- Main symptoms
- How to confirm the diagnosis
- How the treatment is done
- How to prevent rhinitis from recurring
Rhinitis is inflammation of the baby's nose, whose main symptoms are a stuffy nose and a runny nose, in addition to being itchy and irritating. Thus, it is very common that the baby is always reaching up to the nose and is more irritated than normal.
Generally, rhinitis is caused by an allergy to several allergens that are in the breath, such as dust, animal hair or smoke, and that come into contact with the baby's body for the first time, causing the overproduction of histamine, a substance which is responsible for causing inflammation and the onset of allergy symptoms.
In most cases, no specific type of treatment is necessary, it is only recommended to maintain adequate hydration and avoid exposure to more polluted environments.
Main symptoms
The most common symptoms that indicate rhinitis in the baby include:
- Severe runny nose and stuffy nose; frequent sneezing; rubbing your hands over your nose, eyes or ears; constant coughing; snoring while sleeping.
Due to the discomfort caused by rhinitis, it is common for the baby to be more irritable, not wanting to play and crying frequently. It is also possible that the baby has less desire to eat and that he wakes up several times during the night.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The best way to confirm the baby's rhinitis is to consult a pediatrician to assess the symptoms, however, the doctor can advise an allergist if he identifies that the rhinitis is being caused by a more severe and chronic allergy.
In addition to going to the pediatrician when symptoms appear, it is also very important to consult the doctor whenever there is any change in the baby's behavior, both during the day and at night.
How the treatment is done
Treatment for allergic rhinitis in the baby can be time-consuming, as it is necessary to find out what is causing the disease, but to relieve symptoms, parents can:
- Offer water several times a day, but only if he is no longer exclusively breastfeeding, to fluidize secretions, facilitate their withdrawal and prevent their accumulation in the airways; Avoid exposing the baby to possible allergic substances, such as animal hair, pollen, smoke; Dress the baby only with washed clothes, as the clothes that have already been used, especially for going out on the street, can contain various types of substances; Avoid drying the baby's clothes outside the house, as it can grab allergic substances; Clean the baby's nose with saline. Here's how to do it correctly; Nebulize the baby with saline.
However, if the symptoms are still very intense, the pediatrician can advise the use of antihistamine drugs, such as diphenhydramine or hydroxyzine, which should only be used with medical advice.
In addition, some nasal sprays with anti-inflammatory substances or corticosteroids may also be recommended for some cases.
How to prevent rhinitis from recurring
To prevent rhinitis from recurring, there are some precautions you can take at home, such as:
- Avoid using rugs or curtains; Clean furniture and floors daily with warm water and a clean damp cloth; Avoid unnecessary furniture; Store books and magazines inside cabinets to prevent dust accumulation, as well as stuffed animals; No smoking indoors and in the car; change all bedding daily; keep the house well ventilated; no pets inside the home; avoid walks in parks and gardens in autumn and spring.
This type of care can also help prevent and calm symptoms of other respiratory problems, such as asthma or sinusitis, for example.
