Rhinitis is a common disease that many people regularly experience. Despite the fact that it is not life threatening, nevertheless it must be treated. Nasal congestion, copious discharge of mucus, sneezing, and other symptoms adversely affect a person’s normal functioning. In addition, if no actions are taken in a timely manner, then the ailment can develop into a chronic form, in which it will be impossible to get rid of it.
If you are experiencing rhinitis, then it is not necessary to immediately run to the hospital. It can be quickly dealt with with the help of drug therapy and traditional medicine. This article will talk in detail about how to cure a bad cold in an adult and a child at home. All the methods described are time-tested and highly effective, so you can safely use them without any fear.
general information
Before talking about how to cure a bad cold, let's look at what this disease is all about. In simple terms, rhinitis is an inflammation of the nasal mucosa, accompanied by continuous sneezing and profuse discharge, which, when the form of the disease is advanced, may contain pus impurities. With prolonged absence of treatment, the disease can lead to complications and lead to the development of some more serious complications.
Therapy for rhinitis largely depends on the cause of its development. In modern medicine, the following varieties of the common cold are distinguished:
- viral;
- bacterial;
- allergic;
- physiological.
Many people, especially in the cold season and in the spring, when grass and trees begin to bloom, are wondering if a bad cold can be cured quickly. Unambiguously answer this question will not work. We must first establish the reason why it developed. The thing is that each species requires a different approach to therapy. For example, with viral rhinitis, it is necessary to take antiviral agents, and for allergic rhinitis, antihistamines. Therefore, having noticed the first symptoms of the disease, it is best to consult a doctor first. He will be able to make an accurate diagnosis, determine the etiology of the disease and select the most suitable course of therapy.
The main causes of rhinitis
Let's dwell on this in more detail. Severe runny nose and nasal congestion (how to treat, will be described in detail below) can develop as a result of many adverse factors. Among the main reasons, qualified specialists distinguish the following:
- Infections It is they who in most cases are behind rhinitis. Many people try to cope with it with the usual drops from a cold, but as a result, no improvement is observed. The thing is that rhinitis will not pass until the pathogenic microflora is destroyed.
- Allergy. This is another very common cause of nasal congestion and strong discharge from the nose. Anything can provoke an ailment: pet hair, pollen of plants, everyday life, various chemicals and much more.
- Congenital pathology. Deformations of the skull, curvature of the nasal septum, various abnormalities of the sinuses and much more can increase the risk of rhinitis.
- Tonsils. Against the background of their inflammation, otitis media, tonsillitis and other diseases of an infectious etiology often develop, accompanied by a runny nose.
- Polyps. They belong to the group of benign tumors, which, as they increase in size, can make breathing difficult or completely block the nasal canals.
- Thyroid dysfunction. With insufficient production of enzymes, swelling of the mucous membrane can develop, in the vast majority of cases developing into rhinitis.
It’s very difficult to say how to cure a bad cold. Only a doctor can choose the appropriate therapy based on the clinical picture and after determining the cause of the development of the disease. Therefore, when symptoms of the disease appear, it is better not to self-medicate, but to contact a hospital immediately. The use of inappropriate medications can aggravate the patient's condition and complicate the course of rhinitis.
Possible complications
This aspect is also worth a look. The question of how to cure a bad cold is very relevant. They are asked by many people, since in advanced form rhinitis can cause the development of many serious diseases. Lack of therapy can lead to the following:
- laryngitis;
- pharyngitis;
- otitis;
- sinusitis;
- frontal sinusitis;
- sinusitis;
- tonsillitis;
- bronchitis;
- bronchogenic pneumonia;
- ethmoiditis;
- pneumonia.
The diseases listed above are very serious and require long-term medical treatment in a hospital setting. Chronic pathologies are especially dangerous, since it is almost impossible to completely cure them. Periodically, especially in the cold season, they will recur, interfering with the normal functioning of a person. In addition, patients may experience the following problems:
- sense of smell disorder;
- increased dryness of the nasal passages;
- regular nosebleeds;
- swelling of the auditory tubes;
- memory impairment;
- decreased brain activity.
