The most common disease inyoung children is bronchitis. It is an acute inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bronchi caused by an infectious agent. Such inflammation causes swelling of the mucous membrane, as a result of which the diameter of the lumen of the lungs narrows and their patency is impaired. Inflammation in the bronchi causes a disruption in the normal activity of the bronchial glands, and they begin to produce a viscous secretion that is difficult to cough up. Sputum accumulates in the child's airways, making breathing difficult and causing a painful dry cough.
Symptoms of bronchitis
Thus, bronchitis in children has symptomsthe following: wheezing, copious secretion of sputum or its absence. The child's health worsens, he becomes weak and lethargic, and his body temperature rises. Often at the beginning of bronchitis in children a runny nose appears. Acute bronchitis causes a cough in the first days of the disease. Bronchitis in children under one year is often quite severe - they develop shortness of breath and frequent obsessive cough of an irritating type, breathing is impaired. Such bronchitis is called "obstructive bronchitis". The inner walls of the bronchi in bronchitis are inflamed, covered with cloudy secretion, edematous and have a bright red color. The causes of bronchitis can be viral infections, pathogenic bacteria, fungi, toxins. Viral bronchitis is the most common. The most severe bronchitis is bacterial and fungal. Recently, allergic bronchitis has become more common among children, which is a consequence of the mucous membrane's reaction to dust, pollen and other allergens. The most favorable factors for the development of the disease in children are dampness, cold, large crowds of people, passive smoking, and nasopharyngeal infections. Long-term inhalation of tobacco smoke has a particularly strong effect on the delicate mucous membrane of a child. Acute bronchitis in children under 1 year of age can occur at a fairly high temperature, but most often it is only slightly higher than normal. Severe intoxication is almost never observed. Complicated courses of the disease occur in weakened children and children with respiratory tract malformations. Such diseases often provoke chronic bronchitis, which a person will suffer from for the rest of their life. The most dangerous form of bronchitis is bronchiolitis. This is a very severe disease that causes severe respiratory distress and oxygen deficiency, which require immediate hospitalization of the child. Symptoms of bronchiolitis include severe shortness of breath, chest swelling, blue fingers, and blue circles around the lips. At the slightest manifestation of such symptoms in a child, it is necessary to immediately call an ambulance. In small children, bronchitis is sometimes severe and difficult to treat. In general, with proper treatment, the damaged lining of the child's bronchi recovers fairly quickly, the cough disappears, and, within about two weeks, the child fully recovers. Of course, this treatment should be prescribed by a pediatrician who is observing the child. He will be able to correctly determine the child's condition, select the necessary drugs for treatment and the type of research that needs to be done, and, if necessary, prescribe antibiotics. However, some measures to treat bronchitis can be carried out independently.
Bronchitis in children. Treatment
The main methods for treating bronchitisare the destruction of the infection that caused it, the elimination of edema of the respiratory tract, a decrease in the viscosity of sputum and its removal from the respiratory tract, and a decrease in dry cough. Many young parents, suspecting bronchitis in children, have a vague idea of how to treat it. First of all, the child must be protected from hypothermia and dampness and provided with fresh air. If the child has weakness and lethargy, and a fever, he must be put to bed. If hoarseness and coughing occur, you should not talk to the child a lot - excessive talking will cause new coughing fits and increase hoarseness. As for nutrition, in the first days of the disease it should be focused on the child's appetite and be sure to include fruits, vegetables, juices. Especially important during this period is plenty of fluids. It reduces the thickness of sputum, which then comes off well, and increases the effectiveness of expectorants. A sick child can be given weak tea, fruit drink, decoction, mineral water. No medications can be used without a doctor's prescription - they can cause side effects that will lead to complications of the disease. Hot foot baths before bedtime and general warm baths, to which herbs with an anti-inflammatory effect can be added, are very useful for a child with bronchitis. Such baths are carried out in the absence of a high temperature and allergies to herbs. For bronchitis, a child can be given mustard plasters, which are applied to both sides of the chest or to the chest and back. They are kept for three to ten minutes. Medical cupping glasses are also effective for bronchitis, increasing blood circulation and resolving inflammation well. Cupping glasses are placed on the chest and back, bypassing the heart area, for fifteen to twenty minutes. Medicinal inhalations are used as prescribed by a doctor. For them, as a rule, a special device - an inhaler is used. At home, the most convenient and effective will be steam inhalations, inhalations with saline solution and inhalations with still mineral water. They relieve irritation of the bronchial mucosa well. Inhalations can be done daily.
Bronchitis in children. Treatment with folk remedies
Bronchitis in children folk remedies are also goodtreat. A proven and relatively safe method of such treatment is decoctions and infusions of herbs that relieve inflammation of the mucous tract and promote good expectoration of phlegm.
One of the most negative consequences of bronchitis,- bronchial asthma in children. It is quite difficult to cure a child in this case, antibiotics, as a rule, only temporarily relieve shortness of breath, and attacks of bronchial asthma, which often occur suddenly, are very dangerous. One of the methods of combating such complications of bronchitis is the use of rye straw: Two hundred grams of straw are steamed in two liters of water, a teaspoon of valerian and two tablespoons of alcohol are added to the resulting infusion. The resulting mixture is used for inhalation, allowing the child to breathe in its vapors for several minutes. After inhalation, you can put the straw on the baby's chest and hold it for forty minutes. Treatment with folk remedies can be carried out in parallel with the treatment prescribed by a doctor. However, you should still be careful with folk remedies: some of them can cause allergic reactions in a child. In general, they are very effective and are a real panacea in the treatment of bronchitis. We recommend reading: