Viral and bacterial rhinitis: how to distinguish and how to treat

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Children under one year of age are also susceptible to various diseases. A runny nose and cough are some of the most common. A cough in a child under one year old can be a symptom of ARVI, but the virus is far from the only reason for the appearance of this protective mechanism. A runny nose is also a response to the invasion of pathogens and other factors. And if every child has a cough reflex, then the baby cannot blow his nose to free the nasal cavity from mucus. It is important to promptly receive medical help and recommendations for treating a runny nose and cough in a newborn.

Causes of viral and bacterial runny nose

Rhinitis is most often caused by viral and bacterial infections that cause respiratory diseases.

The vast majority of rhinitis, about 90% of the total, are viral in nature. The causative agents of colds are different types of influenza and parainfluenza viruses, adeno- and rhinoviruses.

Viruses are quite active during the cold season - autumn and winter. However, you can “catch” the infection in a situation where there is a carrier nearby, since it is transmitted by airborne droplets. The development of a viral runny nose is facilitated by reduced immunity.

The cause of a bacterial runny nose is the activation of opportunistic microflora, which, when multiplied, causes inflammation of the nasal mucosa. The causative agents of the pathology can be staphylococci and streptococci, pneumococci and other microbes.

In this case, the impetus for the development of bacterial rhinitis is also in most cases a viral infection. The virus penetrates cells and causes a pathological process, against the background of which immunity decreases and the body becomes more vulnerable to pathogenic microbes. In some cases, a bacterial infection is primary, and rhinitis occurs without the participation of viruses.

The development of bacterial rhinitis is promoted by:

chronic respiratory diseases;
congenital or acquired anomalies of the structure of the nose;
severe systemic diseases;
smoking, working in unfavorable working conditions (dust, chemical fumes).

The nature of the appearance of a runny nose during teething

Parents and pediatricians always play it safe as soon as they discover any abnormalities in the baby’s condition. Therefore, even a slight runny nose is often treated like ARVI. This is correct, because babies do not yet know how to blow their nose normally, and sputum flows down the trachea into the bronchi. This can subsequently lead to complications such as bronchitis or even pneumonia.

However, it is not always necessary to rely on vasoconstrictor drugs. A runny nose during teething occurs:

non-infectious nature. The problem of snot during the period of teeth growth in a baby is explained by physiological reasons. The anatomical structure of the nasopharynx is as follows: the blood supply to the gums and mucous membranes of the nasal passages is carried out through a network of vessels that are closely interconnected due to their close location. During teething, the blood supply to the gums increases, so the mucous membranes begin to work more actively - saliva is produced abundantly in the oral cavity, and nasal mucus ;
against the background of a respiratory infection. When a baby is teething, his local immunity suffers a slight disruption. Resistance to colds decreases, so the child easily picks up any virus.

If a runny nose is caused by physiology, snot on the teeth may not go away for weeks, which is not typical for ARVI.

As for nasal congestion due to a respiratory infection, excessive mucus production is not the only symptom. Other catarrhal phenomena and changes in the baby’s well-being will not be long in coming.

How are the symptoms different?

Symptoms will help determine whether it is a viral or bacterial runny nose. Signs of the bacterial nature of the disease are:

thick discharge from the nose of a yellow or yellow-green color, often with an unpleasant odor and impurities of pus;
impaired nasal breathing due to the accumulation of thick secretions;
increase in body temperature to 38-40 C;
headache, muscle pain, chills.

With the right treatment, bacterial rhinitis goes away in 7-10 days.

Viral rhinitis also has its own characteristic symptoms:

nasal discharge is abundant, colorless and odorless;
the temperature is normal or slightly elevated;
sneezing, sore throat, redness of the mucous membranes of the eyes and watery eyes.

As a rule, the disease resolves within 5 days.

The differences between viral and bacterial rhinitis in children and adults are the same. At the same time, a child suffers a runny nose, regardless of its nature, more severely than adults. This is especially true for infants who are breastfed. Due to impaired nasal breathing, it is more difficult for them to latch onto the breast, which can cause digestive disorders.

