Organization of inhalations for rhinitis
Saline solution is often used to moisten the airways and clear accumulated phlegm and mucus.
If sodium chloride is diluted with another medicine during inhalation, the proportions must be strictly observed. In this regard, this should be done by a specialist. Information about the ratio is always indicated in the annotation. The finished medicine can be stored in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Before using the inhaler, it is warmed to room temperature.
If several drugs are prescribed at once, it is important to follow the sequence established by the doctor
Inhalations with saline solution without impurities are carried out both for treatment and as prevention. You should not abuse this method, because the body gets used to it and stops responding correctly to treatment.
Saline solution in a nebulizer
The nebulizer converts the product into aerosol particles, which, after inhalation, penetrate even remote surfaces of the respiratory system. Because of this, the effectiveness of therapy increases many times. In addition, the likelihood of side effects is reduced due to the targeted use of the drug.
Saline solution for inhalation for a nebulizer for a runny nose quickly softens the mucous membrane in the nose and thins the mucus. It is good to breathe not only during a runny nose, but also when treating a cough. The drug is actively used for the development of laryngitis, bronchial asthma, pneumonia and chronic bronchitis.
Carrying out for a child
Saline solution in the nose of a child is allowed regardless of age, even for newborns. Before use for children 3–5 years old, the solution must be heated to 30–52 degrees.
For a child under 2 years of age, the procedure should be performed no more than 2 times per day, and its duration should not exceed 3 minutes. The inhalation time is similar for children under 6 years of age, but they are administered 3 times per day.
After 6 years, the duration of the procedure for a runny nose is 5–10 minutes, 4 times a day.
Is it possible to breathe saline solution through a nebulizer?
When treating the respiratory system, inhalations are very popular. The main means for carrying them out is saline solution. Inhalation device – nebulizer. It is with the help of a nebulizer that a person can achieve a lasting effect, since it sprays the medicine along the nasal mucosa (converts sodium chloride into an aerosol). The device allows you to quickly deliver the medicine to the bronchi, having a beneficial effect on them.
To use the device, you need to pour saline solution into a special compartment. To achieve the best effect, mix the liquid with Chlorophyllipt for inhalation in a nebulizer. Then, using a mask or mouthpiece, breathe through your nose and mouth. At the end of irrigation, it is advised not to talk for about half an hour, and also not to go outside or consume food or liquid. You can do inhalations 2-3 times a day.
The purpose of using saline solution during inhalation with a nebulizer is to liquefy mucus and remove it. The main thing is to dilute the drug correctly.
Instructions for use
Before using saline solution, you should carefully read its instructions. To treat a runny nose or other illness with this remedy, you should consult a medical specialist. He will tell you how to properly rinse your nose and the frequency of use.
For therapy to be effective, you must adhere to the following recommendations:
- Before washing, the product is heated to an acceptable temperature. (36 degrees)
- It is better to carry out the nasal rinsing procedure during the daytime; if this fails, then 1 hour before bedtime. Because you should wait until the remnants of the medicine are absorbed, otherwise, if it gets into the throat, there may be a cough.
- When flushing, you need to carefully control the fluid pressure to avoid discomfort and fluid entering the auricle through the Eustachian tube.
- You can take nasal drops and sprays some time after rinsing.
- After opening the bottle, it is stored in the refrigerator.
- You can rinse your nose with saline using special aids: a syringe, a nebulizer, while following the instructions.
Flushing with a syringe
Rinsing the nose with saline using a syringe
To rinse your nose with a regular syringe, you need to draw the required amount of solution into it and, standing in front of a sink or basin, inject the product into one nostril. The mouth should be open at this moment, because liquid flows out through it. You can also pronounce the letter “i” when administering, then the product will flow through the other nostril.
Before rinsing the nose, it is advisable to slightly warm the isotonic solution to 36 degrees and clean the nasal passages, then the effect of therapy will be greater.
Saline solution for inhalation with a nebulizer
Nasal rinsing with saline nebulizer helps treat and prevent some colds, including runny nose. To do this you need:
- Prepare an isotonic solution of sodium chloride 0.9%.
