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What Causes Thick Greenish Nasal Discharge In Children?
Question: My 22 month granddaughter has been sick. She's not eating much has goop in her eyes, thick greenish nasal discharge, she's so congested she can hardly breathe. My daughter says she just has a virus and won't take her to a doctor.
Brief Answer:
Looks like viral illness
Detailed Answer:
Hi.... I understand your concern. First of all I will tell you how a viral illness behaves so that you will be more confident about your grand child. By what you quote I too feel that your grandchild is having only viral illness.
Fever of few days without any localizing signs or with eye discharge and nasal discharge could as well a viral illness. Usually rather than fever, what is more important is the activity of the child, in between 2 fever episodes on the same day.
If the kid is active and playing around when there is no fever, it is probably viral illness and it doesn't require antibiotics at all. Once viral fever comes it will there for 4-7 days. So do not worry about duration if the kid is active.
Paracetamol can be given in the dose of 15mg/kg/dose (maximum ceiling dose of 500mg) every 4-6th hourly that too only if fever is more than 100F. I suggest not using combination medicines for fever, especially with Paracetamol.
For nasal discharge you can use over the counter anti cold Medications which are licensed in your country.
For eye discharge you can frequently clean the eyes with clean water.... that will be enough.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Looks like viral illness
Detailed Answer:
Hi.... I understand your concern. First of all I will tell you how a viral illness behaves so that you will be more confident about your grand child. By what you quote I too feel that your grandchild is having only viral illness.
Fever of few days without any localizing signs or with eye discharge and nasal discharge could as well a viral illness. Usually rather than fever, what is more important is the activity of the child, in between 2 fever episodes on the same day.
If the kid is active and playing around when there is no fever, it is probably viral illness and it doesn't require antibiotics at all. Once viral fever comes it will there for 4-7 days. So do not worry about duration if the kid is active.
Paracetamol can be given in the dose of 15mg/kg/dose (maximum ceiling dose of 500mg) every 4-6th hourly that too only if fever is more than 100F. I suggest not using combination medicines for fever, especially with Paracetamol.
For nasal discharge you can use over the counter anti cold Medications which are licensed in your country.
For eye discharge you can frequently clean the eyes with clean water.... that will be enough.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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