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Every young mother wants to take best care of her child’s health. One of the most common diseases babies suffer from is a seemingly harmless cold. How to respond to them? Should you treat with home remedies or immediately seek an appointment with a doctor? We will try to present this important topic.
Immunity in an infant
The first important helper of our child in the fight against colds is his natural immunity. Unfortunately, in the case of babies resistance it is initially low and the immune system is not yet fully formed. Despite this, the child is not defenseless in the face of a cold. Natural immunityor otherwise congenital, in a newborn child is based on antibodies inherited from the mother’s body during the fetal period. For the first month and a half, they are one of the main tools in the fight against colds. To keep this initial immune system active, you need to feed your baby naturally, that is, breast milk. Mother’s milk is rich in antibodies that are already functioning in her baby’s body. Thus, their number is increased. In addition, breast milk contains live cells that can also have a protective effect, for example by destroying dangerous microbes.
During this period, also called immune fovea, the child requires special care. Avoid exposing it to sick people, suffering from infections that may infect our child. Avoid keeping the child in airy rooms, wash hands as often as possible, especially after returning from home and before direct contact with the child. Much of the infection is transmitted through the touch of hands that are not thoroughly cleaned after contact with the external environment.
During the first year of life, the baby is also developing acquired immunity. There are two main sources leading to its creation. First of all, it is contact with numerous microorganisms from the child’s environment that can cause diseases. Contact with them triggers the action of natural defense mechanisms that make up the body’s natural immunity. The second source contributing to acquired immunity is participation in a preventive vaccination program. Such vaccinations lead to the development of specific antibodies that prevent or reduce the chances of developing certain diseases, and also reduce their course.
Symptoms of a cold in an infant
The most common symptoms foreshadowing the advent colds include: runny nose, low-grade fever or elevated body temperature, cough, diarrhea, vomiting. Each of the listed symptoms it can appear in the company of others or on its own. For example, they are quite common symptoms: runny nose and cough, but no fever. In addition, the occurrence of low-grade fever or increased body temperature affects the well-being of our child. The child then becomes visibly lethargic, is weakened, has problems falling asleep, with focus, cries or screams. In the case of newborns, it should be remembered that even a simple runny nose can turn into a much more serious pneumonia. Therefore, symptoms as important as elevated temperature should not be ignored.
A runny nose in our kids can be an extremely unpleasant symptom. Especially when the infant is still in the newborn stage. Then a stuffy nose makes it difficult to breathe freely and makes you feel unwell. A runny nose also affects the course of feeding – the child is less willing to eat, has difficulty swallowing, food flows from his mouth, the child may choke, faint or alternate: eat and spit out. This is due to the enlargement of the mucosa and the excessive production of secretions, which prevents typical food intake.
As an auxiliary in the treatment of a runny nose in an infant, it is worth using a nasal aspirator, thanks to which it is easier to get rid of excess discharge from the baby’s nose. We recommend, for example, the Novama White K electronic nasal aspirator for children or the FLAEM manual nasal aspirator for children.
Colds in an infant – how to treat?
There are many proven treatments colds in babies. Antibiotics are not used in this case, for the simple reason that antibiotics are designed to fight bacteria, while colds there are viruses. For effective ways to combat colds we include:
- vitamin C, administered in various forms of drops or tablets,
- inhalations,
- bath in an infusion of thyme,
- administration of a specialized antipyretic agent in the case of conditions of high temperature increase,
- the use of natural ointments, for example marjoram, around the nose (this is the safest type of ointment recommended by pediatricians, which can be used basically from birth),
- regulation of air humidity (use of ceramic, electronic and other humidifiers).
In the case of babies from three months of age, we can use:
- warming ointments.
However, above the sixth month, we use:
- raspberry and beetroot juice,
- inhalations with hypertonic solutions or saline.
In the case of a cold, it is a good idea to make an inhalation bath for your child with the addition of a bubble bath for children.