- Depending on the age of the person undergoing the procedure, the amount of solution is calculated.
- The duration of inhalation is 5 minutes up to 3 times a day. After it, it is not recommended to go out into fresh air or eat food for an hour. Nasal rinsing using this method is recommended for both children and adults.
Saline solution and nebulizer for inhalation
Rinse-rinse using a syringe (watering can)
To rinse and wash the nasal cavity, you will need a syringe (watering can), sold in pharmacies. You should fill the watering can with saline solution, take the desired position - tilt your head to the side. During this manipulation, the liquid will drain through the other nostril. Then repeat the same with the other nostril.
After rinsing, it is recommended to blow your nose to get rid of the accumulation of nasal mucus. This washing method is suitable for both children and adults.
Safety rules for washing
Carrying out the nasal rinsing procedure requires certain skills and knowledge.
Maximum caution should be observed when administering saline to children, especially toddlers. The solution is injected slowly, carefully, without pushing the pipette or aspirator deep into the nostril. For infants, the liquid is administered drop by drop. Before this, it is necessary to fix the baby’s head and gradually introduce the product using a syringe without a needle. If you have little experience communicating with children of a “tender” age, it is better to use a pharmaceutical preparation, which includes instructions for use.
Detailed instructions with photos of the step-by-step procedure and practical advice on how to rinse the nose with saline solution for an adult can be found at stands in clinics, near the office of an otolaryngologist or pediatrician.
Where can I get it, and what is it good for?
It has been known since school that human blood normally contains sodium chloride, which helps maintain normal osmotic pressure of blood plasma and extracellular fluids.
Consists of sodium chloride (which is the main component of table salt) and distilled water. Produced by alternately (!) dissolving salts in liquid.
How and where can I get saline solution?
Produced at pharmaceutical factories and blood transfusion stations. Therefore, the drug can be purchased in pharmacies.
The trade name of the pure saline solution is “Sodium Chloride solution for infusion 0.9%”. On sale there are bottles of 100, 200, 400, 1000 ml, ampoules of 5, 10, 20 ml, as well as nasal sprays.
If you follow certain rules, the solution can easily be prepared at home. Its composition is quite simple. But when made independently, it turns out to be non-sterile and can only be used for local use: inhalation, rinsing the nose and eyes. To do this, you need to take 1 liter of distilled (or boiled) water and 9 grams of table salt.
Multifunctionality of the product
Scope of application of isotonic sodium chloride solution 0.9%:
- In case of heavy blood loss or extensive burns, it is used as a plasma replacement drug by intravenous infusion.
- To restore water-salt balance in pathological conditions accompanied by dehydration.
- As a detoxifying agent for food poisoning, including infectious origin.
- In surgery it is used to wash purulent wounds.
- As a diuretic, as well as the basis for intravenous drip infusion for hypertensive syndromes.
- Today, it is often prescribed by doctors for inflammatory diseases of the nasal passages, such as rhinitis of allergic and infectious origin, sinusitis, sinusitis, as well as for the prevention of acute respiratory viral infections.
The popularity of this remedy for such diseases is associated with the absence of the risk of overdose of the drug when applied topically, so it is possible to prescribe it to children from a very early age, newborns, as well as pregnant and lactating women.
How is it useful?
According to the principle of action, it is not a vasoconstrictor. Why do doctors so actively prescribe saline solution for rinsing the nose for diseases of the nasal passages? Is it correct?
The fact is that when an infection or allergen enters the mucous membrane of the nasal passages, where it is retained by the cilia, the body’s protective reaction is activated. As a result, a runny nose begins, or more precisely, the release of a large amount of liquid mucus, which, flowing out, washes the nasal passages. Thanks to this protective reaction, an allergen, infection or virus can normally be eliminated from the body without reaching the lower respiratory tract of a person.
But the entire process of the described protective reaction may be disrupted due to too low air humidity. As a result, the nasal passages feel dry, the mucus becomes thick and lingers on the eyelashes along with bacteria and viruses. In this case, rinsing the nose with saline will moisturize the nasal mucosa and help thin the mucus, increasing its volume and increasing its protective properties.
