A dangerous mistake is neglect of bronchitis. Do not consider it a serious disease. Just think, the baby is cold! Coughing - and everything will pass. The disease is much more serious than it seems at first glance. If you have the first symptoms that characterize bronchitis in children, treatment at home should be started immediately. And the first thing to do is to call a doctor at home. No matter what proven folk remedies you use, pediatrician consultation is required in any case.
What you need to know about bronchitis
The disease is quite common in young children. Such selectivity is associated with immature immunity. Although there are many causes. These include the presence of a parasitic infection in the baby's body, and congenital malformations, etc.
The form of bronchitis can be acute or chronic. Its course is simple or complicated obstruction. The doctor will help determine the form of the disease. Accordingly, only he is able to choose an adequate treatment. Ignoring the ailment can lead to bronchial asthma.
Do not forget that the disease is infectious and allergic. Depending on the type of bronchitis in children, treatment at home will vary slightly.
Symptoms of the disease
Signs of illness in babies are quite characteristic. This makes it possible to take action as soon as bronchitis in children begins. Treatment at home, undertaken immediately, can protect the baby from prolonged malaise.
The first bells indicating impending bronchitis:
- Dry cough, tormenting the child constantly. Significantly amplified at night. Over time, a wet cough appears.
- Chest pain.
- The temperature can rise to 38 ° C. Ailments often do not cause higher marks on the thermometer.
- Hard breath. It can be accompanied by wheezing, whistling. Sometimes shortness of breath appears.
Diagnosis of ailment
If the baby has signs of developing bronchitis, be sure to seek help from a pediatrician. To diagnose an ailment, a child can be prescribed the following examinations:
- blood test (from a finger);
- X-ray (allows you to diagnose either bronchitis or pneumonia);
- analysis of sputum expectorated by the baby.
Very rarely, the disease leads to serious complications. In most cases, it is easily treatable. And often it does not require any serious measures.
Baby disease
Bronchitis in children under one year of age is usually a complication of a bacterial or viral infection in the respiratory tract. But sometimes the disease occurs for no apparent reason. The disease can be suspected by a characteristic noise in the chest and wheezing. The cause of this symptomatology lies in the mucus that has accumulated in the airways.
For the treatment of infants, pediatricians usually prescribe:
- anti-inflammatory, mucolytic drug - "Bromhexine";
- antipyretic medicine (if necessary) - "Paracetamol";
- antibiotic (rarely) - Cefuroxime.
Timely treatment started is characterized by a favorable prognosis. Very rarely, any complications are observed in infants.
Features of treatment of younger children
Antibiotics are prescribed extremely rarely. But if it comes to the smallest, that is, bacterial bronchitis is diagnosed in a child of 2 years of age or younger children, an antibiotic is required. As a rule, drugs are used orally or in the form of inhalations.
After the appointment, the question often arises as to why the baby was not prescribed a cough medicine? It is especially often asked if a child is diagnosed with bronchitis 2 years of age or younger. You should not try to give him drugs that fight cough. Young children do well with the above symptom without medication.
It is worth remembering that until the age of 2, mucolytics are prohibited. The weak muscles of the chest of the child are not able to "cough" mucus. This leads to the opposite effect. Mucus settles in the lungs, resulting in stagnation.
Acute bronchitis
This kind of ailment is a manifestation of almost any catarrhal disease. Children with weakened immunity are more exposed to it. It is in such babies that the risk of getting sick is high enough. Sometimes you can observe frequent bronchitis in a child. This, as a rule, characterizes the mixed nature of the infection. Initially, the virus enters the body. Over time, a bacterial infection is connected to it.
Faced with an ailment, you should not fight it yourself. Remember, the treatment of acute bronchitis in children should be prescribed exclusively by a pediatrician! Otherwise, a whole "bunch" of consequences is possible. It is impossible to exclude the likelihood that a cough is a symptom of a completely different ailment.
Thus, the treatment of acute bronchitis in children requires an attentive and responsible attitude. The methods of struggle must be comprehensive. The pediatrician will definitely recommend all the necessary measures. As a rule, the treatment is complex.
Antiviral drugs
Treatment includes exposure to the source of the disease - its pathogen. In most cases, the doctor prescribes Interferon. This is an excellent antiviral drug. It is recommended that the child bury it in the nasal passages every two hours.
If the causative agent of the disease is a bacterium, and not a virus, then an antibiotic is included in the appointment. Broad-spectrum drugs are selected. The following antibiotics are recommended in pediatrics:
- "Augmentin."
- Amoxiclav.
- Cefotaxime.
- Ceftriaxone.
Antitussive drugs
These drugs are prescribed depending on the phase of the disease. The first is characterized by an annoying cough. The doctor usually prescribes:
Excellent expectorant medications are:
- "Ambroxol".
- Pertusin.
- "Lazolvan."
- Mukaltin.
Their action is aimed at diluting sputum, restoring the mucous membrane. Medicines help eliminate mucus.
There are pharmacological agents that can suppress cough. These drugs can only be purchased with a doctor’s prescription. Only a pediatrician can judge the need for such medications.
