Green snot in a newborn: what to do and how to treat?

When a child is sick in the family, it is always stressful for the parents. But if a newborn baby is sick, then in most cases the mother simply cannot find a place for herself. Even a common runny nose causes panic - and this is not surprising, because small children do not yet know how to breathe through the mouth, and nasal breathing can be difficult due to the accumulation of mucus in the nasal cavity. Green snot in a newborn can cause particular concern - such discharge is thicker and makes it even more difficult for the baby to breathe. How can you help the baby?

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Epidemiology

There is no precise epidemiological information on the prevalence of runny nose among newborns. Green snot in newborns is considered a relatively rare pathology, statistics on this matter are not kept.

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Causes green snot in a newborn

Green snot most often appears as a result of the following reasons:

• in the development of a bacterial inflammatory process, with viral complications;
• in the development of a purulent process;
• in case of stagnant allergic reaction.

In any case, the presence of green snot indicates that the inflammation of the nasal cavity, nasopharynx or sinuses has been going on for several days without proper treatment.

It should be noted that runny nose, acute respiratory viral infection, or acute respiratory disease in newborns are relatively rare, since they still have the immunity that was passed on to them from their mother during pregnancy. The following risk factors contribute to the development of diseases in newborns:

• frequent colds in the mother during pregnancy;
• poor maternal nutrition during pregnancy, anemia, hypovitaminosis;
• smoking or taking medications during pregnancy;
• systemic diseases of the mother;
• baby's hypothermia;
• the presence of a person sick with ARVI in the same room with a child.

Pathogenesis

In bacterial infectious diseases, the body sends leukocytes – blood cells that “devour” pathogenic microorganisms – to destroy bacteria. By destroying microbes, the leukocytes themselves die. It is the large number of dead leukocyte cells, as well as the no lesser number of already non-viable bacterial cells, that give the nasal mucus a green color. Moreover, the “greener” the snot, the more ancient the infectious pathology.

Why is snot green and not some other color? Neutrophils are “to blame” for this – the most numerous representatives of leukocytes that participate in suppressing the inflammatory process. Neutrophils have a green pigment, myeloperoxidase, which is released after cell death.

A runny nose never starts with green mucus right away. At first, the discharge is mucous and transparent. And only then, approximately on the 6th day of the disease (sometimes a little earlier), the mucus becomes green and thick.

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Symptoms green snot in a newborn

If green snot appears after the first signs of ARVI, then a few days before their appearance the temperature usually rises and the baby starts sneezing.

The first obvious signs are detected after the swelling of the nasal mucosa begins: the baby begins to sniffle loudly, "grunt", it becomes difficult for him to breathe. During feeding, the infant occasionally breaks away from the breast or nipple and tries to take a few breaths.

The child is often capricious and for a long time, cries as if for no reason, may lose appetite and refuse feedings.

Additional symptoms that can be observed against the background of the appearance of green snot in a newborn may be:

• sweating of feet and palms;
• conjunctivitis;
• child's anxiety, poor sleep.

Difficulty breathing through the nose can disrupt the flow of oxygen to the brain, causing headaches in infants.

Green thick snot in a newborn causes him particular discomfort, as the nasal passages become clogged, and it becomes impossible to breathe through them. As a result, the baby constantly cries and worries, because he cannot yet blow his nose on his own.

Yellow-green snot in a newborn is a collection of pus - often its appearance indicates that the disease is about to end. But you should not relax under any circumstances: yellow snot is the most viscous - and this means that at this moment the child is having a hard time breathing. At this stage, you should do everything possible to remove snot from the nasal passages.

Stages

Any runny nose always has three stages of development:

• reflex stage, during which the child begins to sneeze and experience dryness in the nose;
• catarrhal stage, accompanied by watery discharge and redness of the nasal mucosa;
• the final stage, which is an infectious inflammation with compaction and a characteristic green color of nasal discharge.

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Forms

Green snot in a newborn can occur as a concomitant symptom of the following types of runny nose:

• allergic rhinitis, which is usually accompanied by conjunctivitis, swelling of the facial area, and dry cough;
• physiological rhinitis, which appears when the mucous membrane dries out due to its structural restructuring;
• bacterial, fungal or viral rhinitis, which is provoked by the entry of a corresponding infection into the body;
• vasomotor rhinitis caused by excessive vasodilation.

Complications and consequences

A runny nose with green snot in a newborn can be complicated by other diseases:

• inflammation of the middle ear, resulting from the penetration of mucous nasal secretions by a short route from the nasal cavity into the ear canals;
• inflammation of the lungs and bronchi, as a result of low motor activity of the newborn baby;
• inflammation of the paranasal sinuses (sinusitis, maxillary sinusitis);
• congestion in the lungs.

