Bronchial asthma in a child is a chronic disease, during the course of which the airways become inflamed and the characteristics of the bronchi change. Most often they occur in children who are largely susceptible to allergic reactions.
This diagnosis in children under 5 years of age is mainly given to boys. It is difficult for parents to independently recognize the first signs of asthma in a child, which is why there is no way to conduct timely therapy. In some cases, disability immediately takes shape.
Causes of occurrence
The only cause of asthma in children has not yet been discovered, but there are a number of factors contributing to the onset of the disease. Of great importance is the genetic predisposition, especially in twins.
In addition, acute viral infections of the respiratory system associated with the baby's immune system have a particular effect. Parents need to be very careful about the health of the child from the first days of his birth. Risk factors include:
- genetic predisposition;
- severe respiratory infections;
- allergies
- difficulty in exhaling;
- low birth weight;
- smoking in the house.
It is customary to distinguish two types of asthma in children, based on what exactly its symptoms are associated with. It is important to recognize the course of the disease in a timely manner and conduct complex treatment.
Forms of the disease
Irritation of the bronchi can be triggered by many different factors. One of the most common types is allergic asthma, provoked by the penetration of various allergens into the body. They can get not only with air, but also with food or through the skin. If bronchial asthma develops in children against this background, recommendations for parents are to exclude allergens from the baby’s life, or at least minimize its quantity.
This disease may not be allergenic in nature, since there are many different irritants. Many bronchi can respond to physical effort, for example, inhaling hot or cold air, jogging, physiological stress. Another factor is taking some medications. Such asthma is considered one of the most severe.
Often, the bronchi respond to several stimuli or all at once. Such a disease is called mixed. Children are very sensitive to overstrain, smell and various stresses.
Symptoms
Signs of bronchial asthma in a child can vary greatly. However, in all cases there is difficulty breathing, which can occur after physical exertion or emotional upheaval. Children very often complain of difficulty exhaling. The air is exhaled for a long time, heavily and with a characteristic wheezing or whistling.
If parents noticed such breathing in the baby, then it is worth immediately making an appointment with a doctor for a consultation, as this is considered the main symptom of bronchial asthma in children. It is worth noting that such a manifestation can occur with other common diseases, in particular, such as flu, colds, bronchitis. However, in this case, other symptoms arise.
An attack of bronchial asthma in children can begin suddenly and it occurs with wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath. In some cases, it can develop very slowly, with a gradual increase in symptoms. This condition can last several minutes or drag on for a couple of hours or even days. A few days before the onset of the main signs of the disease, the child may experience the first symptoms of asthma. During this period, children are naughty, very irritated and sleep poorly. Among the main manifestations of bronchial asthma in a child can be noted such as:
- secretion of liquid mucus after the baby is awakened;
- dry cough;
- choking after sleep.
It is worth noting that the symptoms may vary depending on the age of the baby. In infants, paroxysmal coughing may occur before or after bedtime. It is worth noting that the attack becomes much smaller if the baby is in an upright position. Shortly before this, the child begins to act up and cry a lot. Parents may notice mild shortness of breath, and wheezing and whistling appear during breathing. Breathing becomes intermittent.
If all these symptoms do not go away for several days and are additionally accompanied by asthma attacks, then you must definitely call an ambulance.
Diagnostics
To make a diagnosis of "bronchial asthma" in children, you must definitely consult a doctor and perform all the required studies. Initially, the doctor makes an anamnesis of the course of the disease, in particular, to interview the parents of the child, as well as conduct an examination of the baby. It is quite difficult to detect the disease in the initial stages, so parents need special care to tell the doctor about all the features of asthma. A medical history must be studied. Bronchial asthma in a child can have a variety of manifestations, so the doctor must understand exactly what the feature and severity of the pathology is.
During the initial examination, the doctor performs auscultation, that is, listens to the lungs of the child, counts the number of breaths and their depth. Another way to diagnose is tapping the bronchi. In addition, the diagnosis of bronchial asthma in children implies:
- blood analysis;
- chest x-ray;
- sputum analysis;
- cardiogram.
If the diagnosis is confirmed, then an allergy test is required to determine the cause of the disease. After this, complex therapy is prescribed, which will help get rid of the existing problem and normalize well-being.
