Learn How to Stop a Runny Nose

How to End a Runny Nose in Children

A baby or child with a runny nose might feel upset or uncomfortable. Most of the time, a child’s runny nose will go away on its own. However, a runny nose in an infant can sometimes be important.

If your child’s running nose doesn’t stop after a few days, if it makes it hard for them to breathe or nurse, or if other symptoms like a fever or cough appear, you might want to take them to the doctor.

• Allergic rhinitis, also called “hay fever,” is most often caused by allergies. When a child comes into contact with an allergen like pollen, it can cause signs like sneezing, a stuffy nose, and a runny, itchy nose. Bug bites, cigarette smoke, perfume, and animal dander are a few other common allergies. Your child’s doctor may be able to test him or her to find out if he or she has any allergies.

• Something stuck up their nose – If a child only has a messy nose or stuffy nose on one side, it could be because there is something stuck in their nose.

• Infection: A runny nose in a child is often caused by an infection, like an upper lung infection or the common cold. If the symptoms last longer than a few days or if your child has other signs like a fever or ear pain, you might want to take him or her to the doctor to get an evaluation and medicine.

Some ways to stop a child’s nose from running are:

• Rubber suction bulb: A soft rubber suction bulb may help clear a runny nose in babies and young children. Squeeze the suction bulb and then put it gently into your child’s nose to use it. Then, let go of the suction bulb and use it to pull any snot out of your child’s nose.

• Saline spray or rinse. Put a few drops of saline rinse or spray into your child’s nose to help soothe the nasal membranes and thin the mucus.

• Humidifier: If your child has a cold and a wet nose, you might want to use a humidifier at night to keep the air from getting too dry.

Reasons for a Runny Nose

When you get sick, it’s because germs or other harmful substances get through your mucus layer. At this point, your defense system takes over and makes what are called cytokines, which are proteins. These cytokines send out B cells and T cells to find the bacteria and kill them. The B cells and T cells then talk to other cells in your nose to make more mucus, which will get rid of any new or dead germs in your body.