Bronchitis in children: causes, symptoms, treatment and consequences

Bronchitis in children often at the beginning of the disease resembles a common cold. But the disease is a danger to the child's body, therefore, requires immediate treatment. For effective therapy, it is important to determine the form of the pathology and take into account the age of the child.

What is a disease?

In children, it is a pathology that develops as a result of inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bronchi. Among all diseases of the respiratory system, this ailment is in second place in terms of danger to the baby's health. The first is pneumonia.

When exposed to a number of negative factors, the bronchi are affected, and then the pathological process spreads to the remaining respiratory organs. The disease most often affects children in the cold season, when the immune system does not cope with pathogenic agents, but it is not uncommon to develop the disease at any time of the year if the immunity is low.

Bronchitis in a child at 2 years old is diagnosed much more often than in adolescents. This is due to imperfection of the immune system. Parents should show the child to the doctor if a suspicious cough appears, accompanied by other symptoms. Without appropriate therapy, there is a risk of serious complications.

Causes of the development of the disease

In a child of 3 years and younger, bronchitis often develops due to the presence of the following predisposing factors:

• The airways are small in width.
• The structure of cartilage structures is imperfect.
• The rate of excretion of mucus from the bronchi is small.
• The immaturity of the cough reflex.

These are the main provoking factors of bronchitis in children up to a year. But there are other reasons for the development of the disease. The disease can develop if the following pathogenic microorganisms enter the body:

• Viruses. They settle on the nasopharynx mucosa, if no measures are taken, then the viruses penetrate the bronchi.
• Bacteria. Among them, most often cause bronchitis streptococci, pneumococci, chlamydia. They can’t fight without antibiotics.
• Allergens.
• Fungus. These organisms often cause bronchitis in immunocompromised infants and premature babies.
• Toxins from the surrounding air can lead to illness. Tobacco smoke often in infants provokes bronchitis. Smoking mothers do not think at all that they are doing huge harm to the health of their baby.

Can provoke bronchitis:

• Hypothermia. The processes of thermoregulation in young children are imperfect, so clothes that are not weather-proof quickly lead to hypothermia. But you must remember that excessive wrapping the baby is also dangerous. It sweats, and wet skin is blown away, causing inflammation in the bronchi.
• Bronchitis in children 2 years of age or less can be caused by a natural physiological cause, such as teething. In such periods, all immune mechanisms suffer, which leads to the accumulation of mucus in the bronchi and the appearance of symptoms of bronchitis.
• Respiratory infections. Among all cases of bronchitis, 80% of viral and bacterial infections become provocateurs of its development.

It is also important to determine the form of the disease to prescribe effective therapy.

Varieties of bronchitis

By the duration of the course, several forms of bronchitis are distinguished:

1. Acute bronchitis in children. It begins its development after hypothermia or the entry of viruses and bacteria into the body. Most often, such a pathology develops in babies after a year. The child complains of a headache, a cough appears, which is dry in the first days, and then becomes wet.
2. The chronic form of the disease. It develops against the background of untreated acute bronchitis.

The severity of the disease can also be different, therefore emit:

• Uncomplicated bronchitis. The baby is worried about a strong cough, but it is accompanied by profuse sputum production.
• Obstructive bronchitis in children. This form is distinguished by obstruction of the bronchi and the appearance of shortness of breath. At the first stages of the development of pathology, the cough is dry and is accompanied by rhinitis. Then wheezing appears, the body temperature rises.

• Obliterating bronchitis is characterized by a protracted course. There is an overgrowth of the canals in the bronchi, which significantly complicates the breathing of the child.

Classification of bronchitis is also taking into account the localization of the pathological process, distinguish:

• Tracheobronchitis. The inflammatory process is localized in the trachea and bronchi. A painful cough appears, but there are difficulties with the discharge of sputum.
• Bronchiolitis. It affects the bronchi and bronchioles. This form often affects infants. Their immune system is not able to fight viruses that penetrate the lower parts of the respiratory system. Wheezing appears, heart beats faster, shortness of breath, febrile temperature.

Taking into account the form and type of the disease, the doctor prescribes treatment for the child. Do not self-medicate; in the case of children, this can be dangerous.

Symptoms of ailment

What kind of child with bronchitis? If the pathology is not complicated, then the following manifestations are observed:

• In babies up to the age of one, a strong cough appears, the body temperature can rise up to 40 degrees. When listening, wheezing is heard.
• The duration of high fever depends on the type of infection. If bronchitis is caused by a virus, then hyperthermia lasts 3-4 days.
• In the early days, the cough is painful and dry, after a few days it becomes moist and sputum discharge is observed.
• A doctor upon examination reveals redness of the mucous membranes of the eyes, increased lacrimation.
• Violation of ventilation of the airways leads to the appearance of dry and wet rales.

