One of the very first symptoms of a cold is nasal congestion and snot. These problems cause a lot of inconvenience to a person, because not only breathing is difficult, but the sense of smell is also reduced. In addition, the situation is unpleasant when, in public transport or at work, a transparent clear liquid secretion spontaneously starts to flow from the nose. But much worse when it is very thick and does not come out. This can be observed in both children and adults. But regardless of this, you need to take certain measures that will facilitate breathing. Let's try to figure out how to thin the snot, to reduce the intensity and severity of the symptoms of colds and to make the patient feel better.
Reasons for viscosity
Let's dwell on this in more detail. Among all the possible ailments, the common cold occupies one of the leading positions. However, before we talk about how to thin the snot in the nose, let's first look at the main causes of viscosity. According to doctors, the most common are the following:
- improper treatment;
- inappropriate microclimate in the apartment;
- any infection.
Let's dwell on each reason in more detail and find out how they affect the viscosity of mucus flowing from the nose.
Improper treatment
So what do you need to know about this? If you run a cold or use the wrong medications to fight it, then the snot can become thicker, as a result of which they will come out much worse. If at the same time the child or adult has poor immunity, then the formations can acquire an even more viscous consistency. How to thin the snot in this case? Today, there are many nasal use medications that make breathing easier and help to remove mucus from the sinuses. However, if it comes out white, then in this case it is better to go to the hospital. This may indicate the presence of a disease of infectious etiology, and in this case special antiviral drugs are required. It is not recommended to start their use on their own, since self-medication can be dangerous and cause serious complications.
Unsuitable microclimate
Many people are interested in how to thin the snot in the nose, because congestion can be associated with very dry air in the housing. According to statistics, a similar problem is most often encountered in the heating season. Due to the lack of moisture in the room, the mucous membrane dries up, and the mucus becomes drier. In addition, crusts form on the nasal walls, preventing the normal excretion of snot. In children, strong viscosity may be associated with insufficient fluid intake. Therefore, in some cases, the problem can be solved if you give your child to drink more water or herbal teas.
Infectious diseases
The question of how to thin the snot in a child if they are caused by any viral illness is very relevant. Indeed, in this case, it is important not only to facilitate the well-being of the baby and improve mucus excretion, but also to defeat the pathogenic microflora. It is important to understand that treatment should begin as soon as possible, since infections can cause the development of rhinitis or the accumulation of purulent formations in the maxillary sinuses. Thick green mucus indicates sinusitis, which requires qualified medical care and in-patient treatment under the constant supervision of a doctor.
Allergic reaction
So what should you pay attention to first? If you or your child has a runny nose with dense green mucous discharge, then it is better to go to the hospital, because it can not always be caused by viral infections. Many people suffer from various types of allergies, so the accumulation of mucus is a completely natural response of the body. How to thin the snot in this situation? Only a qualified specialist can answer this question. To choose the most suitable and effective nasal preparation, you must first determine the cause of the development of a typical immunological process. In addition to standard therapy, mucolytic agents are prescribed to the patient, which reduce the viscosity of the mucus and contribute to its elimination.
The main methods of treatment
So, how to thin the snot in the nose of an adult or child? There are quite a few ways, but doctors recommend the following:
- nasal drops;
- washing;
- Sprays
- inhalation.
In addition, to increase the effectiveness of therapy, the use of medications and the above procedures can be combined with alternative methods. More details about all this will be discussed later.
Nasal drops
Due to the fact that modern medicine does not stand still, new drugs regularly appear for the treatment of ailments. Breasts are advised to drip a few drops of an ordinary weak solution of sea salt into their nose, and after a few minutes, clots of mucus are removed with cotton buds. Children from the age of 3 years can self-blow themselves. How to thin thick snot? Doctors speak well of the following drugs:
- Dolphin;
- "Rinofluimucil";
- "Aquamaris";
- Sinuforte;
- "Aqualor".
All of these drops, thinning snot, are made on the basis of sea water, so they are completely safe for young children, and also do not cause addiction and side effects. They normalize breathing, stimulate the elimination of sputum, and also relieve swelling and inflammation. It is worth noting that similar products can be prepared independently at home. To do this, dissolve a teaspoon of salt in one liter of boiled water. Rinsing with such a solution will bring a similar effect as with pharmacy drops.
Rinsing
Let's dwell on this aspect in more detail. How to liquefy a snot in a child's nasopharynx? As mentioned above, infants are dripped with special nasal drops, which stimulate the excretion of formations. Children can rinse their nose with saline. It is drawn into a syringe without a needle and injected under pressure alternately into each of the nasal sinuses. The head of the child should be strictly upright. If the baby swallows some of the contents during the procedures, then that's okay. The solution is completely harmless, so there is no cause for concern.
