Effective nasal drops for children with a cold
When a child is sick, parents want to alleviate his condition, but often do not know where to start treatment. We will tell you about effective nasal drops for children with a runny nose, and also tell you what to focus on when choosing a particular drug

A runny nose is an extremely unpleasant story, especially when it comes to kids who don’t even know how to blow their nose. It is important to start treatment on time: prolonged runny nose can lead to various complications (1). ENT surgeon, Doctor of Medical Sciences Konstantin Dobretsov explains that the nasal mucosa and turbinates swell, close the lumen of the nose and lead to difficulty in nasal breathing:

– Of course, it is uncomfortable, especially for children. In addition, edema also occurs in other parts of the nasal cavity, in the paranasal sinuses, auditory tubes, and pharyngeal tonsil. As a result, a common cold can develop into sinusitis, otitis, adenoiditis, the expert notes.

That is why urgent action is required. Local vasoconstrictor drops are the first to come to the rescue – they prevent the above complications. But the assortment in pharmacies is large, and often parents do not know which remedy to choose. Usually they are looking for a drug with a proven effect, while not having to pay a tidy sum for it.

” Healthy Food Near Me” has prepared a rating of the top 10 effective nasal drops for children with a cold. And our expert will tell you how to choose drops and answer other popular questions from readers. 

Rating of the top 10 effective nasal drops for children with a cold

Medicines designed to relieve nasal congestion and alleviate the course of the disease most often contain synthetic substances that have a vasoconstrictive effect. In addition, many preparations based on sea water can be found on sale: they are safe and are used not only to eliminate the symptoms of the disease, but also for hygienic purposes. Below you can see the advantages and contraindications of both.

1. “Xylene”

“Xilen” often appears in lists of the best nasal drops for children. -made drug at an affordable price. The active substance is xylometazoline, which is included in the list of vital drugs. 

The drug is actively used in the treatment of acute respiratory viral infections with a runny nose, relieves nasal congestion. Comes in two dosages: 0,05% and 0,1%. The first is assigned to children under six years old, the second – to those who are older.

Konstantin Dobretsov notes that the recommended doses should not be exceeded: 1-2 drops 2-3 times a day, no more – so that there is no addiction to the drops. 

Do not use drops for longer than 7-10 days, otherwise the neurohormonal regulation of the turbinates fails.

Main characteristics

Volume10/20 ml
Active ingredientsxylometazoline
For what age0 to 6 years (dosage 0,05%), over 6 years (0,1%)
Противопоказанияsensitivity to xylometazoline, history of meningeal surgery 

Advantages and disadvantages

Inexpensive affordable tool; high efficiency.
Do not use drops longer than 7-10 days.
show more

2. “Nazivin”

The drug from Portugal, recommended for use in otitis media, allergies, rhinitis, is presented in three dosages: 0,025, 0,05 and 0,1 ml. It can be used by children from the first days of life, the main thing is to follow the instructions.

The active substance is oxymetazoline. “Nazivin” has a vasoconstrictive effect, helps to reduce swelling, free the upper respiratory tract (2).

The reviews say that these are good nose drops for children. But it is important to adhere to the recommended concentrations of the drug, which are intended for patients of different ages. 

Important: do not use drops for more than 7-10 days in a row to avoid negative consequences.

Main characteristics

Volume5, 10 ml
Active ingredientsoxymetazoline
For what agesince birth
Противопоказанияglaucoma

Advantages and disadvantages

Efficiency is clinically proven; low price.
Many note that the effect is short-lived and re-irrigation of the nose is required.
show more

3. “Sanorin”

“In a couple of minutes, it clears the nose, it becomes easier to breathe,” this is how they write in reviews of this Czech-made preparation.

The drug is based on the vasoconstrictor naphazoline. Drops can be used for a cold in children from 15 years old. When buying, pay attention to the dosage: on sale you can find two options: 0,05% and 1%. 

It is not recommended to be treated with the drug for more than three days: addiction may appear, it will be difficult to get out of this state, and complications are also possible. If the runny nose was cured in 1-2 days – fine, you can stop taking it. Given the low cost, these drops can be a good helper for the treatment of rhinitis in adolescents. But remember: you can not use the medicine for more than 7-10 days – there is a high risk of disruption of the neurohormonal regulation of the turbinates.

Main characteristics

Volume10 ml
Active ingredientsnaphazoline
For what agefrom 15 years
Противопоказанияuse in children under 15 years of age, diabetes mellitus, tachycardia, eye diseases 

Advantages and disadvantages

Low cost in the segment of cold remedies for children; effectively relieves nasal congestion.
Addictive; long list of contraindications; possible side effects; hard to find for sale.
show more

4. “Otrivin Baby” drops for irrigation

The Swiss drug in the form of drops is popular with young parents. It is excellent not only for the treatment of acute and chronic diseases of the nose, but also for the daily hygiene of the baby. The active substance is sodium chloride. It is safe and therefore can be used from birth.