It is important to rinse your nose with saline solution at home.
The saline solution has antimicrobial and antiseptic properties, and also relieves inflammation and reduces swelling of the nasal mucosa.
The same operating principle applies to the prevention of airborne diseases and sinusitis: moisturizing the nasal mucosa by regular irrigation with saline in dry weather, especially in the heat and with heating devices on.
For the purpose of prevention, rinsing the nasal passages with isotonic sodium chloride is not only possible, but also necessary. This behavior will be especially correct in relation to children. It will also help the infant to clear the nasal passages of crusts that have formed.
Definition and composition of saline solution
Saline solution is the dissolution of 0.9% sodium chloride in water.
So that this name does not raise questions, you need to remember what sodium chloride is. In fact, everything is simple - this is the pharmacological designation of ordinary table salt. The name is an abbreviation for the full term “saline solution”, i.e. normal, isotonic solution acceptable for the body. The scope of application of the medicinal product covers several areas of medicine:
- Ophthalmology (maintenance, washing of contact lenses);
- Resuscitation (emergency IVs, injections);
- Toxicology, narcology (dehydration, intoxication of the body);
- Pediatrics (diagnosis of children from the first days of life).
Otolaryngology uses saline solution for the nasal rinsing procedure.
The salt solution contains two components: sodium chloride and distilled water.
Pharmacy packaging:
- in glass bottles of one hundred, two hundred, four hundred ml with a double cap - made of rubber or aluminum;
- in ampoules of 5, 10, 20 ml.
For proper use, instructions for use are included with the product.
If you can’t buy it at the pharmacy, make it yourself at home.
Instructions for use of saline solution
- Using a pipette, three drops of 0.9 percent sodium chloride are dripped into each nostril at intervals of four hours.
- The number of drops can be increased if necessary.
Rinse the nose with saline solution
Rinsing a child's nose consists of several stages. Don't be afraid of this manipulation. A mother should be able to provide assistance to her child and learn how to properly rinse the nasal passages with saline.
- It is necessary to prepare equipment.
Decide what will be used for washing, it can be: a syringe, a pipette, a syringe or a small pear-shaped bottle Devices for washing with saline - Then the baby's airways are cleared using a pear-shaped balloon, or the modern Otrivin Baby, in which one end of the tube is inserted into the child's nose, and with the help of the second, the mother sucks out the contents of the nasal passages and mucous secretions are collected in a specially designated compartment.
Using an aspirator to cleanse the nose - When using a syringe, you must remove the needle and draw five milliliters of saline into it.
An excellent solution is a syringe with a soft tip. The child is placed on his side and two and a half milliliters of 0.9 percent sodium chloride are injected into the nostril located above. Then the baby’s mother turns it over to the other side and continues the procedure only with the other nostril. Soft tip syringe - After the solution is injected into the nostril, it is removed along with the remaining mucus using a pear-shaped can.
Two turundas should be prepared from cotton wool, with which the nasal passages are drained and cleansed from the inside. Preparation of turundas for the nose - When carrying out manipulation for the purpose of prevention, at this stage it ends. If a child is sick, after rinsing with saline, he needs to drip a medicine into his nose, selected individually, based on the child’s age. In our article you will find effective medicines after washing for children from one year old.
During the procedure, the baby may choke from excess fluid. If this happens, you need to lay him on his tummy and lightly tap him in the area of his shoulder blades. When performing the manipulation, the stream supplied to the nose should be under low pressure.
Inhalations with saline solution in a nebulizer
Carrying out inhalation of saline solution to a child
- For manipulation, it is necessary to use a factory-made, sterile solution of 0.9 percent sodium chloride.
- The amount of liquid is calculated based on the age of the child. Four milliliters is enough for the baby. For school-age children, the dosage is increased.
- The manipulation is carried out for five minutes up to three times a day. During inhalation, the child should gently inhale the vapor. After the procedure, it is not recommended to feed or go into the fresh air with the baby for one hour.
Often during pregnancy, women suffer from weakened immunity, against which various colds appear. Particularly painful is a runny nose, which disrupts breathing and results in poor sleep and poor health.
