Treatment of bronchitis in children under one year of age. Treatment of bronchitis in children Acute bronchitis treatment in children 1 year old

What is winter? These are holidays, a Christmas tree, tangerines, gifts, sleds, skis and skates. True, for the “luckiest” kids it also means snot, cough, fever, doctors and medications. Bronchitis, you know, doesn’t have a vacation; if you get sick, you get sick! But nothing - the main thing is to know how to recover quickly.

Bronchitis worries parents much more than a runny nose or, say, ARVI - and this is absolutely fair. According to statistics, respiratory diseases, in particular pneumonia (the most common complication of bronchitis), are the main cause of death in children under 4 years of age, and no achievements of modern medicine can yet influence this sad fact. Are you scared?

We understand, but there is also comforting information: bronchitis is a common childhood disease, and often it does not require special treatment at all. Paradox?

The fact is that this disease needs, first of all, a reasonable and competent approach - without “healing to death”, but also without “it will go away on its own”. Therefore, the best thing you can do for your sick child is to find a good pediatrician. Everything else depends on the circumstances. And now, having emphasized the primacy of a medical examination and prescriptions in the treatment of bronchitis, let’s move on to a theory that will help to better understand the logic of the doctor’s actions.

What is bronchitis

The human respiratory system can be schematically depicted as an inverted tree. From the nose and larynx (these are the roots of our tree), the inhaled air goes into the trachea (trunk), from there into the two main bronchi, left and right (thick branches), from them into the middle and small bronchi (thinner branches), then into bronchioles (very flimsy twigs) and into the alveoli (let them be the leaves of an imaginary plant). Actually, bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchi, accompanied by the formation of mucus (sputum). The child blows out or swallows mucus from the nose, and coughs up phlegm. The cough stops - and this is most likely the end of the inflammation.

Bronchitis may be infectious(viral, bacterial or viral-bacterial) or allergic. It can also be triggered by harmful substances that irritate the delicate tissue of the lungs (tobacco smoke, coal dust, exhaust gases, etc.). Not every bronchitis can be treated with antibiotics - some types require changes in the conditions in which the child lives, or, for example, the use of antiallergic drugs.

According to duration they are distinguished spicy bronchitis (it lasts approximately 10-21 days), recurrent(the baby suffers from acute bronchitis three times a year, or even more often), chronic(bronchitis of three months or more occurs at least once a year for 2 years). Bronchiolitis (inflammation of the smallest bronchi) deserves special mention - this disease mainly affects children in the first year of life.

Obstructive bronchitis

Preschoolers often experience bronchitis with broncho-obstructive syndrome, which is usually called obstructive bronchitis. Obstruction is a blockage of the bronchus. For example, with a runny nose, one or both nostrils may be blocked - and in this case the child breathes through the mouth. What if the bronchi are completely or partially blocked? In this case, it is almost impossible for air to enter the body!

Obstruction is caused by a combination of several factors, including: an initially narrow lumen of the bronchi, massive swelling of the mucous membrane, which further narrows this lumen, copious production of viscous and poorly discharged sputum, and (in older children) bronchospasm (additional narrowing of the bronchial lumen). As a result, instead of moving freely along a “wide highway,” the air has to “squeeze” through narrow openings. All this is accompanied by wheezing, which can be heard by placing your ear to the baby's chest or simply squatting next to him.

If obstructive bronchitis recurs, it is necessary to consult a pulmonologist or allergist - this will make sure that the baby does not have bronchial asthma.

