Ointment for colds for children: to rub or not to rub?

Almost no child grows up without colds. Fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, cough are convincing signs that your child has started an inflammatory process caused by a respiratory infection. Upper respiratory tract diseases in children, especially preschoolers, are the most common.

In the complex treatment and prevention of such diseases, drugs for local external use are often used - various ointments for colds for children. Let's start with those that are not rubbed in.

[ 1 ]

Oxolinic ointment for colds for children

The most popular is 0.25% oxolinic ointment, which in the 70-90s of the last century was practically the only drug for the prevention of acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections and flu. Oxolinic ointment is a fairly effective protective agent against adenoviruses and flu viruses - due to simple mechanical prevention of pathogens from entering the body through the nasal mucosa. However, this "mechanics" works and reduces the incidence rate during seasonal viral epidemics.

For prevention purposes, oxolinic ointment for colds for children should be applied twice a day and, above all, before going to a place where there will be a lot of people: to a kindergarten, school, store, visiting or to a New Year's party. Be sure to smear oxolinic ointment in the nose if someone in the family is sick. The nasal passages must be cleared of the applied ointment (with microbes "stuck" in it) by rinsing with warm water.

When treating a runny nose in children, oxolinic ointment is applied in a very thin layer - at least three times a day for 4-5 days. Why is it important not to overdo it with the amount of ointment? Because a thick layer can make nasal breathing difficult (which is already a problem during a cold), and the child will have to breathe through the mouth. And then the virus will get on the unprotected mucous membrane of the oral cavity and upper throat.

By the way, despite the solid "working experience" of oxolinic ointment, disputes about the effectiveness of its use for therapeutic purposes continue to this day. After all, fundamental research into the therapeutic properties of this drug, imagine, has not been conducted...

But the basis of the therapeutic effect of the antiviral ointment for colds for children "Viferon" is interferon alpha-2. So this drug belongs to the class of immunomodulators. The use of this ointment helps to increase the synthesis of interferon in the body and reduce the incidence of acute respiratory viral infections. Ointment "Viferon" is effective for the prevention and treatment of various respiratory diseases of frequently ill children, including young children and newborns. For this, pediatricians recommend lubricating the nasal mucosa 2 times a day. The drug has no contraindications and side effects.

Doctor MOM - cold ointment

The main task of parents when treating a sick child is to act quickly at the first symptoms. It is equally important to act correctly. Many mothers, as soon as the child's nose is stuffy or has a runny nose, resort to the help of various ointments for rubbing.

In most cases, this symptomatic (palliative) treatment, that is, aimed at eliminating individual symptoms of the disease, gives a positive effect. How is it achieved when using ointment for colds in children?

The composition of the cold ointment Doctor MOM, produced by the Indian pharmaceutical company JB Chemical & Pharmaceuticals Ltd, includes menthol, thymol, camphor, as well as oils - nutmeg, eucalyptus and turpentine (turpentine). Therefore, the main effect of this ointment is local irritant and distracting. By affecting the skin receptors, the active substances cause a reflex rush of blood to the areas of skin smeared with the drug, and partially to nearby organs.

According to the instructions attached to the drug, the indications for using the Dr. MOM cold ointment are: colds, back pain and headaches. In pediatric therapy, the manufacturer recommends using it to relieve symptoms of colds and acute respiratory infections - to relieve runny nose and cough. But this medicine is contraindicated for children under 2 years old!

Let's try to figure out how the individual ingredients of this ointment affect the body. After all, we are going to treat our own children with it...

Menthol is a reflex vasodilator with an analgesic effect - it is included in almost all ointments for inflammation and injuries of joints and muscles. Camphor (the percentage of which in the Doctor MOM ointment is the highest) usually acts as an antiseptic, irritant and distracting, as well as an antipruritic agent. Camphor, like menthol, is invariably present in the same preparations. Turpentine also perfectly treats rheumatism, but it can cause a chemical burn of the skin, and its vapors - irritation of the skin, eyes and lungs.

Next is thymol, which is a very strong antiseptic from the chemical group of phenols. It can neutralize even tuberculosis bacilli. But its local action is weak, and when absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, it can lead to typical phenol poisoning - with nausea, vomiting and dizziness.

