The best drops for children from a cold: a list of drugs, formulations and reviews

In the article we will talk about the best drops for children from a cold. This pathology in a child always causes a lot of problems. Before treating a runny nose, it is necessary to understand what factors caused this unpleasant symptom. Nasal congestion in children proceeds in several stages:

1. Reflex runny nose, the duration of which takes several hours. This pathological condition in children is characterized by the fact that there is a narrowing of the vessels, the nasal mucosa becomes pale, irritation and dryness appear.
2. The catarrhal phase, in which vasodilation occurs, swelling and redness of the mucosa develops. The child has difficulty breathing and nasal discharge appears. This phase lasts 2-3 days.
3. The recovery period, when the functional abilities of the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity are resumed, inflammation stops. There is an disappearance of dryness in the nose, itching and burning. The nasal discharge thickens, their color changes.

What drops are better for a child to get from a runny nose, the doctor will tell. With the right approach to treatment, the duration of the common cold is no more than 10 days. In this case, it is necessary to take into account which medications for the common cold is acceptable to use in childhood. Therapy of rhinitis is often complicated by the fact that the range of medicines for children is very limited. At each stage, special tools are used, and this should also be borne in mind. At the same time, parents try to choose the best drops for the children from a cold.

Vasoconstrictor drops

To alleviate the condition of the child with a cold, vasoconstrictors can be used. They are prescribed for a cold caused by the development of otitis media or an allergic reaction. Such drops should not be the main medicine in the treatment, since they do not eliminate the causes of the disease, but only fight the symptoms.

Vasoconstrictor drops for a nose with a runny nose for children; drops for children are divided into three groups:

• short-range;
• medium duration of action;
• means of prolonged exposure.

If nasal breathing is disturbed due to a cold, long-acting drugs should be used. If the symptom is caused by an allergic reaction, it is best to purchase a short-acting medication. The best drops for children from a cold are not so easy to find.

Short-acting vasoconstrictor drops

The duration of action of such drops is a maximum of 4 hours. Similar products are made on the basis of substances such as tetrazoline, phenylephrine and naphazoline. Phenylephrine-based medications are suitable for children of any age. The list of short-acting drops includes:

• "Naphthyzine" is a drug based on naphazoline. Upon contact with the nasal mucosa, this substance quickly removes swelling and inflammation of the tissues. With colds, the drug affects the capillary vessels, narrowing them and increasing the amount of air entering through the nose. The vasoconstrictor Naphthyzinum is contraindicated in children with acute sinusitis and frequent bleeding. In addition, naphthyzin drops are not prescribed for babies under 1 year old. When using this tool, some side effects can be noted - dizziness, lethargy, low body temperature, the development of drug rhinitis.
• "Vibrocil" is a nose drop for a cold for children, which can be used at the age of 1-6 years. The main active element of the drug is phenylephrine, which has a pronounced vasoconstrictor effect in rhinitis, sinusitis and a runny nose, provoked by allergic reactions. Contraindication to its use is atrophic rhinitis, as well as high sensitivity to the medication. Among the side effects in children, dryness and irritation in the nose most often occurs.
• "Nazol Baby" - suitable drops from a cold for children up to 1 year. The medicine provokes a strong vasoconstrictor effect, which lasts a short period of time. It is recommended to use this tool only before bedtime. In addition to direct functions, drops of "Nazol Baby" soften the nasal mucosa, do not cause discomfort. The main active substance of the drug is phenylephrine hydrochloride, auxiliary glycerol. Drops are prescribed for children with a cold, accompanied by a runny nose and sinusitis. The drug easily eliminates allergic reactions that occur with swelling of the nasal mucosa. What are the best drops from a cold for children - a very subjective question.
• "Polydex" - a cure for the common cold vasoconstrictor properties, with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect. The drug is used exclusively if antibiotic therapy is necessary. The therapeutic effect of this drug is due to the presence of phenylephrine, dexamethasone, neomycin. The drug is often prescribed in the treatment of rhinitis and purulent sinusitis in babies from 2 years. Contraindications to it, experts call hypersensitivity, inflammation in the sinuses, provoked by the herpes virus. In rare cases, drops for the treatment of the common cold in children cause irritation in the nose and dry mucous membranes.