Manifestations of acute bronchitis

In children, this form is often diagnosed in the first year of life and is manifested by the following symptoms:

• High body temperature.

• The condition quickly worsens, and all the signs of respiratory failure are observed: it is difficult for the baby to breathe, breathing becomes rapid.
• Wheezing is heard, emphysema gradually develops.

Obstructive disease

This form occurs with signs of bronchial obstruction. Often diagnosed in babies 2-3 years of life. The signs of bronchitis in children are as follows:

• Symptoms appear within a few days after the pathogen enters the body.
• The breath is noisy and wheezing with a long breath.
• The child has fear, he becomes restless.
• Appetite is lost.
• Shortness of breath is observed.

To detect this form of the disease is much easier than ordinary bronchitis, given the severity of symptoms.

Temperature for bronchitis in children

If the disease is protracted, then a child’s high fever is rare. In infants, temperature indicators can stay in the range of 37.5-38 degrees, and then there is a rise or a sudden decline without taking medications.

If the temperature jumps to 38-39 degrees, then do not immediately panic. The body features are different for everyone, and most often the immune system is trying to cope with the causative agents of bronchitis. What should be the temperature during this disease? Doctors have no clear answer. It all depends on the immunity of the child and the cause of the pathology:

• If the causative agents of bronchitis are streptococci, pneumococci, then the temperature rises slightly and lasts for three days. In some children, the ailment proceeds generally with normal rates.
• Parainfluenza virus causes an increase in temperature, which lasts no more than 3 days.
• With real flu, high rates last up to 5 days.
• Adenovirus causes a fever that can last for more than a week.

Bronchitis treatment

Depending on the severity of the course of the disease and its form, therapy can take up to two weeks, if there are complications, then 21 days or more. When treating bronchitis in children, Komarovsky recommends:

• Observe bed rest, especially in the early days of the disease.
• Limit physical activity to normalization of temperature indicators.
• Correct the child’s nutrition by including easily digestible dishes: vegetable soups, cereals, dairy products.
• Provide a plentiful drink.

• If sore throat, then use medicinal decoction to rinse.
• To improve sputum excretion, take expectorants. For infants, only a doctor should prescribe such drugs.
• Carry inhalation using a nebulizer.
• Use distracting therapy: warming ointments and compresses. Carefully use ointments with the addition of essential oils and medicinal herbs, because they can provoke an allergic reaction and worsen the condition of the child.
• If bronchitis is accompanied by nasal congestion, then use vasoconstrictor drops and saline solutions for washing.

Therapy of bronchitis includes the following areas:

1. Drug treatment.
2. Inhalation.
3. Drainage massage.
4. The use of traditional medicine recipes.

Drug treatment

If there are signs of bronchitis in children, you must definitely show the baby to the doctor. Only a pediatrician can prescribe drugs taking into account the form of the disease and the features of its course. An important role is played by the age of the child for choosing the dosage of the drug.

Often used the following groups of drugs:

1. Means that expand the bronchi: Ventolin, Salbutamol, Berodual. Use them for inhalation using a nebulizer in case of bronchial obstruction.
2. Expectorant preparations: Ambroxol, Bromhexine, Lazolvan.
3. Considering that bronchitis proceeds with the inflammatory process, Erespal is indicated to reduce the inflammatory process.
4. In the presence of a viral infection, “Viferon”, “Interferon” are prescribed.
5. To reduce the temperature, it is recommended to give the child "Panadol", "Nurofen."
6. If you are worried about a dry and exhausting cough, then Glaucin is prescribed.
7. When exposed to allergic agents, antihistamines are prescribed.

Komarovsky recommends treating bronchitis in children if possible without the use of antibacterial agents. If the pathology is provoked by viruses, then such drugs simply prove to be ineffective. In the case of bacterial bronchitis, only a doctor should prescribe antibiotics. The task of parents is to strictly observe the dosage and treatment regimen. If the course is not completed, then after a while the disease will return, and the bacteria will develop resistance to the drug, which will complicate further treatment.

Drainage massage

If the child does not have a temperature, and the cough becomes wet, then Komarovsky recommends supplementing with massage with the treatment of bronchitis in children. This is an auxiliary method of therapy, and it is recommended for children over 6 months of age.

The execution technique is as follows:

1. Put your baby on your stomach.
2. Apply a couple drops of essential oil on the back for better gliding of the hands.
3. Start with stroking movements, and then proceed to tapping the branches along the spine with the fingertips. All movements must be unobtrusive. They contribute to the discharge of mucus from the bronchi.
4. Put the baby so that he can cough up phlegm.

Bronchitis in children (reviews of mothers confirm this) is much faster if you do this massage daily twice a day.

Inhalation

Today, such a procedure can be safely carried out at home with a nebulizer. This device allows you to translate the drug solution into the smallest droplets, which facilitates the penetration of pathological areas. A contraindication to the procedure is the presence of high temperature in the child. You also need to carefully approach the choice of drugs for inhalation, some of them can be used only for children after 2 years.

