that can trigger the appearance of thrush include:

At the initial manifestations of the disease, the oral cavity should be treated with a sterile cotton swab, which is moistened in a weak solution of potassium permanganate or a 2% soda solution. After wiping, the mucous membranes are lubricated with a methylene blue solution every three hours for 5 days.

Treatment of thrush in newborns is carried out using drugs that contain Nystatin or Levorin. During the entire treatment period, the mother should wipe her nipples with a baking soda solution and boil toys/pacifiers/bottles before each feeding. Severe forms of thrush can only be treated in a hospital.

Despite modern medical capabilities, rickets is still one of the most common diseases in infants. This disease develops due to a deficiency in the body, which is “responsible” for phosphorus-calcium metabolism. The child receives this vitamin through food, and it is also synthesized in the skin under the influence of sunlight. Therefore, according to statistics, the frequency of diagnosing rickets in children born in winter is much more common than in those born in warm weather.

With rickets, there is not only a lack of vitamin D and calcium, but also a lack of iron, copper,. Due to the lack of all these microelements, children with rickets become excessively whiny, capricious, their sleep is disturbed, and they often get colds.

The first symptoms of the disease in question may appear as early as one month of age in the baby, and if treatment is not carried out, the child’s condition will worsen. Symptoms of rickets in infancy include:

If there is no treatment for rickets or it is carried out incorrectly, then the pathology progresses, which is manifested by narrowing of the pelvis, curvature of the spine, flat feet and the formation of a hump.

The development of rickets is very easy to prevent - it is enough to give children vitamin D, and treatment of the disease in question, started on time and carried out correctly, gives positive results. Currently, advanced forms of rickets are diagnosed only in children who live in dysfunctional families.

Treatment of rickets is complex and involves the use of various procedures:

prolonged exposure to fresh air;
correction of the child’s diet, which will provide the growing body with all the necessary vitamins and microelements;
therapeutic exercises, massage and swimming lessons;
drug therapy - probiotics, vitamin D, vitamin-mineral complexes.

Digestive tract problems

Severe pain in the baby's intestines, which is accompanied by bloating, is a fairly common problem for infants. At the same time, the child actively twists his legs, draws them in, and cries loudly. The cause of intestinal colic may be improper (if the baby is breastfed) or the child swallowing air during feeding.

It is quite possible to prevent the occurrence of colic and accumulation of gases in the intestines; for this you need:

By the age of 3-4 months, intestinal colic in a child goes away due to the maturation of the digestive tract.

Many parents believe that if a child does not have bowel movements throughout the day, then this is constipation. But this is not entirely true! The fact is that mother’s milk, for example, can be completely absorbed by the body, so you need to judge whether a baby has constipation by how he feels and the consistency of his stool.

We can talk about constipation if the baby behaves restlessly, cries, constantly strains, but his intestines do not empty. When a child is constipated, their stools are dark in color and have a firm consistency, and may even be hard, like peas or cork.

The cause of constipation in infancy is most often the non-compliance or incorrect diet of a bottle-fed baby. The mother's passion for protein foods, coffee, and flour products can also contribute to the development of constipation in infancy. But not everything is so “rosy” - in some cases, constipation in infancy is associated with the development of pathologies:

Hirschsprung's disease - a disorder of intestinal innervation;
dolichosigma - congenital elongation of the large intestine;

Parents should not try to cope with constipation in a baby on their own; it would be wise to seek help from a pediatrician - a specialist will not only make a diagnosis, find out the cause of such intestinal dysfunction, but also give recommendations on how to solve the problem.

If parents are sure that the child does not have any pathology, then one of the following remedies will help cope with constipation:

glycerin suppositories;
irritation of the rectum with the tip of the gas tube;
lactulose preparations, which must be prescribed by a doctor.

Note:The old method of relieving constipation, which involves inserting a bar of soap into the anus, should never be used! The alkali contained in this product can cause a burn to the intestinal mucosa.

Diarrhea in infants

A child under one year of age can have a bowel movement after each feeding. But if with this regimen the baby’s general condition remains within normal limits, he is calm and eats well, then parents should not worry. Of primary importance with such frequent bowel movements are the color, consistency of the stool and the presence of blood or mucus in it. It is worth remembering that it is dangerous because too much fluid will be removed from the baby’s body.

Loose stools can be caused by:

improper nutrition of the nursing mother or the baby itself;
acute intestinal pathology - for example, or;
intolerance to certain foods;
dysbacteriosis;
acute intestinal infection.

If your baby has diarrhea, you should immediately seek qualified medical help.. It is especially important to follow this rule if diarrhea begins for no apparent reason, and bowel movements occur too often. Before the specialist arrives, the baby needs to ensure sufficient fluid intake in the body.