In such cases, a physiological (isotonic) sodium chloride solution is prescribed. It can be used by expectant mothers at any month to rinse the nose. It does not have negative properties and does not disrupt the microflora of the mucous membrane.
In addition, even in the absence of any complaints, pregnant women are recommended to irrigate the nasal cavity with this product or rinse it after a certain period of time. This helps increase resistance to acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections and other diseases.
Saline solution for a child: washing rules
Saline solution is successfully used as a treatment for children under 3 years of age and infants. What adults need to know so that the procedure is easy, painless, and does not leave any unpleasant impressions for the child:
- Only pharmacy grade saline solution is recommended for rinsing the nose of a child or infant. Pediatricians recommend carrying out the procedure with special aspirators. In the absence of professional means, you can use a pipette or a baby bulb for douching. Items are boiled and cooled before use. Take no more than 3 drops for each nostril.
The procedure is carried out carefully and carefully. Before rinsing the baby’s nose, place him on his back, carefully fix his head, suck out crusts and mucus from the nose, then turn him on his side and inject the mixture into the nostril. Give the saline solution a little time to saturate the nasopharynx, and then remove it with flagella from cosmetic sponges.
You cannot insert the flagellum deeply into the child’s nose. The nasal mucosa in infants is very delicate; careless pressure can easily damage it.
Popular television children's doctor Igor Komarovsky considers it quite possible to use homemade saline solution for children. His recommendation: add 1 teaspoon of salt to 1 liter of boiled water, shake thoroughly - the solution is ready for use.
- You can rinse the nose of children from three years old using a regular pipette. Children at this age already understand everything, talk and have their own opinion on all sorts of manipulations. Because the procedure is not pleasant, they will most likely be against it. To successfully administer saline, it is recommended to distract the child with toys or cartoons.
- Washing with saline solution in adults is not difficult. They can already use any suitable method and any means for washing. In addition, an adult can easily remember how to prepare saline solution for rinsing the nose on his own.
Sodium chloride during pregnancy
Experts say that the use of saline solution during pregnancy and lactation is completely safe for mother and child. Moreover, the drug can be used both for rinsing and inhalation, and intravenously.
In the latter case, saline is used to dissolve medications and administer them through an IV. This therapy is prescribed to eliminate the inflammatory or infectious process in the mother’s body.
Intravenous administration of sodium chloride can be prescribed even at the stage of delivery, when epidural anesthesia lowers the woman's blood pressure.
The range of use of saline solution during pregnancy is very wide, since the drug is not only safe, but also hypoallergenic.
How to properly cleanse the nasal passages?
There are several ways to rinse your nose with saline:
- In outpatient treatment, saline solution for nasal lavage is often administered with special devices in the offices of ENT doctors. Such devices include the “Cuckoo” drainage. Carrying out the procedure in this way is contraindicated for children under 5 years of age, whose nasal passages are at the stage of formation.
- The washing procedure can also be carried out at home. To do this, you can use a syringe, a syringe (from 5 ml) with a removed needle, or a special watering can. The temperature of the solution should be approximately 36.6 degrees: hotter temperatures can damage the mucous membrane, and too cold can cause the opposite effect to the desired one.
You need to lean over the sink or bathtub, turn your head slightly to the side. Thus, the solution poured into one nostril will go around the nasal septum and pour out of the other. You need to breathe through your mouth. You can pronounce the sound “I” at this time, then there will be less chance of liquid getting from the nasal cavity into the oral cavity.
Technique for rinsing the nose But there is nothing to worry about if a small amount of the solution flows out through the mouth. Insert the tip of the syringe or syringe into the nostril opposite the side to which the head is tilted, and under slight pressure, inject the liquid into the nose. It is correct to avoid strong pressure so as not to harm the nasal mucosa.
- You can rinse your nose with saline without additional tools. It is enough to pour the prepared liquid into a saucer or palms and draw it in with one nostril, then pinch it and tilt your head in the opposite direction. The liquid will pour out through the second nasal passage. If you tilt your head back and lower it, the solution will flow out through your mouth. We repeat the same with the second nostril.