What can trigger an attack
Exacerbation of the disease in a child can trigger various factors that provoke an asthma attack. Most often, this condition is provoked:
- house and book dust;
- infectious diseases;
- temperature difference;
- neuropsychic injuries.
Since dust generally provokes disturbance, it is necessary to clean the premises daily to minimize the impact of this factor. Do not litter the nursery with unnecessary things, put upholstered furniture, as well as minimize soft toys. It is not recommended to use carpets as a floor covering, as well as to have many books.
An attack of bronchial asthma in a child can provoke pollen from plants, particles of animal skin, as well as some components of food. To reduce the number of seizures, you need to limit walks during the period of active flowering of plants, reduce the baby’s contacts with pets, and also avoid feather feathers and pillows.
The most common allergens are some components of food, which is why you need to adhere to a strict hypoallergenic diet with the exception of those products that can trigger an exacerbation. For each, this set of products is individual, so you need to track the reaction of the body to know exactly what it is necessary to refuse.
Infectious diseases can provoke bronchial asthma in a child, which is why it is necessary to vaccinate in a timely manner, harden the body, and also carry out other preventive measures. It is important to surround the baby with care and attention, as well as protect from unwanted stress. Children are very sensitive to changes in the mood of their parents, so you need to try all the time to be in a good mood.
In the cold season, you need to reduce the number of walks on the street, as cold air, excessive dryness and high humidity can provoke a spasm of the bronchi, which provokes a coughing fit.
Help during an attack
Depending on the medical history, asthma in a child can be quite acute. During the attack, the baby immediately begins to experience severe weakness, becomes overly restless, overexcited, and very often an intermittent dry cough torments him. At the same time, sweating intensifies, heart rate and pulse become more frequent.
If the baby has an asthma attack, then you should not panic, you need to stay calm and try to calm the child, remove his tight clothing, open the window for fresh air. It is undesirable to lay the baby, as this will make breathing more difficult.
It is necessary to give the child a drink of warm water, as it will help clear the lungs of sputum and this will reduce the attack. An inhaler or nebulizer can help, which can be supplemented with Eufillin. It is advisable to make a warm bath for legs and hands. If all these measures do not stop the attack within 30 minutes, then you need to call an ambulance, since subsequent waiting can lead to respiratory arrest.
Treatment features
Therapy of bronchial asthma in children is selected depending on the assessment of the results of the diagnosis. You need to visit a doctor at least 1 time in 3-4 weeks. The quality of the treatment largely depends on the frequency of attacks during the day and at night, as well as on their severity and condition of the sick child.
Treatment of bronchial asthma in children is carried out mainly non-drug way. To do this, try to eliminate the factors contributing to the progression of the disease, in particular, allergens and tobacco smoke. It is from this time that you need to start a comprehensive treatment.
During the attack, special stimulants of the bronchial receptors very well help, which are taken only when pronounced signs of the disease are observed. In addition, along with asthma, it is necessary to carry out the therapy of concomitant diseases, especially if they are associated with damage to the respiratory system. Symptoms and treatment of bronchial asthma in children largely depend on the characteristics of the pathology. If its course is severe, then children are prescribed basic therapy, designed to prevent an attack.
Usually, inhalations with drugs that act locally on the bronchial mucosa are used for this. In particular, glucocorticosteroids are used, for example, beclomethasone.
Drug therapy
It is important to quickly and comprehensively help a child with bronchial asthma, as this disease can lead to suffocation and even death. There are many different drugs for treating children with asthma. All of them are divided into funds for quick relief of an attack and prophylactic. The action of drugs designed to quickly stop the attack is based on the expansion of the bronchi.
In particular, inhalers with such drugs as Berotek, Salbutamol, Ventalin can be used. They should always be with a sick child, so it is important that he always take it, even if he leaves the house for a short while.
Prophylactic agents include bronchodilator drugs of prolonged exposure, antileukotriene drugs, as well as corticosteroids. They are used to treat severe forms of the disease. In special cases, biological agents may be used.
In some cases, theophyllines can be additionally prescribed, but they must be taken very carefully, since there is a high risk of side effects. Non-hormonal drugs are rarely prescribed, as they are not effective enough.
