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Bronchitis is a very common respiratory disease in children. It is caused by infections, but factors such as cool and humid air, inadequately ventilated apartment, a large number of people in one room and the cold season contribute to an increase in the number of cases.
What viruses influence the development of bronchitis in children?
The viruses that cause bronchitis are usually viruses in the form of:
- adenoviruses,
- RS-viruses,
- parainfluenza viruses,
- rhinoviruses.
Viral infections that cause inflammation and damage the respiratory epithelium predispose to secondary infection development. Thus, bacterial bronchitis is most often secondary to viral infection.
Bronchitis brooding period: it is very often difficult to define.
Bronchitis in children – symptoms
The symptoms of bronchitis depend on:
- the age of the child,
- the germs that caused the disease to develop
- the extent of the infection.
The course of the youngest infants may be severe, and even dramatic when the bronchioles are involved. After about 3-4 days of rhinitis, a cough appears that is initially dry, tiring, then moist, accompanied by a large amount of sticky sputum. Children usually swallow it and vomit it. The residual secretion significantly reduces bronchial patency, which is manifested by wheezing. The fever that occurs in bronchitis may vary in severity; sometimes it happens that bronchitis in children does not give symptoms in the form of fever.
How to cure bronchitis in children?
In children with bronchitis, a medical consultation and diligent compliance with the recommendations is necessary. Home symptomatic treatment is based on the use of diaphoretic preparations, antipyretic drugs and those that alleviate cough. Symptomatic treatment and care are primarily aimed at reducing unpleasant symptoms associated with inflammation, such as:
- high temperature,
- shortness of breath
- cough.
A child with bronchitis should stay in a moderately heated, and at the same time constantly or frequently aired room. In addition, you should take care of the child’s warm clothes so that you can safely ventilate the apartment often. As a result of breathing slightly cooler air, the swelling of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and the increase in coughing are reduced.
In many cases, cupping may be helpful. It is worth having at home a set of Chinese glass fire bubbles that support the treatment of bronchitis. Fireless bubbles are also safe and convenient to use. At Medonet Market, order a set of vacuumless Chinese bubbles.
Air humidification and its role
The mucous membranes are very sensitive to drying out, and the drying discharge in the nose makes breathing much more difficult, so in the course of bronchitis and other respiratory diseases, it is important to ensure proper air humidification. The use of special humidifiers placed on the radiators or hanging wet towels prevents excessive drying of the air in the room, but it is sometimes insufficient. Special moisturizing devices that spray water or saline solution are recommended.
In addition to humidifying the air, a very important element of home treatment / care, which plays an important role in diluting the secretion of the bronchial tree, is appropriate rehydration of a sick child. It should cover the loss of tachycardia or fever. In addition, various types of herbal teas have a good effect, e.g. raspberry, lime or elderberry, which support the healing process, also due to the anti-inflammatory effect of the herbs themselves.
IMPORTANT: A child who refuses to drink fluids because of nausea or shortness of breath should not be treated at home!
Parents should remember to take a child with bronchitis daily and bathe quickly. Long-term baths should not be used as they may make the child colder or weakened by the action of hot water.
Fever mobilizes the body to act defensively, therefore taking measures to lower the body temperature is recommended only when the temperature is 39 ° C and you feel unwell. Only in the case of febrile convulsions (diagnosed earlier) is their prophylaxis recommended, along with lowering the temperature as low as 38 ° C. In addition to pharmacological preparations, cooling baths or compresses can be used to reduce the temperature.