This phenomenon occurs in almost every child, which can be physiological or pathological. Physiological regurgitation is associated with underdevelopment of the digestive system:

the esophagus is narrowed or relatively short;
the sphincter of the entrance to the stomach is underdeveloped;
the gastric mucosa is highly sensitive and reacts to any irritant, including breast milk;
The shape of the esophagus is funnel-shaped.

Physiological regurgitation is especially common in premature babies; it disappears only by the age of nine months. If the baby's condition is not affected, there is nothing to worry about. Physiological regurgitation can also occur if the baby is not fed properly or the rules of caring for it are violated:

The following measures will help get rid of physiological regurgitation:

keep the baby in a semi-upright position during feeding;
when artificial feeding, use a special nipple that prevents the swallowing of air;
do not overfeed the baby;
After feeding, hold the baby in an upright position for some time until air burps.

Organic causes of the condition in question:

pyloric stenosis - narrowing of the inlet of the stomach, which refers to developmental anomalies;
damage to the nervous system during intrauterine development;
phenylketonuria, galactosemia – disorders of food absorption of a hereditary nature;
viral and bacterial infections;
pathological lesions of the kidneys and pancreas.

This is the name for inflammation of the mucous membrane of the front surface of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelid. The cause of the development of this disease is bacteria, viruses and fungi, and only in extremely rare cases can conjunctivitis be an allergic reaction.

The disease in question manifests itself as redness of the mucous membrane of the eye, itching and discharge of pus from the conjunctival sac. After sleep, the baby's eyelashes become stuck together with the released pus, which prevents him from opening his eyes.

Treatment of conjunctivitis in children should be carried out only under the supervision of an ophthalmologist, because it is a specialist who will be able to select effective medications. Parents can only ease the baby’s well-being by washing the eyes with decoctions of chamomile or calendula, but this can only be done after consulting a doctor.

Acute respiratory viral infections are a group of diseases caused by various viruses transmitted by airborne droplets. In general, ARVI is considered the most common disease in childhood, and infants are no exception.

Clinical manifestations of acute respiratory viral infections are cough, runny nose, difficulty breathing, frequent sneezing, and increased body temperature of the infant. The child may become lethargic and sleep a lot, and lose his appetite.

As soon as the first signs of ARVI appear in a baby, you need to call a pediatrician at home - this will allow you to begin effective treatment. The child needs to be provided with plenty of fluids: up to the age of six months, the baby can be given warm boiled water, and older children can be given a decoction of raisins, cranberry, chamomile infusion or. If a child has consumed too much liquid or has been force-fed, this will provoke an attack of vomiting - there is no need to worry, but the dosage of food and liquid consumed must be adjusted.

Note:against the background of a high body temperature, the baby may begin to develop - the baby’s body stretches, the limbs tremble or twitch, the eyes roll back. In this case, parents should immediately undress the baby, give him an antipyretic and call an ambulance.

This diagnosis is made in the case of underdevelopment of the hip joint during intrauterine development - the femoral head has increased mobility inside the joint, the development of connective tissue is disrupted. Most often, hip dysplasia occurs in children with. It is very important to diagnose pathology early, therefore, as part of the examination of the baby, examinations by an orthopedist are carried out at 1-3-6-12 months. If the doctor suspects a deviation from the norm, he will prescribe an X-ray examination or ultrasound for the baby, but not earlier than the child reaches six months of age.

Symptoms of hip dysplasia include:

additional folds on one leg;
asymmetry of folds on the hips and buttocks;
baby crying or fussing when trying to separate his legs;
clicks when spreading the legs, bent at the knee joints;
unequal length of legs.

Depending on how severe the disease in question is, the infant may be prescribed:

physiotherapy;
Pavlik stirrups;
massage;
Freika tire.

With the help of special orthopedic devices, the child’s legs are constantly in an extended and bent position - this creates optimal conditions for the correct formation of joints. At first, the baby must wear such spacers around the clock, then the wearing mode becomes softer. Parents should under no circumstances remove devices before the due date, as this can nullify all previously achieved results.

Torticollis is an abnormal position of the head in which it is tilted to one side. The appearance of the defect depends on the development of the baby.

Signs of the pathology in question in the first year of a baby’s life:

in the first two months of life - when the baby is laid on his stomach, increased tone of the muscles of the back and neck is visible, asymmetry of folds will be noted on the legs;
at 3-5 months – the child’s growth slows down and the reaction to any sound stimulus decreases;
at 6-7 months – strabismus is noted, the child stands on his toes, teeth erupt late;
at 7-12 months – asymmetry of the folds on the hips and buttocks, asymmetry of the shoulders, curvature of the spine are clearly visible, the baby begins to walk late and lags quite far behind his peers in physical development.