Sinusitis or “viral”: how not to make a mistake with the treatment of a runny nose

A runny nose, even in the absence of other signs of acute respiratory infections, is a problem that you want to get rid of as quickly as possible. In this case, the recovery time depends on the “nature” of inflammation and rational treatment tactics. And, in the case of sinusitis, the wrong strategy even threatens the development of complications. So how not to confuse the onset of ARVI and bacterial inflammation? And what tests can help with this?

Symptomatic analysis

Viral infections, unlike bacterial pathologies, in the vast majority develop rapidly. “Increasing” the severity of symptoms over just 1-2 days.

That is, “yesterday” only frequent “sneezing” was noted, for no apparent reason. And “today” is literally pouring out of the nose.

In addition, a “viral” runny nose is most often quickly accompanied by other signs of inflammation, in the form of “brokenness,” a sore throat, and then a cough. However, in mild cases, such “hints” may not exist.

Symptoms of bacterial acute respiratory infections, and especially inflammation of the sinuses (such as sinusitis and other sinusitis), increase much more slowly. Which, by the way, is reflected in the average duration of the disease (on average 10 days or more). And the nature of the discharge from the very beginning is “thick”, “sticky” and has a white-yellow (purulent) or greenish tint.

“Sinusitis” runny nose is usually accompanied by an intense headache or pain in the upper jaw, which increases as discharge accumulates in the nasal passages and somewhat weakens after “blowing the nose.” As well as a temperature above 38.0 C and severe symptoms of intoxication.

Who needs to be “on alert”

In the vast majority of cases, a runny nose during the “season” of acute respiratory infections is caused by the influence of viruses and is rarely complicated by any sinusitis.

However, a small percentage of cases still occur due to bacterial infections. Moreover, mainly as a complication of a viral infection.

The fact is that opportunistic flora in the nasopharynx and oropharynx is present in “safe” concentrations in every healthy person. The presence of foci of chronic infection, such as caries, tonsillitis and others, is also important.

With a decrease in general or local immunity, such flora “will not miss the chance” to be active. But the severity of the “consequences” of this “event” already depends on the quality and quantity of the latter.

The most aggressive pathogens of sinusitis include Staphylococcus aureus, some types of streptococci and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. And only culture of a smear from the nose and throat can help verify their participation in the process.

How to figure out what kind of runny nose you have

The first distinguishing feature is the color of the snot. If a green or green-yellow tint appears, it means that the nature of the runny nose is most likely bacterial. However, to determine whether a runny nose is viral or bacterial, you need to pay attention not only to the color of nasal discharge, but also to other symptoms.

If a person’s health worsens, the temperature rises to high levels, the disease continues to progress and does not go away after 10 days or more, it is necessary to consult a doctor. The specialist will prescribe a general blood test, rhinoscopy, and laboratory testing of a smear from the nasal canals.

How to help a child

If at an appointment with a pediatrician it becomes clear that the baby has an acute respiratory viral infection due to teething, the doctor will immediately prescribe treatment. To be sure, you can take a blood test, which will show you what needs to be dealt with. Usually the baby is prescribed:

vasoconstrictor droplets according to age;
cough syrup with ambroxol to prevent sputum from stagnating;
cough tablets - usually Septefril or Lizobact in the permitted dosage;
saline solution for rinsing the nasal passages;
antipyretic drugs, for example, Analdim suppositories or suspensions - Panadol, Nurofen.

All medications are prescribed by a doctor - self-medication in this case is unacceptable!

If we are not talking about ARVI, but about a normal reaction to teeth, then when the temperature rises, the baby is given antipyretics, and the nose is washed with saline solution. If the baby is too restless, the gums are smeared with a special anesthetic gel.

Snot on your teeth can be either normal or a sign of infection. It is not difficult to determine their nature - there are many signs that signal that a child has become infected with ARVI. If it is an infection, the mother’s task is to follow the pediatrician’s instructions and do the maximum to ensure that he recovers. To prevent the baby from becoming infected with the virus during the teething period, it is necessary to visit crowded places less (especially during epidemics), wash his toys more often, avoid overheating and hypothermia, and rinse his nose.

