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

Virtually no child grows without colds. A fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, coughing are convincing signs that your child has started an inflammatory process caused by a respiratory infection. Diseases of the upper respiratory tract in children, especially preschool age, are the most common.

In the complex treatment and prevention of such diseases, local topical preparations are often used - various ointments for colds for children. Let's start with those that do not rub off.

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Oksolinovaya ointment for colds for children

The most popular is 0.25% oxolin ointment, which in the 70-90s of the last century was practically the only drug for the prevention of acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory infections and influenza. Oksolinovaya ointment is a sufficiently effective protective agent against adenoviruses and influenza viruses - due to simple mechanical prevention of ingress of pathogenic microorganisms through the nasal mucosa. However, this "mechanics" works and reduces the incidence rate during seasonal viral epidemics.

For the prevention of oksolinovuyu ointment for colds for children should be applied twice a day and, first of all, before going to where there will be a lot of people: in kindergarten, school, shop, on a visit or on New Year's matinee. Be sure to smear in the nose with oxolin and in the case when someone is ill from home. From the deposited ointment (with "stuck" in it with microbes), nasal passages must be freed by washing with warm water.

When treating a cold in children oxolin ointment is applied very thin layer - at least three times a day for 4-5 days. Why is it important not to overdo with the amount of ointment? Because a thick layer can obstruct nasal breathing (with it and so problems during a cold), and the child will have to breathe through the mouth. And then the virus will fall on the unprotected oral mucosa and upper throat.

By the way, despite the solid "work experience" of oxolin ointment, disputes about the effectiveness of its use in therapeutic purposes go to this day. After all, the fundamental research of the therapeutic properties of this drug, imagine, was not carried out ...

But at the heart 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 increases the synthesis of interferon in the body and reduces the incidence of ARVI. Ointment "Viferon" is effective for the prevention and treatment of various respiratory diseases of often ill children, including children of early age and newborns. For this, pediatricians recommend lubricating the nasal mucosa 2 times a day. The drug has no contraindications and side effects.

Doctor MOM - ointment for colds

The main task of parents in the treatment of a sick child is to act promptly with the first symptoms. It is equally important to act correctly. Many mothers, as soon as a child has a nose or a cold starts, resort to 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. Due to what it is achieved when using ointments for colds in children?

In the ointment for a cold, Dr. MOM, produced by the Indian pharmaceutical company JB Chemical & Pharmaceuticals Ltd, contains menthol, thymol, camphor, as well as oils - muscat, eucalyptus and turpentine (turpentine). Therefore, the main effect of this ointment is local irritating and distracting. By acting on the skin receptors, the active substances cause a reflex rush of blood to the areas of the skin smeared with the drug, and in part to the nearby organs.

According to the instructions attached to the drug, the indication of the use of ointment for colds Doctor IOM: colds, back pain and headaches. In pediatric therapy, the manufacturer recommends using it for the removal of cold symptoms and ARI - to relieve the common cold and cough. But this drug is contraindicated for children under 2 years!

Let's try to understand how the individual ingredients of this ointment act on the body. In the end, we are going to treat her own children ...

Menthol - a reflex vasodilator with analgesic effect - is part of virtually all ointments from inflammation and joint and muscle injuries. Camphor (the percentage of which is contained in the ointment by Dr. IOM is the greatest) usually acts as an antiseptic, irritating and distracting, and also 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 fumes - irritation of the skin, eyes and lungs.

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

Essential oils of eucalyptus and nutmeg in the composition of ointments for colds. The doctor of IOM is called upon to facilitate breathing during evaporation. With eucalyptus oil - all right. But the main properties of nutmeg oil: hemostatic, analgesic (with the same arthritis and osteochondrosis), as well as regulating the work of the gastrointestinal tract.

Currently, the ointment for colds Dr. IOM is widely used in the treatment of colds in children: many people say that it significantly relieves the condition of the cold. It is applied to the back and chest (except the heart area), wraps the baby and put it to bed - to sweat. In no case can this procedure be carried out at elevated temperature, as well as in case of skin damage and irritation.

Some manage to lubricate this ointment with even the wings of the nose - in order to "postpone" it. However, experienced pediatricians recommend rubbing with such ointments only the foot of the child's feet, and only at normal body temperature.

Dr. Thyss ointment for colds

"Eucalyptus balm for colds, etc. Theiss" - a drug for external use, which includes eucalyptus oil, pine needles and camphor oil. With camphor and eucalyptus oil, we have already figured out (see above). Pine needles oil has a number of very useful properties: antiseptic, disinfecting, restoring, anti-inflammatory, general stimulating, diuretic, diaphoretic.

The mechanism of action of Dr. Thyss' ointment is explained by the fact that all these substances evaporate, penetrate the respiratory tract and exhibit their inherent properties: antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and expectorant (reduce the viscosity of phlegm and improve the cough).

Dr. Thyss ointment for colds is used as a therapeutic for colds and ARI in adults and children older than two years. It is recommended to rub several times a day in the skin of the chest and back. To keep the heat - wrap. Categorically it is impossible to smear the skin on the face and especially near the nose.

Children aged 12 years and older can be inhaled: in a liter of hot water, dissolve 2 teaspoons of eucalyptus balm and 5-10 minutes to breathe in pairs.

The drug has a whole list of contraindications, including: pertussis, skin damage or skin diseases (dermatitis, eczema), as well as a tendency to convulsions, spasms of respiratory muscles and allergies. As side effects, rashes, redness and itching of the skin, headache, dizziness, agitation, seizures (caused by camphor) are possible.

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Ointment from the common cold in children

Parents need to remember that ointments from the common cold in children who contain menthol in their composition are not prescribed for children under three years of age.

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

Ointment from the common cold in children "Vix Active Balm" (PROCTER & GAMBLE) contains all the same camphor, eucalyptus oil and turpentine oil. And instead of menthol - levomenthol, which refers to combined antiseptics for topical application in ENT practice and dentistry.

"Viks Active Balm" is designed to treat colds and coughs in inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract. But it can not be used for children under two years old, as well as for bronchial asthma, whooping cough, false croup and sputum-caused cough.

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

Among the side effects of this drug noted the possibility of allergic reactions, laryngo- and bronchospasm, skin irritation and lacrimation.

Ointment for colds for children under one year

Infants are particularly difficult to tolerate a cold. And the appearance of the common cold maximally complicates the life of the baby: with a stuffy nose, it is not only difficult for him to breathe, but it is also impossible to suck the breast normally. Therefore, all possible (and safe for crumbs) ways must urgently address this problem.

For example, with the help of ointments for colds for children up to the year "Pulmex Baby". The composition of this drug includes 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.

Ointment "Pulmeks Baby" is recommended to be used as an additional drug in the treatment of cold cough and diseases of the upper respiratory tract in children starting 6 months of age.

The procedure is as follows: a little ointment should be applied to the chest and back - along the middle line, lightly rubbed into the skin and covered with a cotton diaper or towel. Children after three years of this procedure can be carried out twice a day.

In conclusion, it should be noted: it is important not only what we feed and take our children, but also what we use for colds. Let them be healthy!