Bronchitis represents a disease of a respiratory system at which the mucous membrane of bronchial tubes inflames. The disease in the form of a severe cough is shown. Bronchitis at children's age as it can turn back serious complications is especially dangerous.
The causes of bronchitis at children
Most often bronchitis at children's age arises against the background of a SARS under the influence of viruses which get to a respiratory system and settle on the internal surface of bronchial tubes. The contact with other child or an adult, sick catarrhal disease suffices to get bronchitis. Besides, the disease develops under the influence of the following factors:
- overcooling;
- earlier postponed disease of bronchitis;
- strong congestion of a nose;
- inflammation of adenoides;
- sinusitis, pharyngitis and other diseases of a nasopharynx.
In some cases bronchitis can develop because of allergic reaction to any given substances which are contained in air including dust. Besides, appearance of bronchitis is promoted by the lowered immunity often observable at children up to 12-14 years. Any untimely treatment of viral diseases is capable to lead to fixing of pathogenic organisms in bronchial tubes and to inflammation of the last.
Bronchitis symptoms
The most common and noticeable symptoms of bronchitis at children is the following:
- temperature increase and fever;
- the complicated breath accompanied with rattles;
- severe cough, it is frequent with a plentiful otkhozhdeniye of a phlegm;
- lack of appetite;
- weakness and drowsiness.
These symptoms belong to such form of a disease as viral bronchitis. In rare instances the disease has bacterial origin, and it besides above-mentioned signs is accompanied by intoxication (a headache, nausea and vomiting), extremely complicated breath, a condition of depression. At the slightest suspicion of bacterial bronchitis it is necessary to hospitalize the child immediately. Any form of a disease is diagnosed quickly: there is enough listening of a thorax and capture of clinical blood test (if necessary).
Obstructive bronchitis at children
The most severe form of bronchitis is obstructive. Most often it arises at children up to 3-5 years against the background of viral infections or because of strong allergic reaction to any given irritant. Symptoms at a disease the following:
- hoarse breath (it is frequent with whistle);
- the paroxysmal, exhausting cough which sometimes is followed by vomiting;
- thorax swelling at breath;
- retraction of intercostal intervals at a breath.
Temperature at obstructive bronchitis does not increase, and attacks usually begin suddenly, for example, as allergic reaction to the strongest irritant. It can be bed linen, couples of paint and varnish products (if at home repair is carried out), hair of pets, etc. It is possible to distinguish the beginning bronchitis on increase of breath of the child and appearance of short wind. Further development of an illness reminds bronchial asthma.
The child hardly takes breaths, each of which is followed by heavy rattle or whistle. His thorax is blown up, and edges find almost horizontal arrangement. There is a severe cough which is not giving relief and amplifying at night. If not to distinguish the begun attack in time, oxygen starvation at which the patient gradually fells into a coma can begin, and such state quite often is wrapped in a lethal outcome. It is necessary to move as soon as possible the child to the safe place (better on fresh air) and to call the ambulance.
What bronchitis at children and prevention of a disease is dangerous by
This disease considerably worsens passability of airways because of what ventilation of lungs is broken. Insufficient intake of oxygen in an organism leads to an anemia and also weakens all fabrics and bodies. There are prerequisites for development of pneumonia – pneumonia. The cause of a disease is that bad ventilation of lungs promotes subsidence on their internal surface of pathogenic bacteria and viruses which begin to breed intensively. It also causes extensive inflammatory process.
Bronchitis at early age is especially dangerous – up to 6-7 years. The disease difficult responds to treatment even at adults, and at children the respiratory system is developed poorly at all, and the general immunity is still insufficiently strengthened. In this regard bronchial tubes are quickly clogged with phlegm clots, however the child lacks forces for its full-fledged expectoration yet. Besides, there is no really effective bronchitis medicine suitable for children, and it is necessary to treat a disease often by exclusively procedural methods. It yields the necessary results not at once. Thus, it is better to prevent developing of a disease, than to treat the child in the weakened state.
Measures of prevention of bronchitis and other viral diseases include gradual hardening of a children's organism which provides walks in the fresh air with gradual increase in their time, contrast water procedures and grindings. It is important to strengthen immunity by means of vitamins and also healthy nutrition. Besides, the child has to lead active lifestyle and whenever possible improve a respiratory system, doing mobile sports. Its berth has to be in the clean and periodically aired room.
Treatment of bronchitis at children
Antibiotics are not applied to treatment of a disease as in most cases it has virus origin. As for antiviral medicines, they only suppress virus activity, but cure bronchitis completely. Therefore full treatment has to include surely the special procedures which are carried out taking into account instructions of the pediatrician:
- Provide to the child the mode of plentiful and warm drink. It dilutes blood, normalizes work of various bodies and the systems of an organism, helps to bring slime out of bronchial tubes better. Well camomile, thyme decoctions, a sage and other anti-inflammatory herbs help.
- Use febrifuges. If at the child temperature promptly increases, passing a mark of 38 °C, give him febrifuge.
- You watch that indoors in which there is a child there was a cool and humid climate. Dry and hot air, promote emergence of slime in airways which quickly forms dangerous clots. It is the best of all when the humidity of air is 65-70%, and its temperature does not exceed 21 °C.
- You keep in readiness inhalers. These are special medicines on the basis of herbs and safe soothing substances which can be bought in pharmacy. They facilitate breath of the child and stop a severe cough. Besides, they are capable to help out in case of approach of obstructive bronchitis: having provided to the child stable access of oxygen, you will manage to call the doctor.
- Cure the main catarrhal disease if it is the primary reason of appearance of bronchitis. Suitable medications will be registered by the doctor. Mukolitichesky means in the form of lollipops or syrups become one of the main means in fight against the inflamed airways. Also to children the immunomodulators strengthening an organism and helping with fight against viral diseases are appointed.
- Make sure that the child has no allergy to any given irritants. It can be found out, having visited the allergologist or just watching a condition of the little patient in any given situations. There are very many antiallergenic medicines which intake will provide to your kid stable breath without suffocating cough.