Types of cold remedies
A runny nose is an extremely unpleasant condition, and you want to eliminate it immediately. Respiratory disease can occur in acute or chronic form, with difficulty in nasal breathing, moderate or heavy discharge. Frequent pathogens: bacterial, viral infections or allergens. A runny nose also occurs when blood vessels or the structure of the mucous membranes are damaged. The drugs are designed to eliminate painful symptoms and improve the outflow of secretions. Some contain hormonal, antibacterial or antiviral substances that help relieve irritation and reduce inflammation.
There are several types of medicine for the common cold:
- Vasoconstrictors: based on xylometazoline, naphazoline, oxymetazoline or phenylephrine. Upon contact with the membranes of the nasal sinuses, they cause a reflex microspasm of the capillary network. Thanks to this, swelling decreases, the lumen in the tissues expands, congestion goes away, and breathing becomes easier. Such drugs act almost instantly, restore physical comfort for a while, but do not have a therapeutic effect. These are emergency aids; they are allowed to be used in short courses: no more than 3–5 days in a row.
- Antiviral and antibacterial agents. They contain antiseptic components, interferons, help reduce inflammation, thin mucus clots, and moisturize the nasal membranes. To obtain a pronounced effect, they must be used in complex treatment. If there is severe congestion, they do not give quick results.
- Cameras. They contain extracts and essential oils of medicinal plants. Such nasal drops have a gentle effect, disinfect mucous membranes, help improve breathing and reduce secretions. The result of use is noticeable already on the first day. For a quick effect, such drugs are allowed to be used in combination with other drugs.
- Products with sea water. Designed for rinsing the sinuses from mucus clots. They are used as auxiliary drugs before diagnostic procedures and inhalations. Help relieve congestion, soften and moisturize.
Combined-action nasal preparations are also produced: the vasoconstrictor components in them are supplemented with essential oils and antiseptics. It is necessary to select drops and sprays by studying the composition, the list of indications and contraindications. During the treatment period, it is important to strictly follow the instructions to reduce the risk of side effects.
The list of effective drugs for the common cold includes diverse ones. Some are great for relieving congestion, while others are great for getting rid of allergies, infections, or eliminating all problems for a long time.
What medications are used to treat sinusitis?
Recovery from sinusitis depends on choosing the right combination of medications: if the wrong medications are selected, the acute stage of the disease can become chronic and significantly worsen the quality of life of both the child and the adult. The selection of drugs for sinusitis should be trusted only to the attending physician. The course of treatment may include local or systemic antibiotics, antihistamines, pain relievers and antipyretics, as well as sea water-based remedies for sinusitis and sinusitis, which help thin mucus and flush out harmful microorganisms and allergens from the nasal cavity.
A special place in the treatment of sinusitis is occupied by the use of vasoconstrictors. This group of medications, in the form of drops or sprays, helps relieve swelling and reduce mucus formation. Vasoconstrictor medications for sinusitis and other forms of sinusitis help relieve nasal congestion, which causes significant discomfort and interferes with normal breathing. Also, as part of the comprehensive treatment of sinusitis, it is recommended to use mucous moisturizers. Moisturizing nasal sprays have a more gentle effect and have clear advantages compared to traditional vasoconstrictor medications.
Naphthyzin
A fast-acting vasoconstrictor for infectious rhinitis, hay fever, and sinusitis accompanied by debt. The drops almost instantly reduce the lumen of the capillaries; after just a minute of their use, breathing becomes freer. The effect lasts up to 6–8 hours. It is necessary to use Naphthyzin only when there is severe congestion, for example, at night. The course is no more than 5 days. Long-term use can cause addiction and decrease the sensitivity of blood vessels to the active substance. Naphthyzin should be used especially carefully in children. To eliminate a runny nose, it is allowed from 1 year.