- You can use a specially made saline solution for rinsing the nose, which is sold in special bottles with sprayers. The name on the bottles may differ, but the composition will be the same isotonic sodium chloride solution.
- The most convenient and pleasant way is to carry out the procedure through an inhaler (nebulizer). It is enough just to fill with pure saline solution and breathe for a certain amount of time specified in the instructions of the device.
At this age, you can talk through the stages of the procedure, explain the sequence of actions, and how to behave correctly during the process. For young children, newborns and infants, the procedure is performed slightly differently.
What about infants?
To carry out this procedure, a small child can use:
- a syringe (with a small tip and a narrow hole);
- small syringe;
- a bottle of saline solution for instillation into the nose;
- special sprayers for irrigation of the nasal cavity;
- pipette.
To rinse your baby's nose, you need to lay him on his side. A saline solution from a syringe or douche is injected into the upper (currently) nostril. The infusion is carried out with minimal pressure until the water flows back or through the second nasal passage. After the procedure, the remaining fluid in the nasal passages must be removed with a respirator.
The safest and most effective way for newborns and infants is simply to frequently instill saline solution into the nose. This is done using a special dropper bottle, pipette, or irrigation through nasal sprayers. Recommended frequency of the procedure: 1-2 injections alternately into the nasal passages every half hour to an hour, or drip with a pipette (full) or a dropper bottle at the same frequency. At home, it is better to use the latter method.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=uSY0yi5VrrU
Procedure at home
Saline solution will be effective in rinsing a child's nose only if it is administered correctly. Before moisturizing the mucous membrane of a child’s body, adults should study in detail how to carry out this procedure in such a way as to cause the baby a minimum of discomfort and receive maximum benefit.
Age of a growing person | Description of the nasal rinsing process |
Child up to 1 year old | It is much more difficult to rinse the nose of newborns than older children. It is impossible to convey to infants how to behave during the procedure, what it is for and what stages it consists of. When rinsing the nose with saline, it is recommended that newborns turn on relaxing music (for example, “white” noise), and perform all manipulations gently and as calmly as possible: 1. Place the baby on his back. 2. Gently turn your head to the side, lightly holding it by the cheek on top. 3. Draw the required amount of medicine into a syringe or pipette and quickly place it into the nasal passage. 4. Raise your head slightly, thus allowing the remaining saline solution to drain through the nostril located below. 5. Turn the child’s head in the other direction, also fixing it with your hand. 6. Repeat steps 3 – 4. 7. Using a rubber syringe bulb, suck out the streams of saline solution flowing from the nostrils. 8. Twist small bundles of cotton wool (it is recommended to divide the cotton pad into 4 parts. To create a “turunda” use ¼ part). 9. Soak the tourniquet in baby cream or oil. 10. Place the “turunda” in the nasal passage and remove the remaining saline solution with a rotational movement, at the same time ridding the child of already dried crusts. If at the time of the procedure the child turned his head prematurely and part of the instilled saline solution spilled past the nose, the instillations should not be repeated immediately, since it is impossible to calculate the exact dosage under such circumstances. |
In children from 1 to 3 years old | When rinsing the nose, it is recommended to use an aspirator. It consists of 2 hoses, one end of which converges in one vessel. One of the free entrances is inserted into the child’s nostril (the depth of the insertion depends on the type of aspirator and is indicated by the manufacturer with a limiting line on the tip of the entrance), and the second is clamped with the lips of an adult. After introducing the physical solution into the nasal passage and installing the corresponding end of the aspirator, the parent needs to draw out the accumulated mucus from the child’s nasal cavity with a powerful breath (after entering the silicone tube, it flows into the connecting vessel, which must be thoroughly disinfected at the end of the procedure). The standard algorithm for rinsing the nose in older children looks like this: 1. Sit or lay the child on his back. 2. Spray saline solution into one of the nostrils of the child’s nose (at this age, pediatricians recommend using a shower attachment to introduce the drug into the child’s nose). 3. Suck out excess salty liquid using an aspirator. 4. Dry the treated mucous membranes with cotton strands. From 1 to 3 years, pediatricians advise parents to teach their children to blow their nose to remove mucus from the nasal passages. This skill will help avoid the formation of crusts in the nostrils and minimize the risk of the child developing otitis media or sinusitis. |