ARVI and immunity

According to the World Health Organization, ARVI ranks first in the structure of morbidity among young children. There are a large number of viruses that cause ARVI. These include: influenza viruses, parainfluenza, respiratory syncytial viruses, adenovirus, ECHO viruses, Coxsackie viruses, rhinoviruses, reoviruses, coronaviruses. The high incidence of ARVI is associated with unstable immunity in children after previous ARVI, as well as the high prevalence of these viruses. In unfavorable environmental conditions, acute respiratory viral infections predetermine even greater changes in immunity, especially in young children. This can lead to significant changes in the formation of the baby’s immunity, as well as contribute to the development of chronic diseases of various systems of the child’s body at an older age. Considering the high prevalence of ARVI, the issue of treating children with this pathology remains relevant. We will approach the treatment of colds from the point of view of modern protocols for the treatment of ARVI in children, which were developed by the Russian Union of Pediatricians. Before moving on to considering children's medications for colds and flu, it is necessary to understand the main manifestations of ARVI in children.

It is important to monitor the child’s condition and contact a pediatrician at the first symptoms of a cold.

Is it necessary to treat “tooth” snot?

One of the most common mistakes that many parents make if their child develops snot is to independently use various medications to combat this problem. The first place in this list is traditionally occupied by various anticongestive drugs that cause constriction of blood vessels and are intended to relieve swelling in the nasal cavity. Such drugs include drops “Nazivin”, “Naphthyzin”, “Xylometazoline” and other drugs with a similar mechanism of action.

The main component of the drug is oxymetazoline hydrochloride

Anticongestants have a large number of side effects, the main of which are the rapid addictive effect and gradual atrophy of the nasal mucosa, which can ultimately lead to the development of chronic atrophic rhinitis. The use of these medications is justified only in severe cases, when the child cannot breathe normally due to severe swelling of the mucous membrane, which happens mainly with infectious rhinitis. Antihistamines that block the production of the main mediator of inflammatory reactions (histamine) are also unacceptable for the treatment of physiological rhinorrhea associated with teething.

Important! Despite the fact that the use of traditional remedies for snot associated with teething is not recommended, it is impossible to completely refuse treatment, since stagnation of mucus in the nose creates an excellent breeding ground for various bacteria and can cause serious complications: otitis media, bronchitis, etc. .d.

“Just like a vegetable.” Why do people continue to get sick a year after Covid?

MOSCOW, September 29 – RIA Novosti, Alfiya Enikeeva. According to various sources, from 20 to 75 percent of those who have recovered from COVID-19 still suffer from its consequences six months later. The main symptoms include chronic fatigue, shortness of breath, hair loss, panic attacks, and sleep problems. Doctors call this post-Covid syndrome. In Russia, every fifth patient is diagnosed with it. How these people live and deal with complications is in the material of RIA Novosti.

“I couldn’t do anything”

I got sick with Covid almost a year ago, on October 29th.
A nurse from the clinic came and took a test for coronavirus. It turned out to be negative, but ten days later my temperature rose, my nasopharynx became dry, and the vessels in my nose began to ache. My whole body ached—muscles, bones, joints. Otherwise, everything developed according to not the worst scenario: the temperature did not exceed 37.8 for only two days, and the saturation did not drop. A CT scan showed four percent lung damage. But there was a very strong tachycardia mixed with panic attacks. At rest, the pulse reached 120. And so it is until now. Plus, problems appeared with blood vessels in the legs and eyes. I even thought that I had a retinal tear due to oxygen starvation and vascular damage. But the ophthalmologist found nothing, thank God. He prescribed drops, but they didn’t help - my eyeballs seemed to hurt from the inside. I consulted with different doctors, no one could really say anything. Prescribed medications. Some only made things worse, while others had no effect at all. I decided to take one drug, an anticoagulant, on my own, the minimum dose. The doctors said that it was not needed: the coagulogram was normal, fibrinogen and d-dimer too. But at my own peril and risk I started drinking it, because my condition was like this: I just lay there like a vegetable and couldn’t do anything.

After the first pill I felt better - as if I had emerged from the water. The swelling decreased, the fog in the head went away, and - what is very important - the tachycardia disappeared, it just went away. I have been taking this drug for nine months. I tried several times to get off him, but in vain. If I don’t take the pill, the tachycardia returns. There was still total chronic fatigue. I get tired very quickly. In fact, I can only walk. I am unable to do any exercises. Cleaning the house is already a heavy physical activity. I almost stopped cleaning the floor; I use a robot vacuum cleaner.

