Bronchitis in a child is the most common inflammatory disease of the respiratory system, especially in early childhood. Bronchitis is an acute or, in some cases, chronic inflammatory process in the tracheobronchial tree.
Causes of the disease
Bronchitis in a child is caused by pathogenic bacteria or viruses. Among bacterial pathogens, the most common are staphylococcus pneumoniae or streptococci, of the viral pathogens influenza or parainfluenza, measles, whooping cough or other respiratory viruses. The disease can occur when exposed to various factors, for example, from too cold or hot air, chemical irritants, from the presence of a constant chronic infection in the respiratory tract, exposure to allergens, etc.
In most cases, the pathogen enters the body through inhaled air. Less commonly, an infectious agent can get in with blood or lymph. Penetrating into the mucous membrane of the bronchi, the pathogen causes an acute inflammatory reaction, with edema and increased secretion of bronchial secretions. In young children, these processes can lead to the rapid development of obstruction (obstruction) of the bronchi and acute respiratory failure.
The secret secreted by the bronchi in the initial stages of the disease is mucous, with the aggravation of the process, it becomes purulent, and inflammation captures the deeper layers of the bronchial wall.
Signs of bronchitis in children
The onset of the disease is characterized by the appearance of malaise, a slight increase in temperature and the appearance of a dry nagging cough. These symptoms are often characteristic of a common respiratory infection. Very often, bronchitis in a child is a consequence of the spread of acute respiratory viral infections in the lower respiratory tract. When examining and listening to the chest, you can hear hard breathing. Wheezing is usually not observed in the initial period. If the inflammation is aggravated, the child’s well-being worsens significantly, her body temperature rises, the cough becomes wet, and sputum is difficult to separate. Shortness of breath may appear. In children, bronchiolitis is especially severe. This is inflammation of the small bronchi. At the same time, their lumen is clogged with thick purulent mucus, causing severe shortness of breath and oxygen starvation of tissues. Such a child has wheezing and noisy breathing, at a distance you can hear shortness of breath on exhalation. On examination, participation in the breathing of auxiliary respiratory muscles can be noted. In young children, the presence of bronchiolitis is often combined with the development of pneumonia, so they are not differentiated from each other.
Cough, as mentioned above, at the beginning of the disease is dry, after adequate treatment, it turns into wet and gradually begins to expectorate sputum. Auscultation can listen to wet wheezing or harsh breathing.
In allergic children, in contact with an allergen, bronchitis develops without temperature. Diagnosis of such bronchitis is usually not difficult, since there is a clear dependence of the development of the disease on the allergic agent.
Diagnostics
The diagnosis of bronchitis in a child is made on the basis of complaints and clinical manifestations. Unlike pneumonia, with bronchitis there is no respiratory failure. If you perform a blood test, you can see signs of inflammation (an increase in white blood cells, ESR, a shift in the white blood cell count), if the cause of bronchitis is allergy, then the number of eosinophils increases.
Rigid breathing is auscultated , dry or wet rales may be present.
Bronchitis in a child must be distinguished with pneumonia, asthma.
Disease treatment
The child needs peace, a plentiful drink. Inhalation or inside give expectorant drugs, perform alkaline inhalation. If necessary, prescribe antibiotics. The temperature is brought down with paracetamol or ibuprofen. Antihistamines are prescribed.