How to determine bronchitis in a child? This is one of the most common respiratory diseases. In children, the ailment proceeds in an acute form and has an infectious breed. Under the influence of the respiratory virus on the mucous membrane covering the bronchi from the inside, the general health of the patient worsens. They mainly diagnose the disease in the cold season. The bronchi are affected most often in children than in adults. If one of the signs of an ailment appears, you need to seek help from a pediatrician, otherwise health complications may arise. Any medications should be taken only as directed by a healthcare professional.
Features of the disease
How to determine bronchitis in a child? In the process of developing the disease, the mucous membrane or all the walls of the bronchi become inflamed. There are several reasons for the development of inflammation, namely:
- infectious agent;
- allergy;
- negative effects of environmental factors - inhalation of dust and harmful chemicals.
Bronchitis can be either infectious or non-infectious in nature. As medical practice shows, infectious bronchitis develops due to the introduction of a respiratory virus - influenza or SARS into the patient's body. How to determine bronchitis in a child? Symptoms of the disease will not always help to make a diagnosis at home. Only a doctor can determine the nature and type of ailment. Most often, acute bronchitis has a bacterial or mixed viral nature. A bacterial or purulent form of the disease is a secondary pathological condition and develops as a result of another neglected disease. Doctors recommend timely treatment of diseases, otherwise serious health problems may arise.
There is also allergic (non-infectious) bronchitis, which arose due to exposure to a chemical or physical factor. Given the duration and cyclicity of the inflammation that occurs in the bronchi, the disease has an acute or chronic form. In the acute form of the disease, sputum clots go away and body temperature rises, severe weakness and signs of intoxication occur. The duration of this type of disease does not exceed 2.5 weeks.
In the chronic form of bronchitis, an episode of exacerbation is periodically repeated throughout the year. Due to chronic inflammation, the structure of the bronchi is disturbed and negative changes in the functioning of the respiratory system can occur. Bronchitis is exacerbated at least 3 times a year. Until the age of 6, babies do not have a fully formed protective function of the body, so children get sick much more often. If an infection from the nasopharynx enters the lower respiratory tract, a strong inflammatory process will occur. It is advisable that the child does not suffer from acute bronchitis in the first 17 months of life, since at this age bronchioles and alveoli form, the process of formation of local immunity occurs.
Why is it important to see a doctor on time?
How to determine bronchitis in a child? With such a disease, body temperature rises, the child is moody and irritable. As medical practice shows, acute bronchitis develops due to the introduction of the virus into the patient’s body, therefore it is most often sick in the fall or in the winter. When an infection enters the body, severe inflammation begins, which affects the bronchi. Under such conditions, the mucosa can swell and increase in thickness, which leads to problems in the functioning of the respiratory system. Such a problem must be given special attention.
If unpleasant signs of the disease have occurred in young children, you should immediately call a doctor at home or go to the hospital. Respiratory failure develops as a result of severe inflammation of the bronchial mucosa. If timely treatment of the disease is not carried out, serious health problems can arise, since the mucous secret of the bronchi begins to stand out due to the development of the inflammatory process in the body. Under such conditions, the bronchi must independently clean themselves from the inside of a foreign agent that has come to their surface.
In the event that the functioning of the mucous membrane is impaired, the secret is difficult to remove. Under such conditions, the mucous mixture begins to accumulate and acquires a thick, viscous consistency. As a result, a pathological substance is formed, which consists of mucous secretions and microorganisms - this is a good nutrient medium and substrate for the growth of bacteria. In this case, a purulent form of bronchitis or pneumonia often occurs. In the process of treating bronchitis in children and adults, it is important to eliminate the inflammatory process and activate the discharge of sputum from the bronchi.
How to determine bronchitis in a child? Severe coughing is one of the most common signs of illness in children. During coughing, discomfort may occur in the chest area. Coughing may be accompanied by sputum discharge from the respiratory system. It is much more difficult for children to expectorate mucus, as it is slightly thicker in babies than in adults.
In the process of the development of the disease, bronchospasm and swelling of the mucosa occur, which complicate the process of elimination of sputum. Treatment of cough with bronchitis should be carried out in an integrated way. It is important to thin the thick sputum and activate the process of expectoration. The inflammatory process and spasms of the muscles of the bronchi should be eliminated.
The main symptoms of the disease in babies
How to determine bronchitis in a child up to a year? Children at this age are too vulnerable. The baby's immune system is not fully formed, so you should visit a doctor and not risk the life of the crumbs. In the process of developing bronchitis, symptoms may occur, which manifests itself in the form of:
- a slight increase in body temperature;
- weakness, asthenia;
- decreased activity and appetite;
- deterioration in overall health.
Children become moody, irritable and lethargic, because they can’t accurately tell what exactly causes them discomfort. How to determine bronchitis in a child of 1 year? As the medical practice of doctors shows, the disease is not always accompanied by a strong cough and sputum discharge. In some cases, there is not even a high fever. If there are any changes in the work of the respiratory system and the well-being of the child worsens, it is important to immediately contact a pediatrician. This will help prevent the development of serious health problems.
Bronchitis is a serious disease that can progress and go into more complex forms.
What complications may arise?
How to determine bronchitis by x-ray in a child? In frequent cases, the contours are not clear and small vessels are not visible in the image. It is not recommended to take an x-ray in a private clinic without consulting a doctor, as complications may arise due to an incorrect diagnosis at home. With incorrect or untimely treatment of bronchitis in children, complications may appear. Under such conditions, the ailment becomes chronic.