Since I am an individual entrepreneur, I was able to organize a very light work schedule for myself. For the first three months, until January, I didn’t work at all. Business just stopped. No income - the airbag was eaten away.

“I had to quit my job”

Alexander Korchevny, 39 years old, Ekibastuz, Kazakhstan.
Now he is being treated at the Novosibirsk Center for the Prevention of Thrombosis. I fell ill at the beginning of June 2022, and was infected, presumably, at work. Took a PCR test - positive. I was sent into voluntary isolation in an infectious diseases hospital for 18 days. As it turned out, it was in vain: one after another, relatives fell ill with Covid.

In the hospital there was no special treatment, only observation, since the disease was not severe. There was a slight malaise for about three days, then for two days the temperature was difficult to bring down to 38. Smells disappeared, appetite decreased, and problems with sleep appeared. The first “call” was ten days after the diagnosis. An unexpected tachycardia began, a panic attack began and the pressure jumped. They gave me an injection of aminophylline. It seems to have gotten a little better.

He left the hospital neither sick nor healthy. I really wanted to go home after isolation. But things only got worse. New symptoms related to nerves and blood vessels were gradually added. Endless visits to doctors began. None of them fully understood what was wrong or how to treat me. All tests are more or less calm. Over the course of a year, I took courses with five neurologists in different cities. Everyone made two diagnoses: vegetative-vascular dystonia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Everyone hinted at a psychologist. I also visited him, he did not reveal any violations.

All this year the disease develops in waves: at times you feel well, at times you lie down and cannot get up. After courses of treatment there were minor improvements, but overall my health was far from normal. In the last 12 months I have taken more medications than I have ever taken in my entire life. I had to quit my job due to endless sick leave. I asked the local therapist what to do in such a situation, because I am disabled, but she just threw up her hands.

“My hair was coming out in clumps”

Nailya Vagizova, 38 years old, Kazan On June 1st I felt unwell.
I called the doctor. He said it was an acute respiratory infection, prescribed an antibiotic, an antiviral, vitamins, but it didn’t get any better. And already on the ninth I ended up in the hospital. There were problems with breathing. She spent five days in intensive care. Lung damage is more than 75 percent. Doctors told relatives that everything should be prepared for the worst. But I pulled myself together and began to get out. My husband brought drugs that the hospital did not have, and thanks to this I survived. She was discharged on June 19th and recovery began: exercises, proper nutrition, pills. In theory, they should be given to everyone for free, but they ran out on me, and my family bought everything. Three and a half months later, I still don't feel healthy. About two months after discharge, my hair began to fall out, just in clumps. Constant pain in my legs, aching joints in my arms. When I left the hospital, no one warned me that it could take so long and the recovery would be so difficult. There is no help from state medicine now. The doctors at the clinic don't say anything. I myself take all the tests for a fee, take vitamins, collect information on the Internet from people who have also been ill. I am a laboratory doctor by profession, so I began to independently understand the topic and control my condition.

“It’s easier for me to think that it’s not Covid”

Evgenia Yurfeld, Moscow I am not quite a standard post-Covid person.
I was given the third group of disability even before Covid, for the main disease. Atrial fibrillation provoked three strokes and bradycardia; a pacemaker had to be installed. So I started fighting dizziness, arrhythmia and disturbances in the functioning of the vestibular apparatus long before Covid. I got sick with coronavirus at the end of last fall, but in December I had a good test. The doctor immediately warned me about post-Covid. She herself suffered from COVID-19 and knows what it is. Now from time to time I experience some typical symptoms, but I consciously attribute them to the underlying disease. It's easier for me.

I am constantly under medical supervision. The doctor visits me regularly. They give me antiplatelet drugs for free, and I get a rather expensive anticoagulant at the pharmacy. Subspecialists come to your home to inspect it and take tests. But I rarely bother the clinic with requests. I learned to cope with attacks on my own. Overall, I just hope that sooner or later the body will adapt to someone else’s virus. If you have still survived with such a list of diseases and even suffered from Covid, then you have to thank your genes and your guardian angel.

