Mucus and sputum may be present in the nose or throat. If mucus enters the nasal passages, then it can be easily removed, but if sputum is in the throat, it is much more difficult to get rid of it. In this article we will consider a question that excites many mothers: "How to remove sputum in infants with the help of massage and special preparations?"
Coughing baby
Sputum can cause a lot of inconvenience to your baby if it is in excess. It can cause a severe cough, it can even cause choking. Therefore, it is worth getting rid of it urgently, in all possible ways, but, of course, in such a way that they will not harm the baby.
The first thing that is very important - do not self-medicate, be sure to contact the hospital. The immunity of the baby is so weak that improperly selected therapy can only worsen the situation. So, how to remove sputum in a baby?
To begin with, cough is a natural reaction of the body that occurs when necessary to clear the airways. It can be wet and dry - in the article we will talk about its second variety.
Causes and consequences
A wet cough can talk about the development of bronchitis or pneumonia, acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections, tonsillitis. Do not sound the alarm if his attacks are not particularly long. The causes of coughing can be not only diseases, but also:
- mucus in the throat during sleep on the back;
- profuse salivation;
- profuse regurgitation;
- burping.
You also need to be very attentive to a strong sudden cough, this suggests that foreign bodies got into the respiratory tract. The child choked, and should help him immediately.
Treatment
To solve the problem of how to remove sputum in an infant, it is necessary to bring it to an experienced doctor for examination. Only a good specialist can qualitatively choose a cure for sputum for an infant. In addition, he will show and help you make a special massage that will help sputum discharge.
Cough is a natural reaction of the body to pathological processes in the body. That is why it is primarily worth treating not a symptom (in our case a cough), but the cause of its occurrence.
Preparation for inspection
If you called the doctor to the house, then while waiting for him, you can, without delay, take some measures to alleviate the condition of the child. So, you should do a wet cleaning of the babyβs room, as well as a massage that will help sputum discharge (how to do it, we will describe further).
But do not overdo it - for example, you should not rub the baby with any tinctures, most of them simply can not be used.
Sputum Massage
So, how to remove sputum in the baby with massage? It must be done if the baby does not have a high temperature, after taking the medicine, if they have already been prescribed to you. To do this, put the crumbs on the tummy and rub the back to redness. Start with the lower back and end with the neck. After you need to gently pinch the back with your fingers, tap with the edge of the palm of your hand, only with such force that does not cause discomfort to the baby.
After these actions, the baby may cough, do not be alarmed, this sputum goes away, let it cough and continue. You can tap on the back with your fists. Then turn the baby over and stroke his chest and tummy.
This is a very effective way to help eliminate cough with sputum in infants.
Anti-cough drugs
With medications for children, you should be very careful. This issue must be dealt with by a highly qualified medical professional. Sputum medication should be taken if other methods do not help.
It often happens that the baby does not cost only folk remedies. This is especially important if the age of the baby is 3 months or younger. In this case, inhalation or compresses can not be done, and the doctor has no choice - he prescribes medication to facilitate the discharge of sputum.
Now there are many cough preparations in the form of syrup, as the kids still do not know how to swallow tablets. Very often prescribed "Ambroxol", "Lazolvan", "Bromhexine." But before medication, be sure to consult with specialists.
Emergency medical care
When a child is sick, he needs to be carefully monitored. If sputum leaves a greenish tint - this means that pathogenic microbes are connected. Be sure to consult a doctor. In such cases, antibiotics are prescribed after examination. As a rule, under their influence, sputum departs faster and easier, other symptoms of the disease disappear, but, despite this, the course of treatment must be completed.
Folk remedies for older children
How to get rid of sputum in a child of two to three years? Common popular methods will help here, which act no less effectively than drug treatment:
- Honey with cranberry juice, onion or radish. How to get juice from onions or radishes? To do this, grate the vegetable, then squeeze the resulting flesh through several layers of gauze.
- Hot milk with the addition of figs. This delicious drink should be offered to the child twice a day in a glass. This drink well dilutes sputum, helps get rid of it as quickly as possible.
- Cow's natural milk with garlic. Crush five cloves of garlic per liter of warm milk. The child should drink this mixture during the day. This is a very effective "grandmother" way.
- The fourth method is suitable for the baby if he is two years old. It is about inhalation.
This method is very effective. To use this method, the following rules must be considered:
- an adult should be next to the child throughout the procedure;
- water after boiling should cool for 10 minutes, only after this you need to start the procedure;
- the whole process should not exceed five minutes;
- after inhalation, the child should not inhale cold air, provide him with bed rest.
Subject to all these rules, the procedure will be effective and enjoyable for the child. Although inhalers are already sold in all pharmacies, there is no need to use the old method.