White runny nose in child

It is quite common for children to have a runny white nose. This may be related to the cold weather. When the weather is cold, if you do not pay attention to keeping warm, you are prone to catching a cold when playing outside. This phenomenon may occur at this time. Generally speaking, this will not have an adverse effect on the child. Parents should understand their child’s health conditions based on their child’s snot. Let’s take a look.

1. Normal nasal discharge

Normal mucus is colorless and transparent and does not flow out of the nasal cavity. The main components are water, as well as protein, carbohydrates and some exfoliated cells. What causes runny nose?

1. Crying

When the baby cries, the mucus will increase and flow out of the nasal cavity. This is because tears flow into the nasal cavity through the nasolacrimal duct and turn into mucus before they are completely absorbed.

2. Cold air stimulation

Parents living in the north should be well aware of this situation. The bleeding will stop when the environment warms up.

2. Abnormal nasal discharge

1. Continuous runny nose

① Early stage of cold

Clear watery mucus flows continuously from the nose, which is common in the early stages of a cold.

This is because after catching a cold, the body wants to flush out the pathogens in the nasal cavity as quickly as possible, causing the nasal mucosa to become congested and swollen, secreting more mucus.

Many people want to stop the runny nose as soon as possible when they see their baby has a runny nose. In fact, at this time, you should let the mucus flow out to expel the pathogens.

If your baby has a lot of clear nasal discharge, and is accompanied by sneezing, itchy nose and other symptoms, you should pay attention: Does your baby have allergic rhinitis?

When you have allergic rhinitis, you will have a lot of clear nasal discharge, which is actually the body's attempt to expel the allergens in the nasal cavity as quickly as possible.

2. The mucus becomes thicker and whiter

After 2 to 3 days of a viral or bacterial cold, respiratory inflammation will cause the mucus to become thicker or whiter.

Viruses and bacteria can cause inflammation:

① Viral cold: The body temperature will improve after the mucus becomes thicker.

② Bacterial cold: After the mucus becomes thicker, the body temperature will not improve.

In the case of bacterial or viral infection, the immune system launches a counterattack, and large numbers of white blood cells rush to the infected site to hunt down the pathogens.

After the battle, the remains of pathogens and white blood cells are discharged into the nasal mucus, appearing as yellow or green mucus.

① Viral cold:

If the yellow-green nasal discharge persists for about 10 days and there are no symptoms such as fever or headache, it may be a viral cold and you just need to wait. (It will heal on its own in about 10 days)

② Sinusitis:

If you have yellow-green nasal discharge accompanied by persistent fever, nausea, and headache, it may be sinusitis caused by bacterial infection. (Need to go to hospital for treatment)

4. The snot turns red

Pink or red nasal discharge indicates nasal bleeding, which is mostly related to damage to the nasal mucosa caused by dryness, trauma, inflammation, etc. (A small amount of blood is not a big deal, but a large amount of blood requires prompt medical attention.)

suggestion:

① Use a humidifier with humidity at 50%~60%.

② If your child likes to pick his nose, correct this bad habit.