When a baby swallows mucus from their nose (post-nasal drip), it travels to the stomach where stomach acids and enzymes break down germs, which is a normal and generally harmless process that can even help build immunity, but excessive mucus can cause feeding/breathing issues or indicate infection; you should watch for signs like noisy breathing, poor feeding, fever, or discolored mucus, which warrant a doctor's visit.
“Swallowing mucus is not dangerous,” Kandinov says. Even if you're fighting an infection and your mucus is brimming with trapped germs, those digestive acids will likely kill off any substances that could make you sick, according to UNC Health.
Newborns are susceptible to external factors that can cause respiratory diseases. Phlegm in the throat is one of the signs of respiratory diseases such as pharyngitis, rhinitis, bronchitis, etc. Clearing phlegm in the throat helps reduce the risk of it spreading to the lower respiratory tract.
The main difference between a baby's dry cough and a wet cough lies in what's happening in your little one's body: a wet cough typically means there's mucus in the lungs. In contrast, a dry cough is usually caused by irritation or inflammation in the airways.
Signs of Respiratory Distress in Children
If your child has a green or yellow runny nose in the first three to four days of a cold, that's normal and not considered a sinus infection — it's just that the mucus has been sitting in the nose for so long. That generally fades away within seven to 10 days and the fever is usually gone in two to three days.
The syringe or aspirator uses suction to pull snot out of the nose. This is especially helpful in younger children who haven't learned how to blow their noses yet, Dr. Rao says.
Signs and symptoms of pneumonia
The 7 key danger signs for newborns, often highlighted by organizations like the WHO, are not feeding well, convulsions, fast breathing, severe chest indrawing, lethargy/unconsciousness (movement only when stimulated), high or low temperature, and jaundice (yellow skin/soles) or signs of local infection like an infected umbilical stump, requiring immediate medical attention.
Try saltwater drops for the nose, called saline nasal drops.
These drops can moisten the inside of the nose and loosen thick mucus. You can get these drops without a prescription. Put the drops in each side of the nose.
Strained breathing, high fever, thick nasal discharge, and a worsening cough that produces yellow, green, or gray mucus are all signs of a worsening or severe illness. “RSV symptoms can lead to more serious illnesses, such as pneumonia and bronchiolitis.
You can try these home remedies to relieve your child's nasal congestion:
After you swallow phlegm, it travels to the stomach, where acid and enzymes break it down, along with any germs it carries. Swallowing phlegm doesn't “recycle” the germs, and it won't result in the infection spreading elsewhere. In fact, swallowing viruses can even help build immunity.
White or cloudy: While white is typically normal, cloudy mucus may be normal or indicate inflammation. Red or pink (blood-tinged): If it's from the nose, it could be irritation from frequent nose blowing or picking, but could also indicate other sources of bleeding.
Some signs that you may need to go to urgent care with your cough include:
This form of pneumonia is usually mild and feels like a chest cold, but it can get worse. The symptoms of cough, headache, and a low fever start slowly. The infection is usually so mild that your child may walk around with it without knowing they have it. Most children don't get sick enough to be in the hospital.
Early signs of pneumonia often mimic cold or flu but worsen, including fever, chills, cough (with or without mucus), fatigue, and shortness of breath, sometimes with chest pain, rapid breathing, headache, and loss of appetite, notes Healthdirect, Better Health Channel, American Lung Association, and Mayo Clinic. In older adults, confusion or disorientation can be a key sign, while infants might show restlessness or feeding difficulties, say Healthdirect, Mayo Clinic, and WebMD.
The following symptoms can be observed in children and babies when they're infected with pneumonia:
Snot also turns yellow as a cold progresses into creating thick snot. If your baby has yellow-colored snot for more than two weeks, talk to your pediatrician to ensure it's not a sinus infection.
If mucus is too thick to suction, you can thin it with saline or prescribed respiratory drops (see instructions below). Gently wipe off the mucus around the baby's nose with tissues to prevent irritation. Limit suctioning to no more than 4 times each day to avoid irritating the nose.
These symptoms could mean that your child has something more serious than a cold:
4 ways to tell you have RSV, not a cold.
A baby's nasal congestion can occur for several reasons, including: Colds and viral infections. The common cold is a leading cause of nasal congestion, triggering increased mucus production as the body fights off the infection. Babies, who have underdeveloped immune systems, are especially prone to catching colds.