For children 3 years and older | You can use a special teapot to clean the nasal passages. This is a device with which you can not only inject the required amount of medicine into the nostril, but also abundantly moisten the nasal mucosa. To use a neti pot correctly you must: 1. Place the child vertically directly in front of you and ask him to tilt his head to one side, placing a deep basin in front of him (it is best to rinse the nose in this way over a bathtub or sink, but the vast majority of children feel more comfortable when they can see their parent while rinsing the nose ). 2. Having previously collected the required amount of saline solution into the teapot, insert its spout into one of the nostrils. 3. Pour the medicine into the nasal cavity and allow it to drain through the lower nostril. 4. Tilt the child's head to the other side. 5. Repeat steps 2 – 3. 6. Ask the child to blow his nose into a handkerchief as hard as possible, while avoiding closing his nostrils with his fingers. 7. If necessary, it is permissible to dry the nasal passages with cotton wool. Regardless of the degree of nasal congestion, it is strictly forbidden to pour large amounts of saline into the nostrils. Excess fluid can enter the middle ear, which will immediately trigger the development of otitis media. |
Preparation and use of saline solution for rinsing the nose of children at home
ENT diseases
Saline solution is a highly effective detoxifying agent for rinsing the nasal passages for preventive and therapeutic purposes.
The procedure, which has a beneficial effect on the body, can be performed without problems at home - even for small children and pregnant women.
But when rinsing the nasal sinuses, it is imperative not to deviate from the instructions for the process and to understand the principles of such therapy.
Saline solution is a solution of sodium chloride in sterile water.
It is used as a basis for medications introduced into the body in case of large loss of fluid, as well as for washing wounds, eyes and sinuses. As a result of cleansing the nasal passages, mucus is removed and breathing becomes easier.
Saline solution can be bought at a pharmacy, but it can also be easily prepared at home. The recipe includes the following components:
- sea or iodized salt;
- boiled water.
To enhance its effectiveness, add 1 drop of iodine. It is necessary to strictly observe the dosage: for 1 liter of water – 1 teaspoon of salt. The liquid should be warm so that the salt dissolves better.
Before preparing the product, the dishes must be thoroughly washed so that the prepared mixture is clean.
The saline solution must be prepared before use; it can be stored, but not longer than 2 days.
For children, you need to add only 1/3 teaspoon of salt to 1 glass of warm water. If you dissolve more, the nasal mucosa will quickly dry out, which will cause discomfort.
To rinse your baby’s nose with sodium chloride at home, you need to prepare:
- saline;
- washing tool;
- oil (peach, apricot);
- cotton buds.
The oil is needed to lubricate the child’s mucous membranes at the end of the procedure, which will reduce pain. It is easy to pour in saline solution using a special device with a narrow spout, a rubber bulb.
Nasal rinse bottle
For infants, use a pipette. You can use a nebulizer for inhalation.
The purposes of this procedure:
- 1. Medicinal. Clear your nose of mucus, bacteria and allergens.
- 2. Preventive. Moisturize the lining of the nasal passage to maintain the ability to protect the nose from viral infections.
It is necessary to rinse the nasal sinuses with saline solution, taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient and the nature of the disease.
Dr. Komarovsky recommends the following methods of rinsing the nasal passage:
- 1. For a baby, saline solution should be poured into a bottle with a narrow nozzle. Apply 2 sprays into each nostril. You can repeat the procedure after 30-60 minutes to achieve maximum effect. The temperature of the product should not exceed normal body temperature, otherwise it can cause irritation of the mucous membranes.
- 2. You can instill the solution using a pipette - 3 drops into each nasal passage.
- 3. You can rinse the nasal passage with a syringe without a needle or syringe. To do this, children are placed on their side. The end of the syringe is inserted into the upper nostril and the liquid is pushed out very slowly. The saline solution will begin to flow out of the second nostril. The procedure should be repeated as many times as possible until the saline solution becomes clear and free of mucus. After this, the child must be turned over, and the procedure is repeated with the other nostril. Experts advise using a syringe rather than a syringe. The pressure of the saline solution flowing out of the syringe is easier to control.