Bronchitis in children: symptoms

Keep in mind: wheezing is a distinctive feature of obstructive bronchitis. Most often, the picture of the disease is as follows: a child who was completely healthy the day before suddenly begins to snot and cough, his temperature jumps (up to 38.5-39⁰C), each inhalation and exhalation is accompanied by gurgling wet wheezing (old-fashioned doctors said: he breathes like a barrel organ), the baby becomes lethargic and weak. The called doctor auscultates (listens) and necessarily percusses (tapping with his fingers) the child’s chest. These manipulations make it possible to assess the condition of the lung tissue by characteristic sounds and, possibly, suspect pneumonia or other lung diseases. And then the doctor says something like this:
“The child has moist rales in his lungs. It's bronchitis."
“There are no wheezes in the lungs, there is hard breathing (medics easily distinguish this special way of breathing from others). It's bronchitis."
“The child’s lungs are clean, but the wheezing comes from the nasopharynx, it’s snot gurgling. There is no bronchitis here, just ordinary nasopharyngitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose and pharynx).”
Many parents are afraid that “the cough will go down.” And completely in vain. The fact is that the cough does not “go down”! The amount of snot drawn in and then swallowed does not increase the risk of bronchitis. It all depends solely on what kind of virus caused nasopharyngitis. If this villain lives easily and freely in the cells of the bronchi, then there will be bronchitis (doctors say: the virus is tropic for lung tissue). If not, then the matter will be limited to a runny nose.

Bronchitis can also occur in a completely different way. Instead of a “bright” beginning - a smooth, almost imperceptible increase in temperature to 37.5-37.7⁰C (sometimes without this), instead of a deafening wet cough - indistinct choking without sputum. These manifestations are typical for atypical bronchitis, the causative agents of which are usually chlamydia or mycoplasma. However, such illnesses are relatively rare.

Bronchitis in children: causes

When faced with another case of bronchitis, the doctor is each time forced to determine the nature of the disease - after all, treatment depends on this. Most often, the causative agents of bronchitis are viruses - parainfluenza, adenoviruses, rhinosyncytial viruses, measles virus, etc. The trouble is that viruses literally “open the way” for bacteria, and in this case, bronchitis, which started out as viral, can quickly become viral-bacterial. For viral bronchitis, antibiotics are not required, but for bacterial bronchitis, these drugs are the basis of therapy.

Distinctive features viral bronchitis - clear or yellowish sputum, mild intoxication (the child, of course, looks sick, but does not lie down exhausted and does not refuse his favorite food) and fairly quick “self-healing.”

At bacterial bronchitis, the sputum can be purulent, intoxication is severe (a weak, pale and lethargic baby lies flat and refuses food). Without treatment, this condition lasts for quite a long time. If on the 3-4th day of illness the fever and poor health persist, and the cough remains severe and annoying, most doctors recommend starting to take antibiotics.

Attention! If clots of pus or bloody “streaks” are noticeable in the sputum, you should urgently consult a doctor. In this way, diseases of the nasopharynx or serious lung diseases can make themselves felt.

Tests for bronchitis

There are various tests to diagnose the disease. Data from a general blood test (finger prick) allow one to suspect a viral or bacterial infection. A chest x-ray can help differentiate bronchitis from pneumonia. Analysis and culture of sputum in chronic or recurrent bronchitis makes it possible to accurately identify the causative agent of the disease and exclude its allergic nature.

Bronchitis in children: treatment

For a speedy recovery you need:
Sufficient air humidity. You can, of course, hang wet sheets on the radiators the old fashioned way, but it is better to buy a modern humidifier - preferably with an additional air purification function.
Drink plenty of fluids. There is no need to force feed the baby, but he should drink as much as possible - the body needs moisture to dilute phlegm. Tea, compote, fruit drink, juice, as well as plain water are suitable.
Reasonable attitude towards temperature. If it does not rise above 38-38.5⁰С, nothing needs to be done. Remember: temperature stimulates the immune system and prevents the proliferation of viruses.

Antibiotics, in turn, are not always a prerequisite for recovery. Doctors recommend taking them only for children under 4-6 months (babies often suffer from bronchiolitis, and their bronchitis is often complicated by pneumonia) and for children of any age if bacterial bronchitis is suspected. All medications are usually given orally (by mouth) or inhaled, and intramuscular injections are usually not required. A short course of antibiotic therapy (5-7 days in doses appropriate to the patient’s age) does not cause dysbiosis syndrome. Therefore, when prescribing a modern drug, no additional medications for the liver, intestines or antifungals are required.