The period of green snot is the stage at which you should provide the maximum possible assistance to the baby. During the first month of the child's life, it is unacceptable to wait until the runny nose with green snot goes away on its own - the baby does not yet have a strong immune system to cope with such a disease.

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Diagnostics green snot in a newborn

At the very beginning of the diagnostics, the pediatrician will carefully question the parents about when and under what circumstances the green snot appeared, what preceded it, what diseases were there before, etc. Then the doctor will begin examining the nasopharynx using special instruments. Sometimes additional instrumental diagnostics may be required, which includes an X-ray examination of the sinuses and an immunological test.

In hospital, a sample of the baby's discharge will be taken for microscopic examination. If a large number of lymphocyte cells are found in them, this means that the child has a viral infection. If the discharge contains mainly neutrophils, then we can talk about a bacterial infection. In some cases, the infection may be mixed.

Blood tests will help to establish the presence of an inflammatory process in the child's body, to exclude anemia. Urine analysis will allow to evaluate kidney function.

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Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnostics for green snot can be carried out with a common cold, sinusitis, maxillary sinusitis, acute respiratory viral infection, acute respiratory disease, flu, fungal infection, allergic rhinitis.

Treatment green snot in a newborn

If the baby does not have a fever, his general condition does not suffer, and green snot does not significantly affect the child's mood, then parents must first take the following measures:

• maintain adequate air humidity in the room where the child is located - this will prevent the mucous membrane in the nose from drying out and will make it easier for the baby to breathe (the most optimal humidity levels are from 50 to 70%);
• give the baby frequent drinks – warm water, baby tea;
• regularly, several times a day, ventilate the room where the baby usually is (naturally, when he is not there);
• remove all potential allergens from the room – flowers, shaggy carpets, etc.;
• wet clean the room in the morning and evening;
• do not smoke at home, even in the next room;
• replace all detergents and laundry products with hypoallergenic ones;
• protect the child from contact with pets;
• Approximately every 2 hours, drip a few drops of saline solution (isotonic sodium chloride solution) into each nasal passage of the baby.

If, in addition to a runny nose and green snot, the baby is bothered by other symptoms, then it is necessary to listen to the advice of a pediatrician, who can prescribe certain medications. Such medications can be:

• Immunomodulators – Viferon, Laferobion, Grippferon, etc.
• Antiseptics – Octenisept, Miramistin.
• Temperature lowering agents – Nurofen, Paracetamol.
• Vasoconstrictors – Nazol, Otrivin, Nazivin.

Medicines can be prescribed according to the following schemes:

	Dosage and method of administration	Side effects	Special instructions
Laferobion	Turundas soaked in the preparation are inserted into each nostril in turn for 10 minutes, 4-6 times a day, for 3-5 days.	When applied topically, side effects are considered rare.	To obtain a solution of Laferobion, the powder in a 50 thousand vial is diluted in 2 ml of water (a 100 thousand vial is diluted in 1 ml of water).
Nurofen	Prescribe 2.5 ml of suspension 1-3 times a day.	Vomiting, loose stools, and headache are possible.	Nurofen should not be given to children weighing less than 5 kg.
Nazol	Apply 1 drop no more than once every 6 hours.	Sometimes there is a burning sensation in the nose, rapid heartbeat, and sleep disturbance.	Nazol should not be used for more than 3 days in a row.
Viferon	Prescribe 150 thousand IU, 1 suppository twice a day (once every 12 hours), for 5 days.	Rarely, reversible rashes and itching occur.	When used in premature babies, the dosage is adjusted by the doctor individually.

If necessary, the doctor prescribes antibiotics and anthelmintic drugs. Independent use of the listed means for the treatment of green snot in newborns is strictly prohibited.

Vitamins

Vitamins are very important for maintaining the immunity of a newborn baby. However, taking multivitamin complex preparations at this age is not entirely reasonable, since the baby's body may react inadequately to this or that medication. If the child is breastfed, then it is recommended that the mother take the vitamins herself: in this case, they will be passed on to the baby with milk and will be absorbed much better. And the mother will not be out of the woods for the useful substances either.

If the child is fed with formula, then here too the problem of vitamin intake can be solved by choosing a high-quality vitaminized adapted formula.

During the neonatal period, special attention should be paid to the benefits of ascorbic acid (supports immunity), B vitamins (stabilize the nervous system and improve blood circulation), and vitamin D (normalizes calcium and phosphorus metabolism).

