Patient's question:
Duration of onset and persistence: Two weeks ago, there was a bit of a runny nose, then it got better, and now it has started again.Current general condition: Runny nose with a bit of coughing.
Other: The little baby doesn’t like to cover up with a blanket when sleeping at night. If she puts one on, she kicks it off. She might have caught a cold at night. What kind of medicine would be good to take? Thank you!
Doctor's answer:
Hello:A normal person secretes about hundreds of milliliters of mucus daily. However, this mucus flows along the direction of the ciliary movement of the nasal mucosa, from the posterior nasal to the pharynx, and due to evaporation and drying, it is generally not visible as it flows out of the nose.
Children's nasal mucosa has richer blood vessels than adults, and they produce more secretions. Additionally, their nervous system's regulation of mucus secretion and ciliary movement is not yet fully developed, and they are not good at wiping their noses themselves. Therefore, frequent clear nasal discharge is a normal physiological phenomenon and does not need to be worried about.
If a child's nostrils are always hanging with two lines of mucus or if yellow-green purulent nasal discharge is flowing, it indicates a pathological condition. Long-term yellow-green purulent nasal discharge may suggest sinusitis. Frequent clear nasal discharge could be due to a lack of vitamins A and B. Treatment with these two vitamins can be effective. Allergic reactions to inhaled dust may cause a large amount of clear nasal discharge in a short time. A few children with foreign bodies in their nasal cavity may also frequently have nasal discharge. The most important thing to note is that some children with nasal-pharyngeal lymphadenopathy may also frequently have nasal discharge, but they are accompanied by severe snoring, dull facial expressions, and small, flat noses. These symptoms can severely affect development and posture, and should be treated promptly.