Drops are also used as a prevention of SARS. 

Main characteristics

Volumevials of 5 ml
Active ingredientssodium chloride
For what agesince birth
Противопоказанияsensitivity to sodium chloride

Advantages and disadvantages

Virtually no contraindications; can be used for hygienic purposes and for prevention.
High price in the segment.
show more

5. Drops “Akvalor baby”

This drug is used from the first days of a baby’s life with a cold and for hygienic purposes. The active ingredient is sea water. 

Drops are presented in a 15 ml bottle with a sealed cap. The liquid has no smell, no taste either, it is a sterile solution of sea water. Contains no preservatives, safe to use from birth. It is used for the prevention and treatment of diseases of the nasopharynx.

Main characteristics

Volume15 ml
Active ingredientsnatural sea water
For what agesince birth
Противопоказанияsensitivity to sodium chloride

Advantages and disadvantages

Virtually no contraindications; can also be used for hygienic purposes.
Short-term effect in the treatment of rhinitis, repeated irrigation is required.
show more

6. Aqua Maris

The Croatian drug “Aqua Maris” is intended for use in the common cold – both in ARVI and in allergies. The active substance is sea water, namely the water of the Adriatic Sea with natural trace elements (4). 

The product is safe for use in newborns. It moisturizes, softens dry crusts, helps to clear the nose of even the smallest ones, and relieves swelling during a runny nose. However, some reviews note that the effect is short-lived.

Main characteristics

Volume10 ml
Active ingredientssea ​​water
For what agesince birth
Противопоказанияsensitivity to components

Advantages and disadvantages

Virtually no contraindications; moisturizes; helps to clear the nose.
It is necessary to carefully use the drug for newborns – there is a risk of infecting the middle ear.
show more

7. “Naftizin”

drops “Naftizin” are used for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, influenza and SARS. The active ingredient in the drug is naphazoline. It, like xylometazoline, has a vasoconstrictive effect. Naphazoline can be addictive if used continuously, so follow the recommendations, use the drops at the dosage according to age and no longer than 7-10 days, so as not to run into complications. Children under one year of age should not be treated with them. 

Main characteristics

Volume15 ml
Active ingredientsnaphazoline
For what agefrom 1 year
Противопоказанияchronic rhinitis, tachycardia, eye diseases, including glaucoma

Advantages and disadvantages

Budget drug; relieves swelling well.
Many side effects (including pallor of the skin and tachycardia in children); may be addictive.
show more

8. “Xilokt-SOLOfarm”

This drug should be used in children from two years of age. The medicine is recommended for ARVI with a runny nose, and will also come to the rescue with a runny nose due to allergies. Helps relieve swelling of the nasopharyngeal mucosa (3). 

The active ingredient is xylometazoline again. The manufacturer notes that children are advised to use drops under adult supervision. Like any drug, drops have side effects – for example, a headache may occur, rarely – allergies, itching. 

Experts do not recommend using drops for longer than 7-10 days: there is a high risk of disruption of the neurohormonal regulation of the turbinates.

Main characteristics

Volume10 ml
Active ingredientsxylometazoline
For what agefrom 2 years
Противопоказанияchildren under 2 years of age, glaucoma, history of brain surgery, use with other vasoconstrictor drugs

Advantages and disadvantages

Cheaper than many analogues; convenient to use.
You can apply no more than 7-10 days.
show more

9. «Rinostop»

The domestic drug is presented in two dosages – 0,05% and 1%. It is used for otitis media, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis and symptoms of SARS. Children are allowed only from the age of six. 

The active substance is xylometazoline, which has a vasoconstrictive effect and helps eliminate swelling from the nasopharynx. 

The use of the drug, like any other containing xylometazoline, requires some caution. If it is used for too long, the risk of overdose and addiction increases, even atrophy of the nasal mucosa is possible (6). It is also important to monitor the dosage and do not use drops for longer than 7-10 days in a row, so as not to provoke a malfunction in the body.

Main characteristics

Volume10 ml
Active ingredientsxylometazoline
For what agefrom 6 years
Противопоказанияuse in children under 6 years of age, history of meningeal surgery, eye disease

Advantages and disadvantages

Low cost of the drug; effectively relieves nasal congestion.
It is addictive if you violate the recommendations for use; side effects may occur.
show more

10. “Linakva Bebi” isotonic solution

This drug is suitable for babies from the first day of life and is used both for hygiene purposes and for the treatment of the common cold with ARVI. The solution is also indicated for allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, dryness of the nasal mucosa. 

The active ingredient is sea water, the medicine is not recommended for children with hypersensitivity to it. In the reviews there is an opinion that the domestic remedy is ideal for treating the common cold in the smallest, relieves swelling, while being cheaper than analogues.

