Sniffles in infants
A cold is a relatively common phenomenon in an infant. However, many cold medications must not be used in infants, which is why home remedies are the best treatment for a simple infant cold. The nasal passages of infants are anatomically smaller and narrower than those of older children or adults, which is why the cold symptoms in infants are often quite pronounced.
Treatment with antibiotics is not recommended for an infectious rhinitis, neither in infants nor in adults, since the disease is usually caused by viruses and antibiotics are only effective against bacteria. However, babies younger than three months should always be presented to a pediatrician when the cold symptoms appear, as this is usually the time when there is maternal nest protection, which actually protects the child from various pathogens. In babies who suffer from a cold, care should be taken to ensure that they are given plenty of fluids.
With sufficient fluid, the mucus in the nose can be dissolved and, especially at elevated body temperature, it counteracts dehydration of the body. For younger babies, mother’s milk or infant formula are usually suitable for this purpose, while for older babies, for example, chicken soup or chamomile tea can also be chosen for increased fluid intake. Rest and plenty of sleep give the infant the opportunity to recover and have a supportive influence on the body’s defensive reaction.
Great excitement and exertion leading to violent crying can cause additional swelling of the respiratory mucous membranes and hinder breathing and should therefore be kept away from the infant. The room temperature should be between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius and the living areas should be sufficiently ventilated to create an air that is pleasant for the infant and its irritated mucous membranes. The infant’s nose should be gently cleaned with handkerchiefs and to prevent the skin of the nose from becoming sore, a healing ointment or Vaseline can be applied.
The swelling of the nasal mucous membranes can be eased by a few drops of breast milk into the nostrils or with the help of saline nasal drops. You can find more information on our page Infant colds.Sniffles is a quite harmless disease, which is usually caused by viruses and usually subsides within ten to fourteen days without consequential damage. Nevertheless, it is important to take it easy and keep your nose clear during this time, because an initially banal cold can quickly spread to other organ systems and have serious consequences.
In small children, for example, middle ear infections are very common, which are triggered by the cold and can rarely lead to hearing loss in severe cases. Bronchitis with shortness of breath and agonizing coughing are also frequently the result of a cold in small children. For this reason, it is recommended that a small child with a cold should keep his or her nose clear and dressed warm (without fever), for example, spend half an hour outside several times a day to strengthen the immune system.
The infant should drink enough, preferably warm herbal tea. A sniffles in small children usually manifests itself by running or constipation of the nose and increased sneezing. The nasal secretion is usually colorless or yellowish, in some cases it cannot run off and is pushed into the paranasal sinuses.
This secretion congestion can lead to a bacterial infection with purulent rhinitis and nasal mucosa inflammation in addition to the viral rhinitis. The frequency of colds is particularly high at kindergarten age; with increasing age, the rate of colds and rhinitis decreases. This can be explained by the fact that in kindergarten many children gather in a very confined space, who do not yet have a fully developed body’s own defense system.
For older small children, depending on the information provided by the pharmacist or the package insert, mucosal decongestant cold remedies such as nose drops or sprays can also be given. This can be especially important and useful at night to guarantee a restful sleep. However, even with older children, this should only be used after consulting a doctor and for no longer than three days, otherwise the mucous membrane of the nose may be damaged.
In children, the active ingredients in these nasal sprays or drops can also cause side effects on the cardiovascular system. Natural salt- or seawater-based nasal drops can also help to loosen the mucus and clear the nose. Such drops can also be taken over a longer period without hesitation.
If other symptoms such as coughing or fever occur in addition to the cold, a doctor should be consulted. A chronic cold can also occur in small children. In most cases this is due to allergies, for example to excretions of house dust mites, pollen or grasses.