The procedure requires the following step-by-step steps:
- 1. Place the child horizontally.
- 2. Release the air from the bulb by pressing the aspirator.
- 3. Insert the tip a few millimeters into the nasal passage.
- 4. Release the bulb to remove mucus.
Pear for cleansing the nose
The remaining purulent discharge can be removed with cotton swabs (bundles) dipped in oil. You can insert them with rotational movements only 1-2 cm, but no more, and remove them along with the mucus. The procedure should be repeated until the baby’s nose is completely clean.
Saline solution for rinsing the nose is considered the most effective remedy for treating a runny nose in both adults and children of any age. To prevent colds, you can rinse your nose weekly.
The product has no contraindications. But if a child has purulent discharge and an increase in body temperature, then a doctor should be called.
What is physiological (isotonic) sodium chloride solution?
Salt diluted in water
Saline solution is a mixture of sodium, potassium ions and distilled water. An isotonic solution contains the same substances and has a similar ion concentration as blood plasma. Thanks to this property, saline solution does not cause negative effects, but rather is beneficial for the body. Therefore, it is used for various diseases, poisoning, and for rinsing the nasal passages.
The composition of saline solution - such a medicine is considered indispensable in medical practice and consists of the following components:
- Table salt.
- Distilled water.
The ratio of these substances in the medicine is 1:9, which allows you to create a solution of 0.9% concentration.
Is it possible to rinse an adult’s nose with saline and how often?
Isotonic sodium chloride solution is allowed to rinse the nose of adults and children, and the frequency of the procedure should not exceed 3 times a day.
In this article you will learn the features of rinsing the nose with saline solution for children.
How to properly rinse your nose with saline solution
At first glance, rinsing the nasal passages with saline under pressure from a syringe or syringe effectively cleanses and removes particles of dirt and mucus.
In fact, water under pressure pushes mucus with microbes deeper, causing ENT diseases.
Therefore, it is safer to rinse your nose from a special watering can, from where the saline solution flows out without pressure, under the influence of gravity. Another name for the procedure is “jala-neti”:
- Fill the watering can with homemade or pharmacy warm saline solution.
- Turn your head over the sink to the left, with your left ear below, as shown in the figure in the article.
- Insert the spout of the watering can into the right nostril.
- Gradually tilt the watering can so that all the saline solution flows out through the left nostril, breathe through your mouth.
- Straighten your head over the sink and blow your nose vigorously but gently several times to remove any remaining saline solution or mucus. Do not squeeze the wings of your nose with your fingers. Spit if any residue gets into your mouth.
Fill the watering can, repeat for the other side.
Perform the procedure 1-2 times a day.
After rinsing your nose, rinse the watering can thoroughly with water. Especially carefully clean the inside of the connection between the spout and the wall - a place where harmful deposits accumulate.
How to make homemade saline solution for nasal rinsing
Sodium chloride (NaCl) is the most important component for maintaining the osmotic pressure of blood plasma and extracellular fluid. The concentration in tears, blood plasma, and tissue fluids is approximately 0.9%, the same as that of a pharmaceutical saline solution of sodium chloride in water. The concentration of the hypertonic solution is higher – 3-5-10%.
Pharmaceutical saline solution is used for detoxification, for dehydration of the body and thickening of the blood, and as a solvent for medications. The distilled water used for preparation is distilled in glass equipment.
External use helps remove pus and has an antimicrobial effect.
It is better to prepare a saline solution for rinsing the nose from table (edible) non-iodized salt - sea salt contains other microelements.
To completely destroy all bacteria and microorganisms, boil water for 3-5 minutes and let cool.
Thoroughly wash, disinfect, scald the inside of a glass bottle with a sealed lid for the finished solution with boiling water.
Proportion of table salt in prepared boiled water:
- 1/2 tsp. for 250 ml (glass).
Low temperature storage in the refrigerator reduces the risk of microorganism growth.
