The Common Cold - All You Wanted to Know about Rhinitis and Its Treatment

What is meant by "caught a cold"?

"Cold" or "rhinitis," "runny nose," and other terms refer to a collection of symptoms that appear together, caused by various viruses. There are over 200 different strains of viruses that can cause rhinitis. It is the most common disease in which children become ill, with an average of 8 infections by age two and 3-8 infections each year thereafter. Rhinitis is considered the most common reason for children missing school days and parents missing workdays.
Rhinitis is not caused by air conditioning, heating, drafts, or a wet head. It doesn't even occur because you went out with wet hair or didn't wear socks.

What are the symptoms of rhinitis?

Rhinitis is a very common phenomenon, especially in winter, and it has various symptoms, some or all of which may appear - runny nose, nasal congestion, muscle aches, headache, fatigue, cough, fever, diarrhea, vomiting, sore throat, watery or red eyes. Nasal secretions can range from watery and transparent to thick and yellow or green. Sometimes, rhinitis can cause viral inflammation (e.g., of the bronchi, throat, ears, or sinuses) that requires antibiotic treatment, but in most cases, rhinitis is only viral and resolves on its own within an average of 4-10 days from the onset of symptoms. Symptoms can appear 1-5 days after infection. The first sign is usually a scratchy/throat irritation, followed by sneezing and a runny nose after a few hours. After a few days, the runny nose turns from transparent to thick yellowish-green. At this time, fluid accumulation in the ears may occur, but this does not indicate ear inflammation. Children with asthma may experience asthma attacks during rhinitis.

How is rhinitis transmitted?

Rhinitis is most contagious in the first 2-4 days after symptom onset and can be contagious for about three weeks. Rhinitis is transmitted by direct contact with a sick person or by virus particles carried in the air after coughing or sneezing. The virus can survive on objects for several hours, so touching an object on which they have sneezed, coughed, or breathed can be contagious. Commonly touched objects known as "germ foci" or "bacteria magnets" include computer mice, door handles, TV remotes, phones, railings, writing utensils, and more. Also, touching a sick person's hands and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes can be highly contagious.

How to prevent infection

• Avoid and minimize contact with a sick person.
  Wash hands thoroughly and frequently, especially after wiping children's noses.
• Teach your children how to wash their hands thoroughly. It is recommended to sing a short song (about 20 seconds long) and teach them to rub their hands together while washing. Hands are considered clean only after finishing the song.
• Teach your children to sneeze and cough into their elbows rather than into their hands.
• Teach them to wash their hands after sneezing or coughing.
• Avoid using a sick person's tissues and utensils, do not eat or drink from a sick person's food.
• Provide personal towels for each person, including hand and face towels.
• Do not let children pick up used tissues and ensure thorough hand washing afterward.

How to treat rhinitis

Rhinitis helps the body expel the virus, but sometimes a stuffy nose can cause breathing difficulties (especially in very young children who tend to breathe primarily through the nose), sleep disturbances, eating difficulties, and discomfort. Rhinitis treatment mainly involves symptom relief until the disease passes.
Saltwater solution for clearing a stuffy nose - You can buy a saline solution at the pharmacy or make it yourself by mixing a cup of lukewarm water with half a teaspoon of salt. For a small baby, drip 3 drops into one nostril, wait 10 minutes, and then suck out the mucus with a special baby nasal aspirator. Repeat the process in the other nostril. For an older child, lie them down, drip 3 drops into one nostril, wait a minute, then ask them to blow their nose. Repeat the process in the other nostril. It is recommended to repeat the treatment throughout the day.

• Taking fever-reducing and pain-relieving medications.
• Using a cool mist humidifier increases moisture in the air and facilitates breathing.
• Applying petroleum jelly under the nose eases irritation.
• Steam from a hot shower will help open the airways.
• Studies show that chicken soup contains substances that thin mucus and alleviate congestion.
• Increased fluid intake prevents dehydration and helps restore moisture to the skin. Be especially careful if you have a fever and are sweating.
• Adding honey to drinks or eating it with a spoonful helps fight rhinitis. Do not give honey to children under one year old!
• For children over the age of 4, cough drops or throat lozenges may alleviate sore throat.
• Increased warm drink consumption, such as herbal tea, helps ease coughing.
• You can use cotton swabs soaked in saline solution or special eye wipes to alleviate irritation and burning in the eyes.
• Elevating the head while lying down eases breathing.
• Be cautious with drying medications and antihistamines to relieve symptoms. Various medications may cause side effects such as nervousness, drowsiness, and irregular heartbeats, and should not be used without consulting a doctor.

When to see a doctor?

• In cases of fever lasting more than three days.
• A baby under three months old with a fever higher than 38 degrees Celsius. Immediate referral is required.
• Rhinitis lasts more than ten days.
• Breathing difficulties that do not improve after treating the runny nose.
• Worsening of symptoms after three days.
• Severe headache.
• Frequent vomiting.
• Severe sore throat.
• Stomach ache or chest pain.
• Ear pain.
• Swollen glands in the neck.
• If the child appears lethargic or refuses to suck or drink.
• If the child has a history of convulsions - it is advisable to see a doctor earlier.
• If a child over the age of two has a fever and sore throat only, it is likely that it is a bacterial infection, so it is advisable to be checked by a doctor.
• If the child has a pre-existing medical condition or condition such as asthma, diabetes, heart problems, etc.

Medications and Natural Remedies for Congestion

There are also natural remedies that alleviate congestion. The use of these remedies comes from the realm of complementary medicine and does not replace a visit or consultation with a pediatrician.

• Rosemary oil - In cases of stubborn nasal congestion or stridor attacks hindering breathing, administer 3 drops of almond oil on the chest and back, and dress the child in a shirt. This oil rapidly and immediately opens the airways, assisting in the expulsion of mucus. In many cases, the toddler will wake up in the morning and simply expel the mucus.
• Lemon eucalyptus oil or myrtle oil for nasal congestion and runny nose - 2 drops on the pillow or one drop on the shirt collar will greatly help and open the nasal passages.
• Thyme tea for coughing - 3-4 thyme sprigs steeped in boiling water for a quarter of an hour (sweetening is optional). Repeat this process at least 3 times a day.
• Oregano tea to alleviate sore throat - Same instructions as the previous tea.
• Onion and honey for coughing and sore throat - Finely chop an onion, cover it with honey, and wait; after an hour, a syrupy solution forms above the mixture. Administer one tablespoon of the syrup every hour until the pain subsides. Do not give honey to infants under one year of age!
• Onion clears nasal passages - Chop an onion, squeeze half a lemon over it, and place it in a bowl next to the toddler's head at night.