Laryngeal edema is not a separate disease, but a rather revealing symptom that signals the development of a certain pathological process in the child's body. In fact, this is a symptom or result of any concomitant disease. This condition requires close examination by different doctors. How to relieve laryngeal edema in a child? Symptoms and treatment of the disease are described in the article.
Larynx baby: characteristic
Many parents confuse the larynx with the trachea, throat, and pharynx. But it is worth remembering that the larynx is a section of the respiratory system, and not an organ. It has a rather complex structure, and also performs an important function in the body. The larynx is located on top of the trachea, about 4-6 vertebrae of the neck. Passing through the larynx, the air provokes the oscillation of the vocal cords, so that a person can make sounds.
The larynx consists of a large number of cartilage, ligaments, as well as muscle joints. Inside, this organ is covered with mucosa, which is susceptible to the harmful effects of various bacteria and viruses. Laryngeal edema in children with laryngitis can occur regardless of age. Parents should take preventive measures to exclude the development of this condition.
What is the danger of edema?
In childhood, laryngeal edema can cause hypoxia due to excessive narrowing of the respiratory system. Usually this condition occurs in infants. In the presence of infectious, traumatic and allergic-type diseases, small patients may experience difficulty in breathing, which can cause anaphylaxis.
Parents should be able to timely recognize the symptoms of this phenomenon and determine the exact causes of the development of the pathological condition. If necessary, they should be able to provide first aid to their child as quickly as possible, as well as prevent the swelling in the larynx. With incorrect and untimely help, the acute form of laryngeal edema can even lead to death.
Varieties of edema
Swelling of the larynx in children is divided into chronic and acute. With the latter type and rapid progression of the condition, a life threat can occur - hypoxia. It occurs due to excessive narrowing of the lumen of the respiratory organs in their upper parts, which will negatively affect not only the body as a whole, but also the brain of the child in particular.
Causes
A very common and determinable cause of acute laryngeal edema is an increased sensitivity of the body to various medications, products, and insect bites. Allergic laryngeal edema in children develops very quickly and requires prompt assistance. Chronic laryngeal edema in a child can occur not only in severe but also in a light form, causing considerable harm to the body, often leading to a variety of pathological processes.
Infectious diseases are also considered the cause of laryngeal edema in children. Microorganisms, bacteria, fungi and viruses can provoke diseases (SARS, laryngitis, tonsillitis, flu), which are accompanied by swelling of the larynx. They are provoked by staphylococci and streptococci, oral candidiasis.
Children can accidentally swallow foreign bodies that get stuck in their larynx or can injure their throats. Edema in children caused by impaired functioning of the thyroid gland, as well as other internal organs, occurs less frequently than in adults.
The diseases that can cause swelling of the larynx include the following:
- bacterial and viral infections: tracheitis, acute tonsillitis, inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity, pharyngitis, abscess, as well as common colds, syphilis and tuberculosis, typhoid, measles and scarlet fever;
- allergy;
- violation of the functions of organs and blood vessels.
Non-inflammatory causes of excessive swelling of the larynx are diverse, and the development of a pathological condition due to the exposure of the mucous membrane to a chemical and mechanical irritant is one of them. Another common cause is a burn of hot foods or drinks.
Distinguish diffuse and limited edema. With an illness of the latter type, the child does not experience pain, edema is almost not noticeable, the patient breathes normally. Diffuse edema is characterized by excessive narrowing of the larynx, as well as a possible damage to the mucous membrane of the organ. The child’s breathing is much more difficult in this situation.
Symptoms
Signs of laryngeal edema in a child will be different for the individual stages of this process. Most often, the condition occurs at night, when the baby is sleeping. This is due to altered blood circulation in the organ, respiratory rate at rest.
Minimal swelling of the larynx, accompanied by respiratory diseases, can lead to a narrowing of the lumen of the organ and a violation of the level of saturation of the body with oxygen.
Laryngeal edema can in some cases develop quite rapidly, causing the appearance of laryngospasm. Symptoms of this condition are usually very pronounced: the face can turn blue, the child has a sharp oxygen starvation, up to the development of asphyxiation.