Also, for washing, you can use a solution of "Furatsilina". Cooking it yourself is very simple. One tablet of the drug must be crushed to a powder state and diluted in 200 milliliters of warm boiled water. However, this method should be used only in the most extreme cases, when the baby has too thick green snot. The thing is that the substances that make up the drug adversely affect the state of the microflora of the nasopharynx.
Among the medications intended for washing the nose, it is worth noting "Dolphin". It is made from components of natural origin, so it does not cause allergies. The drug is available in the form of a powder, which is diluted in saline. Its advantage is that it not only promotes liquefaction of mucus, but also has a detrimental effect on many microbes and viruses, therefore it also has a therapeutic effect.
Sprays
How to dilute thick snot in a child if he does not tolerate washing? Doctors advise using sprays that help thin the sputum and improve its excretion. Among the most effective are the following:
- "Rinofluimucil";
- Sinupret
- Dolphin;
- Quicks
- "Aqualor";
- "Nazoferon";
- "Genferon".
It is worth noting that it is not recommended to start using sprays for the treatment of the common cold in children without prior consultation with a qualified specialist. Most of them have a vasoconstrictor effect, which can lead to the development of various complications in the baby. Therefore, it is better to refrain from self-medication, so as not to risk the health of the child once again.
Inhalation
How to thin the snot to quickly forget about the common cold? Effective liquefaction of mucus is well promoted by inhalation therapy. It is best to carry out the procedures with the help of a nebulizer, but if you do not have this device, then you can perform them in the old fashioned way, over the pan, covered with a blanket. But doctors still recommend using the device. It is installed at the head of the bed, medicinal solutions are poured into the container and plugged into a wall outlet. But first you need to show the baby to the doctor so that he selects the most suitable drug, as well as calculate the optimal dosage and duration of treatment. Most often, to combat the common cold in young children and adults, the following solutions are used:
- "Lazolvan";
- ACC Inject;
- Fluimucil;
- Ambrobene
- Miramistin;
- "Naphthyzine";
- Derinat.
In addition, inhalation using a nebulizer can be done on the basis of a normal saline solution, as well as mineral waters, which contain alkaline minerals, such as Essentuki or Borjomi. In addition, you can independently prepare a solution of baking soda. It not only dilutes the formation and dries out the nasal mucosa, but also has a detrimental effect on the pathogenic microflora.
Traditional medicine
Many people are interested in the question of how to thin the snot in an adult and a child at home using folk methods. There are quite a few different recipes that will make it easier to breathe and cure a runny nose in just a few days. For example, traditional healers advise to dig in the nose with onion juice diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 3. Just one procedure will be enough to make the mucus less viscous and begin to come out. In addition, onions are one of the best natural antiseptics. It contains special substances that kill many viruses.
In addition, with severe rhinitis, aloe juice and Kalanchoe well help. These plants have an anti-inflammatory effect, so that the symptoms of colds become less intense and pronounced, so the patient begins to feel noticeable relief. His sputum starts to come out better, and it becomes easier to breathe. For treatment, take one part of freshly squeezed juice, dilute it in three parts of water and drip into the nose 1-2 drops three times a day. The effect of the procedure will be noticeable in a few seconds. A person will immediately begin to breathe, and snot will begin to come out in abundant quantities.
You can also rinse the sinuses with a decoction of calendula, chamomile, sage or coltsfoot. These plants excellently relieve swelling and inflammation, which improves breathing, the baby begins to sleep better and calmer, and the mucus becomes not so thick, so it does not linger in the sinuses.
A few words about the microclimate
Above, we examined in detail how to thin the snot in a child. However, as mentioned earlier, the accumulation of mucus is not always caused by any infectious disease or allergy. Very often, too thick formations can be associated with inappropriate microclimatic conditions in the apartment. According to experts, the most common reason is insufficient humidity.
To maintain a normal microclimate, it is necessary to regularly ventilate the premises. During the heating season, it is recommended to use humidifiers, as the batteries dry the air too much. If you do not have it, then wet towels should be hung around the rooms.
Conclusion
If you read the article to the very end, now you know what to do in the case of too thick snot in children and adults. However, you must understand that they can be caused by any disease or pathological changes in the body that require qualified treatment. Therefore, faced with a similar problem, it is better not to try to cope with it yourself, but immediately go to the hospital, where they will give you an accurate diagnosis and select the most suitable treatment program. Be healthy!