Massage
This procedure is recommended as adjuvant therapy. It is allowed to massage with bronchitis in children only after they reach the age of 6 months.
The baby should be laid on the tummy. The head of a small patient should be almost a level lower than the chest and pelvis. This can be achieved by placing a pillow or a folded blanket under the child’s body.
Massage for bronchitis in children should begin with gentle rubbing with essential oil of the back. Carefully tap the ridge of the baby and its branches with the fingertips. After such a procedure, the child needs to be seated and allowed to clear his throat. Massage helps sputum exit the lungs.
Lay the child immediately on one side. Follow all the procedures described above. Repeat steps should be on the other side. Massage should last from 10 to 15 minutes. Pediatricians are advised to carry out no more than two procedures per day.
At the same time, you should know that at an elevated temperature and dry cough without sputum, massage should not be done.
Diet and regimen
These are also important factors. Their observance can contribute to the healing process. Therefore, you should not neglect them. The baby's nutrition should be healthy and balanced. It should consist of easily digestible products.
Drinking regimen is also important. Fluids for a sick child need 2 times more. You can offer your baby tea with raspberries, cranberry drinks, rose hip drinks. Allergens are generally best excluded from the diet. Refuse honey, chocolate, citrus.
Therapeutic inhalation
The procedure is considered very effective. After all, there is a direct effect of the drug on the bronchi. For inhalation, the child is good to use a nebulizer at home. But you should know that the device is suitable only for pharmacy products. The device can be used if mineral alkaline waters are used.
If you plan to connect, to cure bronchitis in a child, folk remedies, then inhalation is carried out over a saucepan. The baby is covered with a towel, and he inhales warm steam.
Remember, there is a limitation for such an effective procedure - it is a fever! When it is impossible to carry out inhalation.
So, if the choice is limited to folk remedies, then several recipes will come in handy (just remember to coordinate them with the pediatrician):
- Add 7-8 drops of iodine per liter of boiling water. In a solution, add a spoonful of salt. To increase the effect of this inhalation, you can dilute the mixture with a small fraction of propolis.
- An excellent result is the use of the so-called breast collection, supplemented by eucalyptus leaves. This procedure has a fairly high healing effect.
- An excellent result will be shown by inhalation, for which branches of sea buckthorn, raspberry and mint (dry) are used. All ingredients must be steamed in boiling water for 5 hours.
Tips by Dr. Komarovsky
Recently, many parents began to listen with pleasure to the eminent doctor. After all, he does not just recommend methods to combat the disease. His advice allows you to recover from diseases much faster.
What recommendations does a miracle doctor give if bronchitis is detected in children? Komarovsky stresses that coughing is a symptom of a disease that the doctor should diagnose. And the disease should be treated together, listening to the doctor’s recommendations.
Cough helps to eliminate mucus from the child's body. Therefore, it is important that sputum does not dry out. After all, it has an effect on the process of self-healing. For this, the baby needs fresh cool air and a lot of liquid.
Komarovsky recommends treating bronchitis in children only by agreement with the attending pediatrician. To combat the main symptom - cough - the doctor offers a list of effective and fairly harmless drugs:
- Mukaltin.
- Potassium iodide.
- Ammonium Anise Drops.
- Bromhexine.
- "Lazolvan."
- "Acetylcysteine."
The doctor condemns the appointment of antibiotics for bronchitis . He bluntly states that such a measure in most cases not only does not cure, but also leads to serious complications. Dr. Komarovsky identifies the main directions of the fight against illness in children. Consider them:
- inclusion of antiviral drugs;
- high fluid intake
- humidification in the room in which the sick baby is;
- treatment of the nasal cavity.
The doctor emphasizes the use of massage procedures as a special point in his methodology. Of course, at high temperatures this is a taboo, this procedure is unacceptable! But in the stage when bronchitis occurs without a child’s temperature, massage allows you to get rid of mucus much easier and faster.
To the above method, you can add another amazing technique recommended by a famous doctor.
Invite your baby to take a deep breath. After that, the child will begin to cough. It is at such a moment that you should compress the baby's chest with both hands.
Dr. Komarovsky believes that massage techniques for treating bronchitis are the most effective means of combating an ailment.
Vitamin therapy
The child's body weakens under the pressure of infections. And to mobilize forces to combat the disease need as soon as possible. Therefore, it is important to help the small body overcome the infection. This significantly stimulates recovery. A sick child is especially in need of vitamins B1, B2, C, A. This measure is considered not only therapeutic. It is also a great preventative method of fighting infections. Therefore, it is not recommended to stop taking vitamins immediately after recovery.
Preventative measures
What factors can protect a child’s body from a formidable ailment? The most important thing is to protect your child from tobacco smoke. The kid should not be a passive smoker. This has a very negative effect on children's bronchi.
It is equally important to teach a child to harden. Never try to wrap up your child. Become equal to yourself. If the weather you wear a thin knitted hat, then the child should wear this, not fur.
Be sure to carry out all vaccinations prescribed by the local pediatrician.
Conclusion
Never self-medicate. Remember that only a pediatrician can diagnose bronchitis in children. Treatment at home will only benefit if it is agreed with the doctor. Let your baby be healthy.