Locally irritating nasal drops
Locally irritating nasal drops are medications whose active components irritate the sensitive receptors of the trigeminal nerve, resulting in reflex hypersecretion (an increase in the amount of secretions) in the mucous membrane.
As a rule, nasal drops with cyclamen have this effect.
At the same time, the rheological properties of the contents change, due to which its viscosity is normalized, swelling of the mucous membrane is reduced and local blood microcirculation is improved.
Sinuforte
Lyophilisate for preparing a solution for intranasal use (RUB 2,280).
The drug contains lyophilized juice and extract of European cyclamen tubers.
Indications for the use of Sinuforte are the prevention and treatment of acute and chronic sinusitis, sinusitis, including catarrhal, purulent, and chronic forms. Prescribed for adult patients and children over 5 years of age.
The instructions describe in detail the steps for preparing the drops.
The finished product is used to irrigate the nasal mucosa with 2-3 sprays in the morning for a week.
According to reviews, most often patients complain of a burning sensation in the nasopharynx after instillation, short-term redness of the face, and lacrimation. Nasal secretions may turn pink and orange.
It is prohibited to use the drug in case of high blood pressure, sensitization, formation of cysts and/or polyps in the nasal sinuses, pregnant women and during lactation.
Causes of sinusitis
Most often, sinusitis occurs as a complication of colds and infectious diseases (such as influenza, ARVI). Reduced immunity, structural features of the nasal passages (for example, a deviated nasal septum), susceptibility to allergic rhinitis, and increased sensitivity of the vegetative-vascular system to irritants (the so-called vasomotor rhinitis) can contribute to the occurrence and development of sinusitis.
The inside of the sinuses is lined with a membrane that produces mucous secretion. If a person is healthy, the small amount of mucus produced is easily removed through the sinus anastomosis into the nasal cavity, and with this constant flow, microorganisms and dust particles that have entered there along with the air are removed from the sinuses.
As soon as a runny nose begins, the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity swells, sometimes including the mucous membrane of the anastomosis. The entrance to the sinus is blocked. If the swelling is significant, oxygen stops flowing into the sinus, creating favorable conditions for the development of anaerobic pathogenic microorganisms. Pressure increases in the sinus, a bursting sensation occurs, and then pain. Pathogenic bacteria produce toxins that, when released into the blood, can cause signs of general intoxication. Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the sinus itself develops, that is, sinusitis itself. The mucus turns into pus, which, having a more viscous consistency, even when the swelling has subsided, cannot leave the sinus naturally. Sometimes pus fills the entire sinus, and the severity of pain increases.
Typically, inflammation is not limited to just one sinus, but immediately affects both the maxillary and frontal sinuses, as well as the ethmoid labyrinth deep in the nose. In this case, they talk about polysinusitis (sinusitis is an inflammation of any paranasal sinus; sinusitis is a special case of sinusitis).
Sinusitis, which manifests itself in the form of isolated inflammation of only one sinus, may be of odontogenic origin, that is, be a consequence of inflammation in the dentofacial area. If the maxillary sinus has a significant volume, only a thin bone separates it from the tops of the tooth roots, and in some cases the tops of the tooth roots are adjacent directly to the mucous membrane of the sinus. In this case, advanced inflammation in the area of the four outermost upper teeth or unprofessional tooth extraction surgery can lead to infection of the maxillary sinus mucosa.
Discharge color
At first, a runny nose with sinusitis is clear mucus. Then the color changes to yellow-green. In general, sinusitis most often goes away with “snot.” The color changes depending on the complexity and period of the disease.
At the very beginning, the discharge is usually white. Also, the white color of “snot” can indicate the initial stage of the patient’s recovery.
A yellowish-green tint of mucus indicates an acute form of sinusitis. Yellow - that there is pus in the nose. Green “snot” indicates a serious inflammatory process. Bloody clots in nasal discharge are a very bad sign, indicating an extremely severe form of the disease.