The reasons for the development of torticollis include the following:

If torticollis is determined, you will need to consult an orthopedist and a neurologist - specialists will be able to determine the true cause of the disease and prescribe the correct treatment. Parents should not delay visiting doctors and starting treatment, as advanced torticollis can lead to deformation of the vertebrae and face.

To treat the disease in question, the following can be used:

physiotherapy – electrophoresis, magnetic therapy;
applying a special collar;
physical therapy and massage;
treatment by position;
specially selected exercises in the pool or in the bath.

There is also surgical treatment for torticollis, but if therapy was started in a timely manner, it will not be needed.

Often the first sign of a baby's illness is an increase in temperature. Having discovered it, many mothers get scared and immediately rush into battle. On the one hand, such a reaction is understandable. The younger the baby is, the more fears there are for his health. On the other hand, the temperature does not rise without a reason. Most often, it signals the colonization of the body by infection and the activation of protective forces. That is, it should not be eliminated! How to be?

Normal temperature in an infant

The thermoregulation system of a newborn baby is not perfect. During the first three months of life, the child reacts sensitively to external temperature fluctuations, since he does not yet know how to independently maintain a certain body temperature. This is why the baby quickly overheats or becomes hypothermic.

A baby’s temperature is not the same at different times of the day:

Late at night and in the morning it is minimal
Afternoon and evening - maximum

Also, an increase or decrease in temperature is affected by physical activity, emotional upsurge (for example, crying), overheating, etc.

If your infant has a temperature of 37 C, do not be alarmed, this is normal! Moreover, even fluctuations of several degrees in one direction or another are acceptable.

There is one more important point that parents must take into account. A baby’s normal body temperature is not the same in different areas! And sometimes this difference is very significant:

In the armpit - 36 - 37 C
Rectal (measured in the rectum) - 36.9 - 37.4 C
Oral (measured in the mouth) – 36.6 – 37.2 C

Sometimes there are people with special body temperature indicators from 35 C to 38.3 C. At the same time, they feel good and for them this is an individual norm.

Advice for parents: Find out your baby's normal body temperature in advance. To do this, measure it at the same time in the morning, afternoon and evening for 3 days. The baby must be calm and healthy. Write down all your results.

Now, if your baby gets sick, you can accurately determine how high the temperature is from his normal temperature.

How and with what to measure the temperature of an infant

When measuring a baby's temperature, it is advisable to adhere to the following rules:

Use a safe thermometer! It is better to have several (2-3) different types in the house
Consider the general condition of the baby. After eating, prolonged and strong crying, the body temperature of an infant will be higher
Any doubts? Measure the temperature again (or several times) and calculate the average

There are several types of thermometers for measuring temperature in different parts of the human body.

Mercury. Used only in the armpit! Sit down, take the baby in your arms, place the thermometer correctly, and securely fix it with your hand. Waiting time 3-5 minutes
Electronic. More secure. Easy to use. Used to measure oral and rectal temperature. In the armpit, it does not give an accurate result, since in this case it is difficult to ensure close contact with the body. Waiting time 1 minute. Typically equipped with a measurement end signal
Temperature indicator. This is a strip with heat-sensitive squares or divisions marked with numbers. During temperature measurement their color changes. The last changed square with the corresponding number is the child’s temperature at the moment. The strip is placed on the baby's forehead. Waiting time 15 seconds. Accurate results are not guaranteed
Pacifier thermometer. Suitable for mobile and pacifier-attached babies

When should a baby's temperature be reduced?

If you detect an elevated temperature in an infant:

Don't panic
Measure it using any of the methods described above
Try to soberly assess the general condition of the baby
If the temperature is below 38.5 C (for a baby under 3 months - below 38.0 C), the child tolerates it normally, then there is no need to use medicine
If the temperature is higher than or equal to 39 C, it is necessary to give an antipyretic drug based on paracetamol once and monitor your well-being. Didn't help (the temperature remained the same or increased)? Give stronger medicine
If a child is predisposed to seizures or has severe diseases of the cardiovascular or respiratory systems, immediately try to bring down his temperature by any means and call a doctor!

How to bring down a baby's temperature?

Please note that a baby with a fever should never be overheated! That's why:

Remove his diaper immediately
Wrap him in a diaper or dress him lightly
If you have chills, cold hands and feet, cover with a blanket

Be sure to give your child water as much as possible. Best with water or fruit drinks. Feed on demand. Offer the breast more often.

Don't forget to ventilate the room.