Depending on the form of the disease and the age of the child, you can use:

• Saline solution. Suitable for the treatment of any form of the disease.
• “Berodual”, “Berotek” are prescribed for obstructive bronchitis.
• "Lazolvan", "Ambrobene", "Fluimucil" are used in various forms of the disease to thin and improve sputum excretion.

Remember, for young children, steam inhalation is contraindicated.

Traditional medicine recipes

Some mothers are trying to cure bronchitis in a child with folk remedies. But we must remember that such experiments can end badly. Alternative methods are good additional measures for treatment, and they are better used in combination with other forms of therapy.

The most effective and safe for children are the following recipes:

• Compress of honey and sunflower oil. It is necessary to combine the components in equal proportions and heat the composition in a water bath. It is superimposed on the back and chest, and on top you need to wrap it with polyethylene and cover it with a warm scarf or blanket. If the child is allergic to bee products, then honey should not be used.
• Boil the potatoes with the peel and heat after cooking. Place in a gauze napkin and attach to the back, covering it with oilcloth and a blanket from above.
• Is it possible for children to put mustard plasters in bronchitis? It is possible, but only for children over 5 years of age. They are applied to the chest, bypassing the area of ​​the heart.
• Prepare a thyme decoction and give the child to drink instead of tea several times a day.
• Warm milk with honey and butter softens and has a beneficial effect on the respiratory tract.

• Prepare a mixture of equal amounts of marshmallow root, licorice, sage, pine buds and anise fruits. Pour 250 ml of boiling water and keep in a water bath for 15 minutes. Strain and divide the composition 4 times. Give the baby throughout the day.
• If there is no high temperature, then the child can steam his feet with the addition of dry mustard. Wipe and put on warm socks after the procedure.

Folk recipes perfectly complement the main treatment and accelerate recovery.

Rules for caring for a sick child

During treatment, the task of creating the conditions for the speedy recovery of the baby lies on the shoulders of the parents. This means not only taking medications and carrying out various procedures, but also contributing to an easier discharge of sputum. For this, it is important to prevent its drying out. The recommendations are as follows:

• Maintain a normal level of humidity in your child’s room. An air humidifier can perfectly help if this is not the case, then do a wet cleaning more often, hang a wet towel on the battery.
• Keep the room temperature between 18-20 degrees. Do not wrap the baby, under such conditions, the mucus is quickly dehydrated, which makes it difficult to discharge.
• Provide a plentiful drink. Fruit drinks, compotes, herbal teas are suitable.
• Take a walk in the fresh air with your child. It is a misconception that it is forbidden to go out during colds. This condition applies only to high temperature.
• Ventilate the room regularly.
• Reduce the number of water procedures, and body hygiene can be maintained for several days with wet wipes.

These simple tips will help accelerate recovery and alleviate the condition of the child. After bronchitis, compliance with them will also be useful.

The consequences of bronchitis

If parents do not seek medical help in a timely manner or therapy is prescribed without taking into account the form of the disease, then the pathology is fraught with the following complications:

• The disease becomes chronic and, at the slightest opportunity, begins to bother the baby with its unpleasant symptoms.
• Pneumonia develops.
• Often, bronchitis gives an impetus to the development of bronchial asthma.
• Respiratory failure develops, which is especially dangerous for infants.

To prevent this, do not self-medicate when it comes to children's illness. It is better to play it safe and visit the pediatrician again than to treat the child for a long and painful time.

Bronchitis prophylaxis

It is impossible to completely protect a child from colds (including bronchitis), but if you follow some recommendations, you can reduce the likelihood of their development. Preventive measures include the following:

• Engage in tempering procedures from an early age. This helps strengthen children's immunity and improves the body's resistance to viruses and bacteria. For babies, you need to start with ordinary air baths, rubbing with a damp cloth, daily walks. Parents who do almost the whole winter at home with their kids do the wrong thing. There is a high probability that such children are more likely than others to suffer from colds and bronchitis.

• Always dress your child for the weather. No need to wrap it up, sweating only gets sick faster.
• Take courses of immunostimulating drugs during the cold season.
• Provide your child with a diet containing all the necessary vitamins and minerals.
• Encourage sports, show your child an example, and at least exercise with him.
• Always treat a runny nose in a child, do not hope that without therapy it will pass in a week. This approach is fraught with complications in the form of sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, or meningitis.

When children get sick, this is always a test for parents. But the kids are defenseless and completely dependent, and only on the common sense of the mothers depends on the health of the child. Never buy medicine on the advice of friends or other mothers in the yard. Everyone has their own body, and the same disease proceeds differently in everyone. Only a doctor can prescribe an effective and safe medicine for your child.