Cough medicines for children

Parents are ready to accept the lack of antibiotics, but the “shortage” of cough medicines causes a storm of indignation: “How can this be?! My baby coughs like that, and the doctor didn’t prescribe anything?!” However, the pediatrician can understand: most children with acute viral or even bacterial bronchitis manage well without special cough medications. Moreover, mucolytics are not recommended at all for children under 2 years of age: weak chest muscles often cannot “cough out” large amounts of mucus, and the lungs turn into a “swamp.”

Cough medicines are really needed:
with obstructive bronchitis. In this case, the doctor recommends bronchodilator drugs that expand the lumen of the bronchi;
children with serious lung diseases (developmental abnormalities, lack of enzymes that thin mucus, etc.);
in severe cases of the disease. Mucolytics are prescribed in a short course; In addition, percussion massage is performed (tapping in the chest area) and means are prescribed to facilitate coughing.

For bronchitis, inhalations are widely used - with saline solution, with mineral water, with essential oils or with special means. The type of inhaler (steam, oil, nebulizer) and the drug will be chosen by the doctor, and for mothers - and especially grandmothers! – you should firmly remember: inhalations using boiling water and kitchen utensils (pots, kettles, etc.) are unacceptable! There is little benefit from them, and the risk of serious burns is very high.

Bronchitis in a child: treatment with folk remedies

Treatment of bronchitis is rarely complete without traditional “distracting” procedures. Rubbing and mustard plasters require great care. The fact is that due to bronchitis, the allergic readiness of the lung tissue increases - and the baby can have a severe reaction to a completely ordinary pine extract or dry mustard. Total: baked onion and bear/badger fat can be used for rubbing safely, honey “cakes” with cabbage leaves - with caution, and fragrant ointments or oils - with extreme caution! For foot baths with mustard, water with a temperature of 36-40⁰C is used: excessively hot water destroys all beneficial substances.
Attention! Homemade mustard plasters can cause severe skin burns. Banks are not given to preschoolers at all.

Every mother should know this

The basis of treatment for bronchitis is the correct regimen and drinking plenty of fluids. Medicines (antibiotics, cough suppressants) are prescribed strictly individually. Don’t stuff your baby with “chemicals” just because “It helped the car and it will be useful for mine too”! “Distracting and calming” procedures are used only if they do not cause discomfort to the small patient.

Prevention of bronchitis is primarily:
elimination of passive smoking. Under no circumstances should you smoke in the same room as your child or on the street near him. Do not go to “smoking” cafes and other “harmful” places;
reduction in the incidence of ARVI. First of all, hardening will help with this. In addition, unlearn changing your baby's clothes - dress him according to the weather. If it’s winter on the calendar, but the temperature outside is above zero and there’s a warm breeze (it happens!), limit yourself to one hat and leave two extra ones at home. Any local doctor will confirm: most bronchitis occurs not in severe frosts, when most viruses die safely, but just during a thaw;
from the main bacteria - causative agents of bronchitis (pneumococcus, Haemophilus influenzae).

Shulamith Wolfson

– nonspecific inflammation of the lower respiratory tract, occurring with damage to bronchi of various sizes. Bronchitis in children is manifested by a cough (dry or with sputum of various types), increased body temperature, chest pain, bronchial obstruction, and wheezing. Bronchitis in children is diagnosed on the basis of auscultation, chest radiography, general blood test, sputum examination, respiratory function, bronchoscopy, bronchography. Pharmacotherapy of bronchitis in children is carried out with antibacterial drugs, mucolytics, and antitussives; physiotherapeutic treatment includes inhalations, ultraviolet irradiation, electrophoresis, cupping and vibration massage, exercise therapy.