Drops of medium duration

This group of drugs includes medicines that are based on tramazolin and xylometazoline. Medications containing these elements constrict the capillary vessels of the mucosa for a longer period. These drops work for about 8 hours. These include:

• Otrivin - this medicine is available in the form of drops and sprays. The drug produced for children contains the main active substance in an amount of 0.05%. "Otrivin" narrows the blood vessels of the sinuses and nasal mucosa, improves breathing for a long time. The active ingredient of the drug is xylometazoline hydrochloride, which effectively eliminates edema and hyperemia of the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx, reduces the manifestations of concomitant hypersecretion of mucus, and facilitates drainage of nasal passages blocked by secretions. Thus, these drops improve nasal breathing in a child with a runny nose. The composition of the product also contains glycerin, which softens and moisturizes the mucous structures. This vasoconstrictor does not cause dependence, so it can be used for chronic sinusitis and rhinitis in children.

• "Tizin" is a medication based on the active substance of tetrizoline. Its dosage for children is 0.05%. Drops contribute to the narrowing of blood vessels. Exposure is observed after 5 minutes and lasts more than 10 hours. The drug has some contraindications: hypersensitivity and age up to 2 years. Among the side effects, there may be a decrease in temperature, a feeling of irritation and dryness in the nose, and sleep disturbances. The mechanism of action of these drops is similar to that inherent in the Otrivin medication.

Vasoconstrictors for long-acting children

It is believed that these are the best drops for children from a cold. The duration of their effect is ensured by the presence of oxymetazoline in their composition. This element not only stops the swelling of the mucous membrane, but also reduces the secretion of mucus during the development of sinusitis in the child. In allergic reactions, medications based on this substance are also used. The main restriction on their use is age - less than 6 years. These drops include:

• "Nazivin" - drops containing oxymetazoline, which perfectly relieve swelling of the mucous membrane and normalize nasal breathing in the child. Sometimes such a tool can provoke side effects in the form of a decrease in body temperature, a feeling of dryness in the nose.

• “Afrin” is a remedy which, upon contact with the nasal mucosa, promotes rapid and prolonged narrowing of blood vessels and elimination of edema. The drug significantly improves nasal breathing and reduces blood flow to the vessels of the nose. The therapeutic effect is observed quickly - about 5 minutes after the introduction of drops, and lasts about 7 hours.

Moisturizing drops

What other drops from a cold for children can I buy? Means of this category can be used even in the treatment of rhinitis in newborns. They contain marine isotonic water, which is filtered and controlled for its sterility. Drops contain the same salt concentration as human cells.

Drops for children based on sea water act by loosening and softening the nasal mucus, which helps to clear the nasal passages from the crusts, making it easier for the child to breathe, making it easier for him to sleep and eat. In addition, such medicines effectively clean the nasal passages of bacteria and viruses, as well as allergens and irritants - house dust and pollen from plants.

Treatment of the common cold in babies up to a year using drops of this group will be much easier. The group of isotonic solutions for the nose includes:

• "Aqualor baby."
• "Aquamaris".
• "Marimer."
• "Morenazal."
• "Fluimarin."

These are good drops from a cold. A child at 1 year old can be buried safely.

Homeopathic drops

The main advantage of homeopathic nasal preparations is their safety when used in childhood, since they contain exclusively natural ingredients, and there are practically no side effects. These medicines include:

• Xlear is a xylitol-based product that normalizes the natural cleansing of the baby’s nose. Xylitol prevents the penetration of irritants and pathogenic microorganisms through the mucous membranes, prevents irritation and the development of a secondary infection. This drug not only relieves the symptoms of the disease, but also prevents their occurrence, as a result of which it can be used for preventive purposes.
• Seagate is a natural remedy whose main ingredient is olive leaf extract. This medication reduces the formation of mucus in the nose and facilitates shortness of breath.