According to medical statistics, many people who have no idea how to cure a very bad cold can lose their normal circulation over time, which in turn creates a greater risk of heart attack and stroke. Next, we will talk about the most effective methods by which you can quickly deal with rhinitis.
Therapy Basics
So, what to do with a severe cold and congestion in an adult and a child? Doctors advise not to delay too much, but immediately go to the hospital for qualified medical care. The thing is that some forms of rhinitis require complex drug therapy, so it is impossible to cure them yourself. In this case, the main task is to identify and eliminate the cause that provoked the development of the disease. Among the most effective methods that allow treatment at home, the following can be distinguished:
- Nasal lavage. Saline solution, herbal decoctions, for example, chamomile or calendula, as well as various such medicines, such as Chlorophyllipt and its analogues, are well suited for this.
- Inhalation using a variety of essential oils.
- With various forms of the common cold, doctors often prescribe a nasal instillation in drops that have a constricting effect on the blood vessels. However, they only reduce swelling and reduce the intensity of symptoms, but have no therapeutic effect.
- As additional methods of therapy, they make foot baths, put mustard plasters on their feet and warm their face in the area of the paranasal sinuses with a special ultraviolet lamp.
It has been described in detail above how to cure a severe runny nose at home. But if no improvement in health status is observed, then it is worth making an appointment with the doctor. In this case, it is highly likely that the disease is caused by any viruses or bacteria, therefore, serious drug therapy is required.
Chronic rhinitis
So what is he like? How to cure a bad cold in a neglected form, in which the body has exhausted all its protective functions and adaptive reserves? It all depends on many factors. First of all, it is necessary to consider what causes led to the development of a chronic form of the disease.
Most often this happens as a result of the following:
- hemodiscirculatory processes;
- the effects of prolonged use of certain medications;
- too frequent rhinitis;
- exposure to external stimuli;
- individual anatomical features;
- infectious pathologies not completely cured.
In chronic rhinitis, therapy depends on a number of criteria, among which the main ones are the clinical picture and general condition of the patient, the etiology of the disease, as well as the presence of concomitant health problems.
Allergic rhinitis
Let's take a closer look at what its feature is. This kind of ailment is one of the most often diagnosed. Statistics show that it occurs in approximately 40 percent of patients. As a rule, exacerbations are observed several times a year. They are associated with exposure to the body of allergens, in the disappearance of which the clinical picture is normalized.
How to treat a severe cold in an adult and a child if it is caused by an allergic reaction? The course of therapy involves taking the following drugs:
- antihistamines - reduce the body's response to the pathogen and reduce the intensity of symptoms;
- hormonal drugs - in most cases, antiallergic drugs are prescribed, but if they do not give the expected results, then glucocorticosteroids are prescribed;
- enterosorbents - help cleanse the body of toxins, the best medicines of this group are “Nazaval” and “Polysorb”.
If an adult has a runny nose, it is not recommended to start taking any medications without first consulting a doctor. The course of treatment is selected for each patient individually, taking into account many factors.
Bacterial rhinitis
According to doctors, this species ranks first in distribution. Especially often, bacterial rhinitis is diagnosed in young children, whose immune system is still not working at full strength and the protective functions of the body are weakened. It is not so easy to cure a severe cold in a child caused by pathogenic microorganisms. First of all, the baby needs bed rest and complete rest. Self-medication is undesirable, because in order to defeat the causative agent of the disease, it is necessary to take antibiotics, which can only be selected by a qualified doctor after receiving the results of certain laboratory tests. To relieve nasal congestion, patients are prescribed nasal drops that help narrow the capillaries. With a prolonged course of the disease, an increase in dosage and duration of the course of therapy may be required. Along the way, immunomodulators and probiotics are prescribed for patients to maintain intestinal microflora.
What medications should be used for rhinitis?