General information

Bronchitis in children is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bronchial tree of various etiologies. For every 1000 children, there are 100-200 cases of bronchitis annually. Acute bronchitis accounts for 50% of all respiratory tract lesions in young children. The disease develops especially often in children in the first 3 years of life; It is most severe in infants. Due to the variety of causally significant factors, bronchitis in children is the subject of study in pediatrics, pediatric pulmonology and allergology-immunology.

Causes of bronchitis in children

In most cases, bronchitis in a child develops following viral diseases - influenza, parainfluenza, rhinovirus, adenovirus, respiratory syncytial infection. Somewhat less frequently, bronchitis in children is caused by bacterial pathogens (streptococcus, pneumococcus, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella, Pseudomonas and Escherichia coli, Klebsiella), fungi of the genus Aspergillus and Candida, intracellular infection (chlamydia, mycoplasma, cytomegalovirus). Bronchitis in children often accompanies measles, diphtheria, and whooping cough.

Bronchitis of allergic etiology occurs in children sensitized by inhalation allergens entering the bronchial tree with inhaled air: house dust, household chemicals, plant pollen, etc. In some cases, bronchitis in children is associated with irritation of the bronchial mucosa by chemical or physical factors: polluted air, tobacco smoke, gasoline vapors, etc.

There is a predisposition to bronchitis in children with a burdened perinatal background (birth injuries, prematurity, malnutrition, etc.), constitutional anomalies (lymphatic-hypoplastic and exudative-catarrhal diathesis), congenital defects of the respiratory system, frequent respiratory diseases (rhinitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis, tracheitis), impaired nasal breathing (adenoids, deviated nasal septum), chronic purulent infection (sinusitis, chronic tonsillitis).

In epidemiological terms, the cold season (mainly the autumn-winter period), seasonal outbreaks of acute respiratory viral infections and influenza, the presence of children in children's groups, and unfavorable social and living conditions are of greatest importance.

Pathogenesis of bronchitis in children

The specifics of the development of bronchitis in children are inextricably linked with the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the respiratory tract in childhood: abundant blood supply to the mucous membrane, looseness of the submucosal structures. These features contribute to the rapid spread of the exudative-proliferative reaction from the upper respiratory tract into the depths of the respiratory tract.

Viral and bacterial toxins suppress the motor activity of the ciliated epithelium. As a result of infiltration and swelling of the mucous membrane, as well as increased secretion of viscous mucus, the “flickering” of the cilia slows down even more - thereby turning off the main mechanism of self-cleaning of the bronchi. This leads to a sharp decrease in the drainage function of the bronchi and difficulty in the outflow of mucus from the lower parts of the respiratory tract. Against this background, conditions are created for further reproduction and spread of infection, obstruction of smaller caliber bronchi with secretions.

Thus, the characteristics of bronchitis in children are the significant extent and depth of damage to the bronchial wall and the severity of the inflammatory reaction.

Classification of bronchitis in children

Based on their origin, primary and secondary bronchitis in children is distinguished. Primary bronchitis initially begins in the bronchi and affects only the bronchial tree. Secondary bronchitis in children is a continuation or complication of another pathology of the respiratory tract.

The course of bronchitis in children can be acute, chronic and recurrent. Taking into account the extent of inflammation, limited bronchitis (inflammation of the bronchi within one segment or lobe of the lung), widespread bronchitis (inflammation of the bronchi of two or more lobes) and diffuse bronchitis in children (bilateral inflammation of the bronchi) are distinguished.

Depending on the nature of the inflammatory reaction, bronchitis in children can be catarrhal, purulent, fibrinous, hemorrhagic, ulcerative, necrotic and mixed. In children, catarrhal, catarrhal-purulent and purulent bronchitis is more common. A special place among respiratory tract lesions is occupied by bronchiolitis in children (including obliterative) - bilateral inflammation of the terminal parts of the bronchial tree.