“The main thing is to trust the doctors”

Valentina Nelyubova, 59 years old, Moscow I was diagnosed with Covid in January.
I was very sick. I almost went to another world. I was treated by private doctors at home for two weeks. Afterwards I was treated absolutely free of charge under the policy. And also very good. Plus, the family doctor constantly monitored me. She is also shocked: how did I survive with such bad tests and my condition is below par. When I was sick, I realized: the main thing is that there are good doctors nearby, and it doesn’t matter whether they pay or not. It is important how they are treated, and patients must trust doctors. Now, thank God, it's all over. I recovered from Covid for several months, it’s a long story. But everything ended well. I am very grateful to the doctors of the branch of the Alekseev Day Hospital at Polyclinic 121, in South Butovo. They really help cope with post-Covid syndrome and depression. Many people are afraid of mental hospitals. This is some kind of misinterpretation, misunderstanding. But only qualified psychologists can get to post-Covid problems and help. At least they helped me.

“This is already an independent disease”

According to researchers from Sechenov University, in Russia more than 20 percent of patients who have suffered coronavirus infection suffer from post-Covid syndrome.
Among the most common complaints are weakness (more precisely, fatigue), shortness of breath, anxiety, depression, sleep problems and hair loss. “Post-Covid syndrome (PCS) is a symptom complex that occurs as a result of a coronavirus infection. This is a very broad concept, which may include damage to the nervous, cardiovascular systems, gastrointestinal tract, and muscle atrophy. There may even be some mental manifestations. Its duration is a purely individual matter. For some, the main symptoms are resolved in a mild form within two to three months. For others, they last up to a year or even more. It’s too early to talk about maximum terms. We are just observing this disease and studying it. In my experience, patients last the longest with various neurological disorders, lesions of the peripheral nervous system,” Professor Evgeniy Achkasov, head of the department of sports medicine and medical rehabilitation at Sechenov University, expert of the National Health League, told RIA Novosti.

According to him, PCS symptoms, their severity and duration often depend on the severity of COVID-19, but not always. Thus, among the patients there are many people who suffered from Covid itself relatively easily, but have been suffering from its complications for more than a year.

“The basis of rehabilitation programs for post-Covid syndrome is breathing exercises, cyclic physical exercises, and cardioprotection. We strive to protect the heart muscle both with medication and with various physical therapy options. We use massages and pressure chambers. Quite a wide range. But we must understand that it is often very difficult to rehabilitate such patients at home. It's better to be hospitalized. Post-Covid syndrome is already an independent disease, and it must be taken very seriously,”

- the professor emphasized.

However, if the symptoms of ACL are pronounced, and there is no opportunity to see a doctor, then experts advise doing Nordic walking. This type of physical activity has a good effect on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. But in no case should you inflate balloons to restore lung volume, so as not to cause additional pulmonary injury.

Link to publication: ria.ru

The tooth came out, but the runny nose does not go away

If the tooth has already erupted, but the runny nose still does not go away, and the child feels satisfactory, his body temperature is normal, and the snot retains a watery consistency, perhaps the reason is improper hygienic care and non-compliance with sanitary standards. For the normal functioning of the nasal mucosa, constant hydration is necessary: moistened epithelium effectively binds particles of dust and dirt and removes them from the nasal cavity, preventing them from penetrating further into the airways.

To create physiologically correct conditions for normal functioning of the mucous membranes, it is necessary:

maintain the required temperature in the children's room (about 20°-22°C for games and 16°-18°C for sleeping);
ventilate the room at least 6-8 times a day, each ventilation should last about 10-15 minutes;
Don't forget to ventilate the nursery
regularly carry out wet cleaning, remove dust from furniture, clean toys and carpets (ideally, it is better to remove carpets, thick curtains, books and soft toys from the baby’s room);
Do not use disinfectants during cleaning (plain water is fine).
Do wet cleaning at least three times a week

Strengthening the immune system is also of great importance, which consists of compliance with the vaccination calendar and the introduction of complementary foods, frequent walks, adequate temperature and movement conditions, and hardening procedures.

Video – Komarovsky about runny nose and teething

Rhinorrhea (snot) during teething is a very common occurrence that should not be confused with an infectious runny nose. Under no circumstances should you give your child antiviral drugs, immunomodulators, antihistamines and anticongestive drugs without consulting your doctor. In most cases, such a runny nose goes away on its own after teething, and to relieve it, it is enough to adhere to a certain hygiene regimen. Read the article for strong painkillers for toothache.

How long does it take for drugs to leave the body?