How to treat a severe cold in a child and an adult? This question excites every person. Let's now dwell on it in more detail. In the early stages of the course of the disease, nasal drops are used that have a complex effect, which not only eliminate symptoms, but also have a therapeutic effect. Today in pharmacies the following types of medicines are presented:
- Vasoconstrictors: for adults - Otrivin, Tizin and Nazol, and for babies - Septanazal.
- Drops based on sea salt - are considered universal, since they can be used regardless of age category. Among the best drugs, one can distinguish No-Sol, Humer, Aqua Maris and Marimer.
- Eucalyptus nasal sprays: Pinosol, Lazolvan Reno, Sanorin and Pinosol.
- Antihistamines - are prescribed for allergic rhinitis. The most common are drops "Zodeks".
- Antibiotics of local action and antiseptics are mandatory for bacterial rhinitis. They have an antiseptic effect and adversely affect the pathogenic microflora. According to many doctors, Miramistin, Bioparox, Collargol and Protargol are highly effective.
- Immunomodulators: "Grippferon" and "Derinat."
- Hormonal drugs: Nazonex, Bekonase and Nazarel.
Many people do not know how to quickly cure a bad cold, so they are limited only to the use of nasal drops. To increase the effectiveness of therapy for infectious rhinitis, along the way, antibacterial drugs produced in tablet form should be taken. These include:
- "Azithromycin."
- Cefaclor.
- "Midecamycin."
- "Cefprozil."
- "Co-trimoxazole."
- Amoxicillin.
- Clarithromycin.
If rhinitis occurs in acute form, is accompanied by intense and pronounced symptoms, and also has clear signs of a cold or SARS, then homeopathic formulations are included in the treatment program. Today, their wide assortment is presented on the market, but among the best experts distinguish:
- "Aconite".
- Alliumzer.
- Arsenicumalbum.
- "Arumtrifillum."
- "Horizontal".
- "Euphrasia."
In some cases, rhinitis can cause complications in the respiratory system, so it is important to know how to treat a runny nose and severe cough. It is very dangerous to start taking medications on your own, as this symptom may indicate the presence of such a serious disease as pneumonia, tuberculosis or pulmonary atrophy. Therefore, the best option is to make an appointment with the doctor and undergo fluorography. If there are no serious health problems, then a course of drug therapy is prescribed for patients, based on taking drugs that have an expectorant effect to stimulate sputum excretion. Among the best, combining high performance and affordable price, we can distinguish:
- Libexin.
- Stoptussin.
- "Lazolvan."
- "Mukaltin."
- Guaifenesin.
In allergic rhinitis, antihistamines are prescribed, combined with immunotherapy aimed at increasing the body's resistance to pathogenic substances that can cause an allergic reaction.
Alternative medicine
It is very common to treat a severe cold with folk remedies. However, it will be effective only in the early stages of the development of the disease. One of the best procedures for nasal congestion and copious mucous secretions is flushing the nose with saline. To prepare it, you need to dilute the salt at the rate of 10 grams per 100 milliliters of water. Its a good substitute are herbal decoctions, such as chamomile. Nasal instillation with Kalanchoe juice also helps.
Another time-tested method is to heat boiled potatoes. It is wrapped in a piece of dense tissue and applied to the area of the nasal and frontal sinuses. If the patient does not have elevated body temperature, then you can do steam inhalation using eucalyptus essential oil or ordinary baking soda. The procedure is carried out every evening for 10-20 minutes shortly before you go to bed.
Some folk healers for colds recommend putting gauze swabs with fresh garlic in the nose. However, it is very important not to overexpose them, since you can get a burn of the mucous membrane.
In conclusion
This article described in detail how to cure a bad cold in an adult and a child. Adhering to the above tips and recommendations, you can fully recover in a relatively short period of time. But if after a week of therapy there will be absolutely no improvement, you should immediately consult a doctor. This will avoid many serious and dangerous complications.
Do not take a runny nose lightly. This is also a pathology that requires timely treatment. There are frequent cases when rhinitis becomes chronic, and getting rid of it is not so simple.