Oil drops for children

Oil-based nose drops are used to moisturize and soften the nasal cavity in children. To date, with various types of the common cold, the following drugs have deserved the most popularity:

• "Pinosol" - drops from a cold, which are used in children from 1 year. This tool contains a mixture of essential and vegetable oils with antimicrobial activity. It improves blood circulation in the tissues and restores its functions. Pinosol Drops is a complex medication that has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antiviral effects. They reduce the intensity of exudative inflammation, reduce the viscosity of nasal mucus, and facilitate its separation. In the case of the development of a chronic disease in a child, the drug increases blood flow in the nose, and helps restore the functions of the mucous membrane.

• "Pinovit" - drops that are used in the treatment of various forms of rhinitis. They reduce inflammation, swelling, have a thinning effect on mucus. The drug is contraindicated in children prone to allergies and is prescribed after 2 years of age.

Other nasal drops on an oil basis with a similar therapeutic effect are Ecusept, Vitaon, Sinusan.

Antiviral drops

The basis of almost all antiviral drops that treat a runny nose in children is an immunostimulating substance - interferon. The list of such medications includes:

• "Grippferon" - antiviral drops for the nose, which have a powerful immunomodulating and anti-inflammatory effect. An undoubted advantage of this tool is the absolute absence of adverse reactions and contraindications. These drops are suitable for colds and children up to a year.
• "Ingaron" is a medicine in the form of a powder from which a nasal solution is made. Drops are based on the main substance - gamma-interferon, which is more effective than simple interferon on viruses and has an extensive spectrum of influence. This tool can be prescribed for children up to 7 years.
• "Derinat" - drops that differ from other antiviral agents in that there is no interferon in its content. The main component of this medication is deoxyribonucleate. The medicine has a fairly strong immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effect. Children's dosage is calculated individually.

Antibacterial drops

This group of medications is used only in exceptional cases, when a runny nose in a child has become protracted or purulent. Such drops help to cure nasal diseases that are not amenable to conventional therapy, since they consist of potent substances that eliminate the infection and facilitate the course of the disease. These medications include:

• "Polydex" - nasal drops based on the active elements of polymyxin and neomycin. These substances can destroy a wide range of pathogenic microbes. The drug contains a hormonal component, so it is used only in severe cases of the common cold and the presence of complications in the child. Appointed at the age of 3 years.
• "Isofra" - drops from a runny nose based on framycetin. This antibacterial medication fights only with certain types of infection, it eliminates all groups of aerobic microorganisms. There is a children's and adult form of the drug.

Inexpensive drops from a cold for children

The quality and price of many medicines today often do not match. Therefore, the principle "the more expensive - the better" in this case does not work. Many inexpensive cold drops for children are often more effective than expensive drugs, so the cost criterion is the least important here. Among the effective and inexpensive vasoconstrictor drugs can be noted: "Naphthyzinum", "Rinostop", "Xylen", "Otrivin". The cheapest among all isotonic nasal solutions is Aquamaris, and Isofra among nasal antibiotics.

Reviews of drops from a cold for children

Each parent periodically encounters the problem of a runny nose in a child, so there are a lot of reviews about nose drops, but they are all quite diverse. Vibrocil is considered to be very popular such a tool, which is well tolerated by children and quickly eliminates nasal congestion. There are also many positive reviews about Otrivin and Nazol Baby medicines.

“Akvalor” is a popular drug based on seawater - parents respond positively about it, consider it a very effective remedy.

Among antibiotics, a large number of good reviews are observed about drops of Polydex. Parents note that this remedy easily eliminates the cause of the common cold, as a result of which the child recovers faster.