Main characteristics

Volume60 ml (30 pieces of 2 ml)
Active ingredientssea ​​water
For what agesince birth
Противопоказанияsensitivity to components; do not use with complete obstruction of the nasal passages and acute otitis media (5)

Advantages and disadvantages

Moisturizes the nose; relieves swelling; low price among analogues.
Uncomfortable long “tail” in capsules with a solution.
show more

How to choose good nasal drops for children with a cold

SARS is an acute inflammatory disease, which is most often manifested by a runny nose and nasal congestion. If the disease is left to chance, there is a high risk of getting a complication.

– To prevent them and improve the quality of life, doctors prescribe vasoconstrictor drops – alpha adrenomimetics. Their action is to act on alpha-2 receptors, leading to narrowing of arterial and, to a lesser extent, venous vessels, says ENT surgeon Konstantin Dobretsov. – Considering that the turbinates are cavernous or vascular bodies, then against the background of the use of drops, they quickly subside and increase the lumen of the nasal cavity. The child begins to breathe through the nose, congestion disappears. However, this effect is short-lived, lasting from 4 to 12 hours. Therefore, you need to use the drops several times a day until the runny nose begins to pass, and with it the swelling of the nose.

Drops differ depending on the active ingredient. The use of drugs of the nafazolin group, a prominent representative of which is Naphthyzin 0,1%, is possible only from the age of 15. The use of such drops in children can cause side effects. There is a concentration and less – 0,05%. But they are also prohibited in children under 1 year old. Taking Naphthyzinum in young children can lead to an increase in blood pressure, and, often, to a hypertensive crisis.

In children, it is better to use oxymetozoline, for example, Nazivin or its analogues. The action of these drops is calculated up to 12 hours and at a concentration of 0,01% can be used in children under 1 year old. However, it is necessary not to exceed the recommended doses: 1-2 drops 2-3 times a day.

According to the expert, it is important to consider the duration of the use of vasoconstrictor drops. 

– Do not use drops for longer than 7-10 days, otherwise the neuro-hormonal regulation of the turbinates fails. Receptors become less sensitive to drops, which leads to an increase in the frequency of their use. This pathological vicious circle only exacerbates the disruption of the nasal mucosa, explains Konstantin Dobretsov. – The result is difficulty in nasal breathing and dependence on drops. As a result, a common cold turns into medical rhinitis and a big problem. Prolonged use of vasoconstrictor drops also increases blood pressure, can cause headaches and fatigue. 

Popular questions and answers

Our expert answers the most popular questions from readers: how to quickly cure a runny nose in a child at home and what to do if it does not go away. 

How to quickly cure a runny nose in a child at home?

In addition to drops in ARVI, it is necessary to increase water intake to 2-3 liters per day. From a medical point of view, this is called extracorporeal detoxification: dilution method and forced diuresis. In simple terms, the greater the volume of circulating blood, the less the impact of toxins on the body. It also leads to an increase in kidney function, which contributes to frequent urination and the speedy removal of toxins.

At temperatures above 38,0 degrees, you can use paracetamol or its analogues in the age dosage.

Washing the nose with a profuse runny nose is effective, but it should be remembered that children have a wide and short auditory tube. Any washing can lead to acute otitis media. Therefore, it is better to use seawater sprays or rinse your nose with a doctor.

Is it worth treating a child with folk methods?

Folk methods are widely used in the treatment of the common cold, and some even have an evidence base. However, you need to be careful with them. For example, it is strictly forbidden to bury onion juice in the nose! This leads to a pronounced burn of the nasal mucosa and an increase in symptoms.

What to do if a runny nose in a child does not go away for a long time?

If the runny nose acquires a protracted course, then you need to contact an ENT doctor or pediatrician. In this case, various types of physiotherapy are good, for example, halotherapy (visiting a salt room). If left untreated, a runny nose can lead to otitis media, sinusitis, or pneumonia.

Sources of

  1. Bolbot Yu.K. Runny nose in children // Health of the child. 2015. URL: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/nasmork-u-detey
  2. Vidal. Reference book of medicines. Nazivin. URL: https://www.vidal.ru/drugs/nasivin__561
  3. Vidal. Reference book of medicines. Xyloct-SOLOpharm. URL: https://www.vidal.ru/drugs/xylometazoline-solopharm__44887
  4. Vidal. Reference book of medicines. Aqua Maris. URL: https://www.vidal.ru/drugs/aqua_maris__2286
  5. Vidal. Reference book of medicines. Linaqua baby. URL: https://www.vidal.ru/drugs/linaqua-baby
  6. Vidal. Reference book of medicines. Rinostop. URL: https://www.vidal.ru/drugs/rhinostop__2906

Leave a Reply