All methods of reducing temperature are divided into two groups:

Not medicinal
Medication

Not medicinal– provide a short-term decrease in temperature. They are especially effective in infants due to the superficial location of the vessels. Do not use for chills!

The most popular are the following:

Rubbing with cool water (chest, stomach, back, axillary and groin areas, elbow and popliteal folds). Be sure to let it dry!
Wet diaper wraps
Bathing in lukewarm water
Damp cloth on forehead
Compresses (contain only water and a little vinegar)
In case of prolonged absence of stool - cleansing enemas of clean water at room temperature

Medication- This is the use of drugs that have an antipyretic effect.

First of all, Paracetamol (Panadol, Efferalgan) is given. The release form is at your discretion - syrup, suppositories, suspension. It is used after the child is one month old.

In the second - Ibuprofen (Nurofen, Ibufen). Any release form. It is used after the child is six months old, no more than three days (because complications are possible!). Be sure to follow the instructions!!!

Calling a doctor if an infant has a fever

Before she arrived:

Try to remember in detail all the treatment methods and medications that you have already tried in action. It's better to record all this on paper.
Also write down the temperature readings (time and method of measurement, digital indicator)

You need to call a doctor immediately if:

Temperature in the armpit is more than 38 C/38.5 C
The child has a chronic disease
Cramps have begun, the neck is tense (the chin does not bend towards the chest)
The child has not eaten anything for more than 6 hours in a row
He is very lethargic and cries constantly
A severe runny nose started
Vomiting and diarrhea began
A rash appeared on the skin
There is no urine for a long time or it has suddenly changed color
The methods used to reduce temperature did not give the desired result

The younger the baby, the sooner he needs to be shown to a doctor.

Additional facts about temperature in an infant

In conclusion, I would like to note that the temperature of an infant sometimes does not correspond to the severity of the disease. The reason for this is the imperfection of its protective functions. Therefore, he can react to the disease in different ways: with a strong or moderate increase in temperature, or with a decrease in temperature. There are also cases when the temperature remains normal.

However, remember: the success of treatment always depends on the timely adoption of measures to combat the disease.

Ekaterina Rakitina

Dr. Dietrich Bonhoeffer Klinikum, Germany

Reading time: 4 minutes

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Article last updated: 05/08/2019

No matter how much parents care about the health and well-being of their baby, sooner or later he may develop snot.

Snot is mucus that forms and is secreted from a person's nose. Usually mucus begins as a protective manifestation to some external stimuli. If certain causes of colds, allergies and other nature occur, the secretion of mucous masses can increase significantly. Excessive mucus from the nose is called a runny nose (rhinitis).

Snot is produced by the nasal mucosa, moisturizes the inhaled air and is a kind of filter that traps inhaled dust. Depending on external environmental factors, the amount of mucus component such as mucin increases. This component fights the penetration of infections, viruses or simply dust into the nose.

If copious mucus is not accompanied by fever, painful symptoms, or inclusions of blood or pus, then the snot, in most cases, goes away on its own and does not need to be treated.

Nasal problems occur frequently in children. There are many reasons for this. Snot can cause many unpleasant moments not only for the baby, but also for his parents. The child may be capricious, cry - snot prevents the baby from sleeping peacefully, eating, and causes irritation of the skin near the nose and on the upper lip.

How to get rid of baby snot is a question that parents of infants often ask pediatricians.

Dr. Komarovsky explains that not all moments when discharge from a newborn’s nose appears should worry parents and require treatment for a runny nose. There are many situations when you should not intervene during childhood rhinitis.

The most important thing that Komarovsky advises concerned parents of a child to do is to establish the nature of the origin of the mucus discharge. Based on the cause found, you can find out either the type of disease or determine the physiological characteristics of the baby’s respiratory system.

Circumstances influencing the appearance of nasal discharge

Dr. Komarovsky identifies several factors that traditionally cause snot in a newborn:

Almost immediately after birth, a little mucus from the nose is physiological in nature and is normal. If there are no signs of a cold, and the discharge is small and clear, then there is no need to treat it. They will go away on their own within about 2 months. Such snot indicates a restructuring of the respiratory system of a newly born child and its adaptation to new living conditions.
The causes are infectious. Often the appearance of snot occurs after a viral infection enters the baby's body, which is usually transmitted by airborne droplets. In infants, infection with a viral infection occurs very quickly, its symptoms are pronounced. But you shouldn’t worry too much - the protective properties of the body and the immunity of the newborn are still very high, and therefore viruses and bacteria that enter the child’s body die almost immediately. But still, due to age, viral causes of mucus require contacting a pediatrician.
Allergic reasons. In infants, when breathing through the nose, symptoms often occur in the form of a runny nose to household allergens (dust, pet hair, flowering of certain plants). An allergic runny nose always requires a search for the cause of its appearance, that is, the allergen.
The cause of the appearance of snot may be the reaction of the vessels of the nasal mucosa to any external irritants, for example, a strong irritating odor, dry air in the room, that is, individual environmental circumstances become an obstacle. Usually they provoke attacks of sneezing, congestion and copious mucus from the nose. The discharge will stop if the provoking factor is eliminated.
Enlarged adenoids can cause snot and nasal congestion in a child. As pediatric otolaryngologists explain, soon after the birth of a child (due to his physiological development), his adenoids begin to rapidly enlarge, which also sometimes becomes a provoking moment for the appearance of discharge.
Often, a child’s snot is associated with the time of eruption of the first teeth.

Komarovsky about children's snot of an infectious nature

According to Dr. Komarovsky, young, inexperienced parents of a child under 1 year old often themselves create the conditions under which their children often get sick. Small children are wrapped up too much, they are not regularly seen in the fresh air, and they rarely carry out wet cleaning in the nursery. These reasons most often lead to rhinitis in a child.

Komarovsky constantly reminds us that children’s snot need not be treated; it will disappear on its own when the cause that provoked it is eliminated.

In addition to eliminating the cause of the runny nose, comfortable conditions for normal breathing and ensuring restful sleep must be created for the newborn. According to Komarovsky, comfortable conditions for the baby are as follows:

The temperature in the room is no more than 18-20 degrees Celsius;
The optimal humidity in the nursery is 50-70%;
It is recommended to ventilate the room daily and carry out air humidification procedures.

Nasal swelling and discharge not associated with a cold is most often caused by dry air when the central heating is turned on.

For treatment viral runny nose Simply creating comfortable conditions for the child is not enough. As Dr. Komarovsky explains, viral snot in infants occurs as a defense against the penetration of the virus. The nasal mucosa tries to prevent infection from entering the nasopharynx and bronchi, and for this purpose produces a mucous mass designed to destroy viruses and bacteria.

Komarovsky emphasizes that in addition to drug treatment prescribed by the pediatrician, parents should not allow the child’s mucous membranes to dry out when he begins to breathe through his mouth. After all, the mucus formed in this case thickens and easily moves into the bronchi and lungs, which causes the development of bronchitis and pneumonia.

To prevent the nasal mucosa from drying out in children, Dr. Komarovsky recommends giving them plenty to drink (water, dried fruit compote, tea with lemon) and providing clean and moist air in the room for normal breathing.

Also, a well-known pediatrician suggests moisturizing the nasal passages of a newborn with the help of special products that liquefy mucous masses and facilitate their evacuation from the nose. Most often, saline solution or isotonic sodium chloride solution is used for these purposes, which are freely sold in all pharmacies.

Dr. Komarovsky advises dripping 3-4 drops of the above drugs every 40-60 minutes into both nasal passages.

Among medicines for infants, Ectericide has proven itself well. It is based on an oily liquid that perfectly lubricates the child’s nasal mucosa and prevents it from drying out.

Dr. Komarovsky also suggests using any medicinal oils (tea, vaseline, olive) or oil solutions of vitamins E and A.

Features of rhinitis in infants under 1 year of age

Treatment of rhinitis in infants has a number of anatomical features:

Babies of this age have very narrow nasal passages;
Children themselves do not know how to free their noses from mucus;
Infants have difficulty breathing through their mouths, which causes a lot of trouble during feeding and sleep.

If appropriate treatment and preventive measures are not carried out to remove mucus from the nose of infants, then the anatomical structure of the nasopharynx can cause such severe complications as otitis media, sinusitis, and pharyngitis.

What should you do to cleanse your child's nasal cavity?

Depending on the type of nasal discharge (its color, consistency), as well as on the discomfort caused to the baby, the treatment and help of adults to alleviate the child’s condition depends.

Thick secretions are best removed using nasal aspirators;
Dried crusts on the walls of the nose must be treated with softening ointments;
Frequent instillation of saline or sea salt solution will be similar to rinsing a baby’s nose.

Preventive measures to help prevent mucus

Regularly maintain the correct daily routine;
Provide the child with a nutritious, healthy diet;
Do gymnastics with your child including taking air baths;
Try to be in the fresh air more often;
If possible, carry out wet wipes.

Treating rhinitis in children is much more difficult than in adults, so parents should be patient. Let the baby's nose breathe freely and parents and the baby feel calm.

Watch the video - Dr. Komarovsky advises how to treat a runny nose in a child:

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