Signs of intoxication are noted: the child becomes weak, he may experience headache and muscle pain, as well as nausea. He may complain of a sensation in the throat of a foreign object, the exact location of which is not possible to determine.
Diagnostics
An experienced doctor can usually easily diagnose laryngeal edema by performing laryngoscopy or simply by examining the baby's larynx visually. The maximum possible examination of the larynx is endoscopy. Some forms of edema can provoke choking and other dangerous respiratory diseases.
Stage and Form
Depending on the severity of respiratory failure and narrowing of the larynx, doctors distinguish 4 stages of this condition, which may be accompanied by regularly increasing symptoms.
- The first stage is characterized by persistent disorders, which, however, can be compensated by the body on its own. Laryngeal edema will be noticeable during a routine examination, but the child does not have characteristic hoarseness, shortness of breath, and a deep "barking" cough. These symptoms can occur as a result of the movement of the vocal cords due to a narrowing of the organ. At this stage, the breathing process is not difficult.
- The second stage is characterized by the fact that the compensatory functions of the child cannot completely cope with the lack of oxygen. At this stage, the child has restless behavior, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, frequent deep coughing, wheezing, as well as severe disturbed breathing. Exhalation is accompanied by more active muscle movements of the abdomen and sternum. It is imperative to resort to medical care.
- At the third stage, decompensation of the resulting oxygen deficiency is noted. The child's pupils expand significantly, the heart rate quickens. The child seeks to sit and be in a semi-vertical position. To free up the flow of air, he can lean his head back. Pallor and subsequent cyanosis of the face and limbs are noted. The condition is constantly progressing, the reaction to various irritants and voices is weak, and drowsiness and lethargy may develop due to hypoxia in a small patient. The child needs emergency medical care.
- The fourth stage is characterized by the development of asphyxia in the child. In this case, the respiratory processes stop almost completely, the child has pale skin. It is noteworthy that this stage can develop either gradually, or appear as a result of a foreign object getting stuck in the throat, or its injury, bypassing the previous stages. The only way to improve the condition of the child will be emergency medical care.
Treatment
Treatment of laryngeal edema in a child is aimed at restoring breathing and eliminating the causes of a developing condition. Depending on the reasons, the doctor individually chooses the treatment method.
If edema has arisen as a result of infectious diseases, medications are mainly used that will most quickly and effectively affect its pathogen: antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral groups.
If edema has an allergic etiology, glucocorticosteroids, antihistamines and hormones are preferable.
Depending on the child’s state of health, doctors can use inhalations with drugs that will expand the bronchi, oxygen masks, as well as adrenaline injections.
First aid for laryngeal edema in a child
In the case of the development of an acute form of a pathological condition, parents, in anticipation of doctors, must perform the following actions:
- Make sure that the child does not lie down: newborns should be held in their arms, and older children should be placed in a chair or bed.
- Remove or at least unfasten clothing so that it does not put pressure on the chest and neck area.
- To ensure the maximum flow of clean air to the child - open the balcony door or window.
- Laryngeal edema in a child may decrease due to cooling of the organ, so ice can be applied to the neck.
- When swallowing a foreign object, it is necessary to quickly remove it without using tweezers or fingers, so as not to further stick a foreign body. The child needs to be placed on its stomach with a stomach and a light pat on the upper back. You can also hold your hands tightly around your stomach and sharply press it several times.
Prevention
In order to prevent the development of laryngeal edema in childhood, it is necessary to regularly examine the child, constantly visit specialists. If the child does not have a tendency to manifest allergies, he does not suffer from chronic infectious diseases, special preventive measures do not need to be performed. In case of allergies, parents should always have antihistamines suitable for their child in the bag, following the prescription of doctors.
In the apartment or house where the child lives, preventive measures should be taken with respect to him. It is important that the baby does not have access to solid foods, berries and fruits with pits, small items that are able to get stuck in the larynx, disrupting the breathing process.