Snots

Look at your class friends, I’m sure some of them have runny noses.

Snot is a thick, gooey, sticky substance produced in some parts of our body. Its purpose is to act as a barrier – or even as a policeman – because it traps and bars the passage of small particles such as dust, pollen, or other minute organisms present in the air that could make us sick.  Snot poses no risk to your health, but it may be annoying. A lot of it may even disturb your sleep, cause earache, bellyache, headache, breathing problems…

Tears are also considered snot. We cry snot!

Snot is an alarm of our body to warn us that we have an infection. You don’t have to be sick to be snotty, but it often happens when you have a cold, or flu, or an allergy, or a sore throat.

In the coldest months of the year children may have runny noses during one or two months non-stop. How can so much snot come out of such a small place? 

Snot is not an illness, but sometimes it can be very annoying. To avoid it bothering us, we can take the following steps:

- Clean your nose properly. Blow your nose with the mouth closed – “blowing” through the nose.

- Drink plenty of liquid: water, juices, soup…

- Remain in a humid atmosphere. There are appliances to humidify the rooms.
- Sea water is very good to clear the passages. Putting your head under the water – in summer, of course – will help clear the snot. 

Snot is no excuse to stay at home. Without a temperature you can carry on as usual – go to school, do sports, do your homework…