Pneumonia is one of the most formidable complications of the disease. In some cases, the acute form of bronchitis is combined with inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. With sinusitis, otitis media or tonsillitis, it is important to immediately consult a doctor and carry out timely treatment, since such diseases complicate the treatment of bronchitis.
How to determine obstructive bronchitis in a child? Using radiography, you can identify the form of the disease and evaluate the structure of the mucous membrane. With a running disease, a complete deformation of the mucous tissue is carried out, which provokes the development of asthma or other lung diseases. There is no need to carry out treatment at home and apply folk remedies, since the acute form of bronchitis will not go away on its own. It is important to contact the pediatrician in time and carefully follow his recommendations.
Proper treatment
To cure the disease, it is important to provide the baby with the necessary conditions that contribute to a quick recovery. It is equally important to choose the right drug. How to detect bronchitis in children on time? You should regularly visit a doctor, and if one of the symptoms of the disease appears, consult a pediatrician. You should know that only a pediatrician should prescribe drugs taking into account the severity of the disease and the individual and physiological characteristics of the patient's body. Self-medication can harm and provoke the development of health problems.
Doctors Recommendations
In the process of developing the disease, the patient must observe rest and bed rest. The air in the room should be fresh, so it is recommended to ventilate the room. For the period of airing, the baby must be taken to another room or covered with a warm blanket. If the air is too dry, then this will negatively affect the general well-being of the patient.
To maintain optimal humidity, experts recommend using ready-made humidifiers or improvised means. For example, hang a heating radiator with damp cloths and periodically change them. The child must eat right. A sufficient amount of vitamin and beneficial elements must be present in the diet. It is necessary to focus on those products that contain a sufficient amount of protein.
Every year, bronchitis in children is increasingly being diagnosed. Signs and symptoms of the disease should be known to every parent. Depending on the type of pathogen that triggered the development of the disease, the doctor prescribes a drug. In the process of treatment, antiviral agents, antibiotics, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory drugs are used. The duration of treatment for acute bronchitis in children is 1.5 weeks, if there is no complication or a factor suggesting it. The course of therapy is determined strictly by the attending physician.
Effective drugs
Medicines that are prescribed for the baby should be safe and highly effective. To reduce the risk of side effects, you need to visit a doctor. The pediatrician will prescribe the appropriate dosage and duration of treatment. Depending on the physiological characteristics of the patient, the pediatrician selects drops, syrups or suppositories.
The causes, symptoms and treatment of bronchitis in children is an important topic that should be discussed with a pediatrician, since much depends on the specific clinical picture. If the baby is prone to allergic reactions, then it is necessary to choose those syrups that do not contain a large number of flavorings and other harmful additives. In frequent cases, children's preparations contain natural ingredients and extracts of medicinal herbs. Quite often, parents make a mistake and in the process of treating bronchitis give the child an antibacterial drug. You should know that the disease in frequent cases is provoked by the introduction of a virus into the body, so you need to take antiviral agents. The antibiotic must be used strictly as directed by a qualified health professional. Such tablets should be taken only if the disease is caused by bacteria and there is a chronic focus of infection.
Popular drugs
Thanks to immunomodulatory agents, you can speed up the process of recovery of the child. With the help of "Arbidol", "Grippferon", "Genferon", "Viferon", "Amiksin", bronchitis is treated in children. It is better to take one of the drugs on the first day after the onset of the first symptoms of a cold. Given the individual characteristics of the patient’s body, the doctor selects a regimen.
The specialist determines the method of therapy after examining the patient. With a strong cough and acute form of bronchitis, children are prescribed drugs that eliminate the inflammatory process in the respiratory system. With the help of Erespal, a child is treated. Such a medicine is the most popular and effective. To improve the well-being of the patient, it is important to relieve cough and remove sputum from the bronchi. It is not recommended to use an antitussive drug during the development of the disease, which suppresses and inhibits the cough reflex. Under such conditions, sputum will not leave the bronchi, resulting in stagnation. Thanks to mucolytics, bronchial cleansing can be stimulated. Mucolytics dilute viscous and thick sputum. In the process of treating bronchitis, doctors often prescribe "Bronchicum" and "Prospan", since such drugs help to remove sputum from the bronchi. Ascoril effectively dilutes it and promotes excretion. It has a bronchodilator and mucolytic effect. Sell a drug in a pharmacy only by prescription.
What is the difference between bronchitis and pneumonia?
How to determine bronchitis or pneumonia in a child? At home, it is impossible to carry out a thorough diagnosis of the disease. Only a doctor can make a correct diagnosis. There are several signs that bronchitis differs from pneumonia, namely:
- During the development of pneumonia, the patient has fever, while with bronchitis, the body temperature only slightly rises.
- With pneumonia, wheezing is wet and dry, with bronchitis - with whistles.
If one of the signs of the disease appears, it is important to consult a doctor and carry out complex therapy.
Note to parents
How to determine bronchitis in a child before visiting a pediatrician? Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis. If the baby appears in one of the signs of the disease, it is important to consult a pediatrician. Medicines should be prescribed by a strictly attending physician, since many medicines have contraindications. Instructions for use of the drug are not the basis for treatment. The duration of the course of therapy and dosage will be determined by the attending physician, depending on the specific clinical picture of the patient.
The article provided information on the types of bronchitis in children, the causes, signs of the disease and symptoms.