Corticosteroids help effectively reduce inflammation in the body. Bronchodilators quickly eliminate symptomatic symptoms, expand the airways, but do not treat inflammation. They can only be taken with anti-inflammatory drugs.
Some doctors prescribe antibiotics during an exacerbation, however, it is worth remembering that this group of drugs can not be used for high-quality treatment of asthma. Even if a yellowish sputum is released during coughing, this does not at all mean the presence of pus in the body of the child.
Folk techniques
Along with medications, alternative treatments are sometimes prescribed. They help to increase the time interval between attacks, reduce the occurrence of side effects from medications and alleviate the condition of the child. Often, in the presence of shortness of breath and cough, it is recommended to use a medicinal collection, prepared on the basis of:
- nettles;
- coltsfoot;
- elecampane;
- licorice naked;
- Ledum.
These funds help to thin the sputum and have an expectorant effect. St. John's wort will help to reduce the signs of allergies, a decoction or infusion of which has a neutral aftertaste, which is why children drink it with great pleasure. There are also known cases of curing the disease in children with ginger. His tincture should be taken every 2 days, and foot baths are recommended before bedtime. During the therapy should not be allowed hypothermia of the child. Aromatherapy, which is carried out with the help of thyme oil, lavender or tea tree, has a good effect.
Sometimes under the influence of stress, a manifestation of bronchial asthma in children is observed. Clinical recommendations in this case relate to yoga, breathing exercises. It is important to keep your breath under control, as this will help get rid of negative feelings. Yoga is well suited for children of any age.
Acupuncture, breathing exercises, and spa treatment are sometimes used for treatment. All these therapies are selected individually and very carefully.
Possible complications
Exacerbation of asthma in children often occurs with the occurrence of colds. As a result, there is an increase in inflammation in the airways. During this period, an increase in the dosage of medications is required. The main measure for the prevention of exacerbation is vaccination. Severe cases of the course of the disease require disability and benefits.
Complications of bronchial asthma are very rare and often they are the result of untimely or improper treatment. As a result of stagnation of air in the lungs, pneumonorx can occur, which implies a rupture of the lung and penetration of air into the pleural cavity. In addition, the development of emphysema and acute respiratory failure is possible.
Prophylaxis
It is important not only to carry out the treatment correctly, but also to do everything necessary so that the attacks of the disease occur as rarely as possible. The competent prevention of asthma in children is very important, and it must be carried out not only to reduce the number of attacks, but also when there is a genetic predisposition to the onset of the disease.
Doctors recommend breastfeeding the baby from the first days of his life and up to 1 year. If for some reason this is not possible, then you need to carefully select the milk mixture and consult a specialist about this. Nutrition should be introduced only with the recommendation of a pediatrician, and the products are given to the baby gradually. Avoid consumption of foods containing allergens.
Prevention of bronchial asthma involves the use of bedding containing hypoallergenic fillers. It is necessary to observe good hygiene in the room where the child is. You need to carry out wet cleaning all the time. It is important to maintain immunity, as well as prevent the development of allergies. The diet of the child should be varied. With food, he should receive all the required vitamins and other beneficial substances.
Rehabilitation measures
With bronchial asthma in children, the doctor's recommendations must be carefully observed. Necessarily requires rehabilitation of the disease, including:
- hardening;
- physiotherapy;
- sanatorium treatment;
- massage.
Rehabilitation is required only after the clinical manifestations of the disease are eliminated. This will normalize the well-being of the child and prevent the development of complications. A good method of prevention is sanatorium treatment, since mineral water, clean air, good climatic conditions, and wellness procedures have a healing effect on the body. Children with disabilities are shown receiving permits. Before visiting the sanatorium, it is recommended to carry out the treatment of acute diseases and the prevention of chronic pathologies.
It is recommended to visit sanatoriums located in the area where the baby lives. This will prevent an asthma attack, as it does not have to adapt to climatic conditions. The period of stay in the sanatorium is at least a month.
Breathing exercises are aimed at increasing the elasticity of lung tissue. Such prevention is very effective during an attack, as it helps prevent complications. The easiest method is to inflate balloons.
Bronchial asthma is quite common, since there are many factors that provoke its development. That is why, comprehensive prevention is required, and, if necessary, treatment.