Physiotherapy treatment

Although physiotherapy procedures are considered relatively safe, not all of them are approved for use in the neonatal period. There are only a few approved procedures that can be prescribed to a newborn baby to treat colds and green snot:

• electrophoresis sessions with anti-inflammatory drugs;
• laser therapy to improve blood and lymph circulation, eliminate pain and signs of an inflammatory reaction;
• magnetic therapy to accelerate tissue recovery after the inflammatory process;
• massage and vibration massage of the wings of the nose and chest.

The effectiveness of the listed procedures is guaranteed only if the treatment is carried out by competent, qualified physiotherapists with experience in treating infants.

Folk remedies

It is highly recommended not to drip any plant juices, essential oils or other liquids (including milk and honey) into a newborn baby's nose. Such products can cause a number of complications - allergies, mucosal irritation, bronchospasm and laryngospasm, bacterial infection. Also, under no circumstances should you put mustard plasters on the baby, give or drip garlic and onions, apply salt compresses, steam the feet, etc.

The only folk remedy approved for use in the neonatal period is a saline solution. To prepare it, dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt (sea salt is fine) in 1 liter of warm water. The solution is dripped into the child's nostril, 2 drops at a time, every 2 hours.

What else should not be done to treat green snot in newborns:

• use sprays and aerosols;
• drip antibiotic solutions into the nose.

If the child has difficulty breathing, the snot must be sucked out using the smallest syringe (No. 1), a disposable syringe (naturally, without a needle) or a special snot sucker (the so-called nasal aspirator, which can be bought at any pharmacy). However, most often it is enough to use a regular cotton swab, which is inserted into the baby's nose with twisting movements, removing crusts and thick discharge.

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Herbal treatment

As we have already said above, the best folk remedy for green snot is regular salt water - an analogue of pharmacy saline solution or other currently popular drugs Humer, Aquamaris, etc.

Is there anything else I can do to help the child?

If the doctor has not prohibited bathing the baby, then you can add herbal decoctions of pine and spruce branches, chamomile, and mint to the bathing water.

You can place peeled and chopped garlic around the house - this will clear the air of bacteria and viruses, which will have a positive effect on the baby's recovery.

You can also light an aroma lamp with a few drops of lavender, pine, eucalyptus oil extract. But remember: it is forbidden to drip such products into the baby's nose.

To boost the child’s immunity, it is recommended to give him warm children’s tea based on chamomile – such teas are safe and can be bought at almost any pharmacy.

Homeopathy

For acute rhinitis with thick green discharge, homeopaths prescribe Pulsatilla in 3 dilution, but the best prescription for a newborn would be Sambucus in 3 dilution, Dulcamara in 3 dilution and Chamomilla in 3 dilution.

If nasal discharge is associated with the development of an allergic reaction, then Carbo vegetabilis or Salicia with a dilution of 3 and 6 can help.

Homeopathic drops have a complex effect on the child's body. They eliminate swelling of the mucous membrane, strengthen local and general immune defense. Homeopathy is most effective when used as early as possible, with the first signs of the disease. In advanced cases, treating a child with homeopathic remedies alone is unacceptable. A comprehensive approach is needed, using all means to restore nasal breathing and eliminate the underlying cause of rhinitis.

Surgical treatment

Even advanced runny nose and prolonged discharge of green snot in a newborn are rarely indications for surgical intervention. Doctors may consider surgery if purulent discharge accumulates in the nasal sinuses, and even then only in cases where drug therapy is ineffective.

The operation is performed only when parietal and hyperplastic processes in the nasal cavity are detected - for example, a sinusoidal fistula or polyps.

This operation is quite painful, and not all small children tolerate it calmly. Therefore, all specialists unambiguously recommend doing everything possible to prevent the child's condition from worsening and to prevent the need for surgical intervention.

Prevention

As a preventative measure, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules, if possible:

• Do not allow the newborn baby to come into contact with allergens, as well as with people suffering from colds and viral infections;
• frequently carry out wet cleaning in the room, ventilate and maintain normal humidity levels;
• Do not allow the baby to become either too cold or too hot – dress the baby according to the weather and air temperature.

At the slightest sign of a cold or allergy, it is imperative to call your local pediatrician to your home - there is no need to go to the clinic with a newborn child.

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Forecast

Timely measures, constant presence and care of mom and dad will help the newborn baby to recover faster. The main thing is to be patient and give the baby maximum attention so that he feels under reliable protection. If all the procedures prescribed by the pediatrician are carried out on time, then the prognosis in all cases will be favorable, and the green snot in the newborn will disappear without a trace.

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