Each of us faces a runny nose. But if adults tolerate it quite easily, then this experience is more difficult for children. What is an alarming dream due to the impossibility of nasal breathing. But if this symptom normally disappears within a week, then in case of complications, treatment can be delayed for a long time. Today we’ll talk about a complication such as rhinopharyngitis. The most famous symptom is a cough from snot on the back of the nasopharynx. The symptom is very unpleasant, and in the absence of proper treatment, the disease can become chronic. This is fraught with a variety of complications.
general description
Such a symptom develops against the background of acute inflammation of the nasopharynx. Violation of the outflow of fluid leads to the fact that a cough develops from snot on the back of the nasopharynx. Doctors also call this condition posterior rhinitis. This is a manifestation of the common cold, but most often the symptom indicates a complication, inflammatory processes in the entire cavity, as well as the pharyngeal ring. Needless to say, the inflammatory process is accompanied by edema, redness, which does not contribute to the normalization of breathing.
The essence of pathology
If your or your child's snot lasts more than a week, hurry to see an otolaryngologist. Because a cough from snot on the back of the nasopharynx can develop in several cases:
- In acute rhinopharyngitis. By origin, it is infectious or bacterial.
- Chronic - worries against a cold. It may be the result of ordinary rhinitis, which is strongly launched.
In turn, chronic rhinopharyngitis is divided into hypertrophic and atrophic. But the consequences are almost the same. The mucous membranes swell and tighten. As a result, the outflow of snot is not only complicated, but becomes impossible. And since the inflammatory process does not stand still, pus and mucus flow down the back wall of the nasopharynx.
Pathology development
When does a snot cough develop? A secret flows down the back wall of the nasopharynx. Usually at the initial stage of the disease, the snot is transparent, they flow easily. But then they turn into thick mucus or purulent discharge. You can be a combination of both. Most often this happens if the nature of the disease is viral. With a more acute form of this pathology, snot often appears. This mucus contains a large number of pathogens. Since the posterior nasal cavities are affected, mucus hardly flows out of them, contributing to the prolonged course of the disease.
Main inconvenience
Runny nose is always unpleasant. But when you feel snot flowing along the back of the throat, and without any chance of blowing your nose and relieving the condition, it’s even worse. Snot in the nasopharynx interferes with eating and drinking. If the appetite is reduced against the background of infection, then nothing at all will be wanted. The following problems are added further:
- Bad smell from the mouth.
- Cough due to irritation of the mucus of the respiratory tract.
- Sore throat.
- Often, a gag reflex is provoked due to the need to swallow mucus.
- Bacteria from the nasopharynx enter the intestines.
Causes
If you know the enemy by sight, then you can fight him. But without an experienced doctor, diagnosis can be difficult. Therefore, if snot flow, do not wait until they pass by themselves. The culprits may be staphylococci and streptococci, if a bacterial lesion is diagnosed. Effective treatment will only be with antibiotics. If the nature of the disease is viral, then the cause was the vital activity of coronaviruses and rhinoviruses.
Sometimes, if a child has a cough and snot, the doctor can diagnose such infectious diseases as measles, scarlet fever and rubella. The causes of posterior rhinitis are usually weak immunity and vitamin deficiency. Since if the body's defenses work well, the complication usually does not develop.
Symptoms
For an adult, everything is usually clear. According to his own feelings, he determines that the snot does not exit through the nose, but flows down an unpleasant mass along the wall of the nasopharynx. As a response of the body, a cough develops from snot running down the back wall. The child is usually also able to explain what is happening in his body. Difficulties arise only when diagnosing a disease in an infant. Mothers should pay attention to the following symptoms:
- The baby cannot suckle. After each subsequent attempt, he is forced to throw it and take a breath in his mouth.
- Infants often throw their head back strongly.
- If there is not enough air, cramps may develop.
- Vomiting
- The child clearly has difficulty breathing, but the snot is not visible.
- Night cough.
- High temperature in infants.
As you can see, it is quite possible to assess the condition of the child yourself and understand what is happening to him. But to visit a specialist is still necessary!
Danger and consequences
Any untreated pathology threatens with further complications and troubles. If the child has a cough and snot, it is necessary to establish the cause and conduct competent treatment. The snot collected in the nasopharynx interferes with normal breathing. Of course, we are no longer talking about sports, even in everyday life it becomes much more difficult to carry out daily duties.
The second danger is that since the nose "does not breathe", the mouth takes on this function. That is, the disease prevents the body from getting warmed, moistened and cleaned from germs and dust. This is only possible when it passes through the nasal canals. And when you breathe through your mouth, the danger of overcooling your respiratory organs or additionally getting some other infection increases several times.
That's not all. If rhinopharyngitis was caused by bacteria, then the progression of the disease can contribute to infection in the tonsils and sinuses. As a result, sinusitis or another complication may develop. For children, the high temperature that accompanies this ailment is very dangerous.
Diagnostics
If the mother notes a superficial cough in the child, shortness of breath and lack of visible snot, it is recommended to consult a specialist. Such symptoms may have too many causes. The examination is quite complicated, and it is not possible to perform it without special equipment. What a doctor needs to see to be diagnosed:
- Bulging tubercles in the sky.
- Strips of mucus on the back wall.
- Red bars on the sides of the throat.
- Enlarged lymph nodes.
This is only the first step. Next, the doctor must evaluate the nasal discharge, request a blood test, and, if necessary, prescribe an X-ray examination.
What to treat
The most important thing is not to delay the treatment. Inflammation in the nasopharynx can lead to acute forms of the disease, so it is important to choose the right drugs right away. It’s not enough to bury your nose. It is imperative that medications necessarily enter the nasopharynx. For this patient lay on his back and throw his head back. After that, lie down for 10-15 minutes. In parallel, doctors can prescribe a salt mine, inhalation and warming. All this works very well against the background of the main treatment.
Medicines
Rarely does a doctor decide on one remedy. Usually this is a whole complex in which each drug plays a role:
- Sprays that constrict the blood vessels of the nasopharynx. These include the children's "Nazivin." Instructions for use do not recommend using this medication for more than five days. Doctors agree that you should not use it even longer than three days. Moreover, this drug is very easy to overdose. Only at first glance does it seem harmless. In case of an overdose, inhibition of respiratory function occurs, up to a coma and death. Therefore, it is extremely cautious to use even the children's Nazivin. Instructions for use emphasize that at the same time in one nostril it is worth digging no more than one drop.
- Medicines based on sea water. This is, for example, Aquamaris, which helps rinse and clean the nasal cavity quickly.
- Oil-based antiseptics.
Proven fact: treatment of the sinuses with essential oils gives a high therapeutic effect. To do this, it is enough to wipe the nasal openings 2-3 times a day with a cotton swab. This procedure must be performed very carefully so as not to injure the mucous membrane.
Instead of a conclusion
Back rhinitis requires timely and adequate treatment. Snot on the back of the nasopharynx not only cause discomfort, but also interfere with normal sleep and eating. This exhausts the body of a sick person and significantly postpones recovery. In addition, there is a high risk of spreading the infection to nearby organs. This poses the greatest danger to infants.
The choice of drugs for the treatment of the common cold today is very large. However, doctors do not recommend getting involved in vasoconstrictors. They do not give any therapeutic effect, only temporarily relieve the condition. This is an extreme measure that allows you to sleep better at night. It is best if you use them no more than 3-5 days in a row. After this, a long break is required. With adequate treatment, rhinitis is already declining in three days, and after a week passes without a trace. A neglected illness has to be treated longer.