Times of stagnation
Sinusitis, or, as doctors call it, maxillary sinusitis, is an inflammation of the maxillary sinus. It is this sinus that is most vulnerable to viruses and bacteria, since it is located very close to the nasal cavity and is connected to it by a special opening (ostium), through which pathogenic microbes can easily penetrate into the sinus.
All nasal sinuses are covered with a special epithelium. It has microvilli on its surface, the so-called cilia, which promote the secretion produced by the sinus, or, more simply, mucus, in the direction of the anastomosis. If this mechanism is disrupted, then secretion accumulates, infection and inflammation occur. This condition most often occurs against the background of a cold caused by a viral infection, but the development of bacterial sinusitis is also possible.
Of course, not always and not everyone has a common runny nose and ends up with sinusitis. Those most at risk are people with a deviated nasal septum, nasal polyps, those who suffer from vasomotor (neurovegetative), allergic or some other type of rhinitis, as well as children with enlarged adenoids. A foreign body in the sinus can also provoke sinusitis (for example, when treating upper teeth, dental material often gets into the sinus).
How to avoid recurrence of sinusitis in a child after a puncture? More details
Hormonal drugs
Nasal drops containing glucocorticosteroids are prescribed for extremely severe sinusitis, which is accompanied by severe swelling of the mucous membrane, which is not eliminated with the help of vasoconstrictors.
Drugs in this group also have a local anti-inflammatory effect. They are used once a day for 5 days.
Hormonal drops are not allowed for pregnant women, during lactation and children under 5 years of age.
Avamis, nasal spray 27.5 mcg/dose, 120 doses (620 rubles)
Contains the synthetic glucocorticosteroid fluticasone furoate. The drug has a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect.
Avamis is approved for use in pediatric practice in children over 2 years of age. Also, on the recommendation of the attending physician, use by pregnant women is permissible.
Nasonex, nasal spray 50 mcg/dose, 120 doses (RUB 785)
The active ingredient is mometasone.
It is used in the treatment of allergic sinusitis, chronic runny nose, and sinusitis.
The drug is allowed to be used for the treatment of allergic rhinitis in children over 2 years of age.
Chronic sinusitis
Chronic sinusitis is diagnosed if the inflammatory process in the maxillary sinuses continues for more than 4 weeks. In the chronic form of the disease, periods of relatively good health are followed by exacerbations, when the symptoms of sinusitis appear again.
Between exacerbations, the symptoms of sinusitis are usually mild. The temperature, as a rule, does not rise or rises slightly - up to 37−37.5 °C. The most indicative symptom of chronic sinusitis is attacks of dry night cough, which does not respond to traditional treatment. A cough is caused by phlegm running down the back of the throat.
Chronic sinusitis is very difficult to completely cure. Therefore, if you get sinusitis, you should immediately consult a doctor before the disease becomes chronic.
Symptoms of sinusitis
Acute sinusitis is characterized by the following symptoms:
Runny nose
Sinusitis is characterized by a prolonged runny nose with purulent or mucous discharge. A normal runny nose should go away within 7-10 days. If the runny nose drags on and there is no improvement in the condition, then the inflammatory process has probably spread to the mucous membrane of the paranasal sinuses. One of the signs of a runny nose turning into sinusitis may be alternating congestion in the right and left nostrils.
More about the symptom
Morning sputum
Mucus from the sinuses flows into the nasopharynx, causing frequent expectoration and copious sputum production in the morning.
Sinus pain
A characteristic symptom of sinusitis is an unpleasant feeling of heaviness or pain in the cheek area. Sometimes not only the area of the inflamed sinus itself hurts, but also the teeth, eyes, and temples. The pain, less noticeable in the morning, intensifies in the evening. Pain also increases when bending forward.
Weakness
General weakness and fatigue with sinusitis are caused by produced toxins.
More about the symptom
Temperature
In acute sinusitis, the temperature may rise to 38°C or higher.
More about the symptom