Essential oils of eucalyptus and nutmeg in the Dr. MOM cold ointment are designed to facilitate breathing when evaporated. With eucalyptus oil - everything is correct. But the main properties of nutmeg oil: hemostatic, analgesic (for the same arthritis and osteochondrosis), and also regulating the work of the gastrointestinal tract.

Currently, Dr. MOM cold ointment is widely used to treat colds in children: many note that it significantly alleviates the condition of a runny nose. It is applied to the back and chest (except for the heart area), the child is wrapped up and put to bed - so that he sweats. In no case should this procedure be carried out at an elevated temperature, as well as in case of damage and irritation of the skin.

Some even manage to lubricate the wings of the nose with this ointment - to "put it aside". However, experienced pediatricians recommend rubbing such ointments only on the feet of the child, and only at normal body temperature.

Dr. Theiss's Cold Ointment

"Eucalyptus Balm for Colds by Dr. Theiss" is a preparation for external use, which includes eucalyptus oil, pine needle oil and camphor. We have already dealt with camphor and eucalyptus oil (see above). Pine needle oil has a number of very useful properties: antiseptic, disinfectant, restorative, anti-inflammatory, general stimulating, diuretic, diaphoretic.

The mechanism of action of Dr. Theiss's ointment is explained by the fact that all these substances, evaporating, penetrate the respiratory tract and exhibit their inherent properties: antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and also expectorant (reduce the viscosity of sputum and improve coughing).

Dr. Theiss's cold ointment is used as a therapeutic agent for colds and acute respiratory infections in adults and children over two years of age. It is recommended to rub it into the skin of the chest and back several times a day. To keep warm, wrap up. It is strictly forbidden to smear areas of skin on the face and especially near the nose.

Children aged 12 years and older can do inhalations: dissolve 2 teaspoons of eucalyptus balm in a liter of hot water and breathe in the vapors for 5-10 minutes.

The drug has a whole list of contraindications, including: whooping cough, skin damage or skin diseases (dermatitis, eczema), as well as a tendency to convulsions, spasms of the respiratory muscles and allergies. Side effects may include rashes, redness and itching of the skin, headache, dizziness, agitation, convulsions (caused by camphor).

[ 2 ], [ 3 ], [ 4 ]

Ointment for runny nose in children

Parents need to remember that ointments for children's runny noses that contain menthol are not prescribed to children under three years of age.

After three years, it is often recommended to treat a runny nose with the ointment "Evamenol" with menthol and eucalyptus oil. The instructions indicate that the ointment should be applied to the nasal mucosa 2-3 times a day for 5-7 days.

The ointment for a runny nose in children "Vicks Active Balm" (PROCTER & GAMBLE) contains the same camphor, eucalyptus oil and turpentine oil. And instead of menthol - levomenthol, which is a combined antiseptic for local use in ENT practice and dentistry.

"Vicks Active Balsam" is intended for the treatment of runny nose and cough in inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract. But it cannot be used for children under two years of age, as well as for bronchial asthma, whooping cough, false croup and cough caused by sputum accumulation.

Rub this ointment 2-4 times a day: for a runny nose and stuffy nose - into the skin of the chest, for a cough and sore throat - into the skin of the neck, for a cough - into the skin of the back. The procedure is carried out for 4-5 days.

Side effects of this drug include the possibility of allergic reactions, laryngo- and bronchospasm, skin irritation and lacrimation.

Cold ointment for children under one year

Infants have a particularly hard time with colds. And the appearance of a runny nose makes life as difficult as possible for the baby: with a stuffy nose, it is not only difficult for him to breathe, but also impossible to suckle normally. Therefore, this problem must be solved immediately by all possible (and safe for the baby) methods.

For example, with the help of the ointment for colds for children under one year old "Pulmex Baby". This preparation contains eucalyptus and rosemary essential oils, as well as Peruvian balsam, which is obtained from the bark of the balsam tree growing in the tropical forests of South America.

Pulmex Baby ointment is recommended for use as an additional drug in the treatment of colds, coughs and upper respiratory tract diseases in children from 6 months of age.

The procedure is performed as follows: apply a little ointment to the chest and back - along the midline, rub lightly into the skin and cover with a cotton diaper or towel. For children over three years old, this procedure can be performed twice a day.

In conclusion, it should be noted: it is important not only what we feed and drink to our children, but also what we apply against colds. Let them be healthy!