Rinse your nose with warm saline. Hot causes burns. Too fresh or too salty - itching, burning.
How to rinse your nose with saline solution
The use of sodium chloride for rinsing the nose is quite successful if you strictly follow the method of administering the drug and the necessary recommendations. First of all, if you feel any discomfort, consult a specialist. He will conduct a comprehensive examination and prescribe medications that will help you recover, and explain what measures need to be taken to alleviate your condition and enhance the effect of the medications you are taking. In order to buy a solution at a pharmacy, you do not need to write a prescription from a doctor. This drug is sold freely, as it is absolutely harmless. If your doctor has advised you to treat a runny nose with saline, you must adhere to a number of rules.
Instructions for use:
- The solution must be either room temperature or human body temperature. If you have the opportunity to heat it to exactly this temperature, then it is better to do so. This way you will not feel any discomfort. A solution that is too cold is just as harmful as a solution that is too hot.
- Carry out the procedure during the day or a few hours before bedtime. Do not try to get up immediately after the manipulations and go do your business. Wait a little, as if the solution gets into your throat, it may cause a cough or a scratchy feeling. Make sure your nasal cavity is dry.
- Use a non-concentrated solution. For rinsing, use a composition prepared in a ratio of 1:9. There is no need to eat or drink immediately after the procedure. Don't go outside right away. Wait a little at home so that the solution is absorbed and the nasal mucosa returns to normal.
- The flow of the injected drug should be just enough so that water can flow out of the other nostril. If you give too little pressure, the medicine will not get into all the passages and the procedure will be a waste of time. If you give too much pressure, then there is a possibility of adding otitis media to rhinitis. Since water, along with pathogenic bacteria, can enter the middle ear and cause inflammation there. Children are especially susceptible to this, since their ear canals are shorter than those of adults.
There are several ways to carry out this procedure:
- the most unreliable method, which is unlikely to bring much benefit, is to administer the solution by collecting water in the palm of your hand and inhaling the drug into one nostril. This method does exist, but experts do not recommend implementing it. Most likely, this will end with you not being able to rinse your nose. But you can completely wet yourself and drench everything around;
- the most popular method of administering the solution is using a syringe. It is worth warning that the needle needs to be removed. Otherwise, you may be injured, and the introduced pressure will be of low power. After drawing the solution into the syringe, tilt your head slightly to the side, insert the syringe into the nostril and apply medium pressure. If you feel that the pressure is weak, increase the pressure. Water should start coming out of the other nostril. During the procedure, the mouth must be kept open, as excess water may escape through the mouth. Don't be alarmed if you don't manage to carry out this procedure aesthetically the first time. Experts advise relaxing, then it will be easier to perform manipulations;
- Another option for introducing the solution into the nasal cavity is to use a “pear”. The principle of operation is the same as with a syringe.
Which method you choose is up to you. For some it is more convenient to use a syringe, for others it is more convenient to use a bulb. There is also a special device in the form of a watering can, which makes it easier to administer the solution into the nasal cavity. The above methods are a budget option for solving the problem. If you want to stay healthy and get rid of colds, but don’t want to spend a lot of money on it, then these methods are perfect for you.
How to rinse your nose with saline solution?
- a special teapot designed for this purpose, or a teapot you have (the spout should be narrow with rounded edges);
- a syringe without a needle (the volume depends on age: for a child - 5 ml, for an adult it is worth taking a larger size - 10-20 ml);
- rubber syringe;
- a bowl or palm filled with solution, from which you can suck the liquid directly through the nostrils (alternately one and the other), if none of the above is at hand.
How to rinse your own nose?
- Pour warm (36-40 °C) saline solution into a teapot, syringe or syringe.
- Blow your nose.
- Bend your body forward over a sink or other container to drain liquid. Turn your head to the side, with one nostril higher than the other. Open your mouth slightly.
- Inject saline solution through the upper nostril. When using a teapot, the liquid will flow by gravity into one nostril and out of the other. In the case of a syringe or syringe, it is necessary to apply moderate (but not strong!) pressure in order to slowly pour in the solution.
- Blow out liquefied mucus.
- Repeat the procedure with the second nostril.