Timely started and correctly carried out treatment of bronchitis in a child does not allow the disease to go into its chronic form. In this case, it turns into a serious problem, since children with chronic bronchitis must undergo a special examination and treatment in a specialized medical institution. Treatment of acute bronchitis in children, started inopportune or incorrectly, can be fraught with the development of a much more severe form - obstructive bronchitis.
Basically, the treatment of bronchitis in a child is aimed at:
- infection control;
- elimination of edema of the respiratory tract;
- removing from them a large accumulation of mucus (sputum);
- relief of dry cough, if it manifests itself in an ineffective, exhausting form.
First of all, it should once again be reminded to parents: any attempts at self-medication are unacceptable, especially when bronchitis in children. Treatment with antibiotics does not always allow. Against a viral infection, and such is almost always bronchitis, they are useless, and the body’s protective microflora can be harmful. The decision to prescribe antibiotics for bronchitis should be made only by a doctor, only after receiving the results of a general blood test and only in cases where it is no longer possible to do without antibiotics. For example, if acute bronchitis threatens to develop into pneumonia.
Treatment of
bronchitis in a child begins with the removal of bronchial spasm by decongestants. This measure will increase the supply of oxygen to the body, expanding the lumen of the bronchi. Getting rid of the mucus accumulated in them, in addition to taking medication, can be supplemented with hot foot baths, applying mustard plasters to the calf muscles, a special massage of the chest area, a compress (with wet cough). All these procedures also require medical prescription after examining a sick child, since there are contraindications associated with some forms of cough and fever.
It is important for parents that the doctor must explain to them why a drug is prescribed. In addition, remember the “rule of six": each medicine prescribed should contain up to six active ingredients. Their greater number complicates the interaction with each other. If the doctor prescribes drugs that are opposite to each other in action, violates the "rule of six" or prescribes antibiotics after the initial examination - refuse his services and consult another specialist.
With the spread of various types of allergies, the type of bronchitis caused by it is also increasingly happening. It can be caused by spring flowering, house dust, animal hair, taking a number of drugs.
If allergic bronchitis has developed in children, the treatment is primarily to protect them from all possible provocateurs of an allergic reaction. Sometimes salvation consists in moving out of town, where fresh air is much cleaner and freer from allergens.
The correct and timely treatment of bronchitis in a child ends with his recovery within 2-3 weeks. However, the baby’s body will restore its strength much longer - up to one and a half months. In addition, recently, doctors have noticed a tendency to increase the duration of the disease, accompanied by pain in the heart, increased irritability and other symptoms. Therefore, one should not rush to transfer the child to the previous, healthy regimen.