Complications
A cold can occasionally spread to the paranasal sinuses or the middle ear. In the case of sinusitis, the viruses have also reached the mucous membrane of the sinuses. Since the paranasal sinuses are only connected to the outside air through small openings and the drainage of secretions is difficult, a banal viral infection is often followed by a bacterial infection (superinfection).
Such a bacterial mixed infection (sinusitis) quickly reaches the middle ear, especially in children (middle ear infection = otitis media). The middle ears are connected to the nasopharynx via a small duct (Tuba auditiva eustachii, Tuba pharyngotympanica, Eustachian tube, Eustachian tube). A viral rhinitis is usually self-limiting.
This means that the symptoms are to a certain extent “ended by themselves” by the body’s immune defense and no damage caused by the cold remains. Sometimes, however, complications of the cold can also occur, which are caused by bacteria. These include inflammation of the sinuses (sinusitis) or middle ear (otitis media) and should be treated with antibiotics.
Babies are particularly susceptible to colds and especially to rhinitis, as the body’s own defence system is not yet fully developed in babies and is only about 60 percent of its later total strength. However, a cold also has something positive for the baby, since the immune system is strengthened by every pathogen. Babies often contract a cold for the first time between the third and sixth month of life, because until then the so-called maternal nest protection is given to breastfed children.
Due to antibodies of the mother, which are transferred to the baby through the mother’s milk, various pathogens cannot cause illness in the baby. The older the baby becomes, the more mobile and curious it becomes. More and more things are put in the mouth and the risk of infection increases.
With “non-lactating” mothers, the first cold usually comes earlier.Babies who are not breastfed and were born in the autumn/winter are particularly at risk. A cold is very uncomfortable for a baby, as it usually only breathes through the nose. It is very difficult for a baby to switch to mouth breathing.
For this reason, breathing becomes very strenuous for a baby with a cold, as the mucous membranes are swollen and the airways are still very narrow anyway. Often one can observe that a baby becomes very restless and cranky due to a cold. Sucking and drinking at the breast or from the bottle costs a lot of strength and energy.
In addition, snuffy babies are often hungry because they have not drunk enough due to restricted breathing. In many cases, the viral infection leads to coughing, sore throat and fever in addition to the cold, which also affects the baby and weakens it. There is no real protection against colds and sniffles even in babies.
The risk of infection is particularly high when older siblings bring home colds from daycare or school. As a preventive measure, however, care can be taken to ensure that the baby is not coughed on by the siblings, for example. In addition, regular and thorough hand washing should be carried out by the baby and all contact persons.
The baby should not get hold of objects that have been touched by a person with a cold, as the pathogens are transmitted via droplet infection. If the baby is suffering from a cold, it needs a lot of love and attention. Fresh air is also very good in such cases.
Breast milk or nose drops with saline solution can be dropped into the nostrils, which causes the mucous membranes to swell and makes it easier to breathe. Since babies cannot blow their nose, the nose should be wiped regularly and some Vaseline prevents the skin from becoming sore. A doctor should be consulted immediately if the baby is younger than three months, if he or she develops a high fever above 38.5 degrees, in case of refusal to drink, crying, extreme exhaustion, breathing problems and persistent coughing.