According to etiology, viral, bacterial, viral-bacterial, fungal, irritative and allergic bronchitis in children are distinguished. Based on the presence of obstructive components, non-obstructive and obstructive bronchitis in children is distinguished.

Symptoms of bronchitis in children

Development acute bronchitis in children, in most cases, signs of a viral infection precede: sore throat, coughing, hoarseness, runny nose, symptoms of conjunctivitis. A cough soon appears: obsessive and dry at the beginning of the disease, by 5-7 days it becomes softer, moist and productive with the separation of mucous or mucopurulent sputum. In case of acute bronchitis, a child experiences an increase in body temperature up to 38-38.5 ° C (lasting from 2-3 to 8-10 days depending on the etiology), sweating, malaise, chest pain when coughing, in young children - shortness of breath. The course of acute bronchitis in children is usually favorable; the disease ends with recovery on average after 10-14 days. In some cases, acute bronchitis in children can be complicated by bronchopneumonia. With recurrent bronchitis in children, exacerbations occur 3-4 times a year.

Obstructive bronchitis in children it usually manifests itself in the 2-3rd year of life. The leading sign of the disease is bronchial obstruction, which is expressed by paroxysmal cough, noisy wheezing, prolonged exhalation, and distant wheezing. Body temperature may be normal or low-grade. The general condition of children usually remains satisfactory. Tachypnea, shortness of breath, and participation of auxiliary muscles in breathing are less pronounced than with bronchiolitis. Severe obstructive bronchitis in children can lead to respiratory failure and the development of acute cor pulmonale.

Chronical bronchitis in children it is characterized by exacerbations of the inflammatory process 2-3 times a year, occurring sequentially for at least two years in a row. Cough is the most constant sign of chronic bronchitis in children: during remission it is dry, during exacerbations it is wet. Sputum is coughed up with difficulty and in small quantities; has a mucopurulent or purulent character. There is a low and variable fever. A chronic purulent-inflammatory process in the bronchi can be accompanied by the development of deforming bronchitis and bronchiectasis in children.

Diagnosis of bronchitis in children

Primary diagnosis of bronchitis in children is carried out by a pediatrician, clarification - by a pediatric pulmonologist and a pediatric allergist-immunologist. When establishing the form of bronchitis in children, clinical data (nature of cough and sputum, frequency and duration of exacerbations, course characteristics, etc.), auscultatory data, results of laboratory and instrumental studies are taken into account.

The auscultatory picture of bronchitis in children is characterized by scattered dry (wheezing in case of bronchial obstruction) and moist rales of various sizes.

In a general blood test, at the height of the severity of the inflammatory process, neutrophilic leukocytosis, lymphocytosis, and an increase in ESR are detected. Allergic bronchitis in children is characterized by eosinophilia. A blood gas study is indicated for bronchiolitis to determine the degree of hypoxemia. Of particular importance in the diagnosis of bronchitis in children is sputum analysis: microscopic examination, sputum culture, AFB examination, PCR analysis. If the child is unable to independently cough up bronchial secretions, bronchoscopy with sputum collection is performed.

X-ray of the lungs with bronchitis in children reveals an increase in the pulmonary pattern, especially in the hilar zones. When performing an FVD, a child may experience moderate obstructive disorders. During the period of exacerbation of chronic bronchitis in children with

Imperfect thermoregulation and immature immunity in children are risk factors for frequent inflammatory viral diseases. At an early age, they are especially difficult and require the closest attention.

Bronchitis in young children is often one of the manifestations of viral infection; the highest incidence is observed in children under 3 years of age. Every year, bronchial inflammation is diagnosed in 10% to 25% of children under 6 years of age.

Inflammation of the bronchi in children is provoked by external factors to a much higher degree than in adults. Ambient air pollution contributes to increased respiratory morbidity.

Stove heating, cooking on gas stoves, car exhaust fumes, industrial emissions of toxic gases, passive smoking - these factors contribute to the increase in morbidity in children.

The main symptom of bronchitis in children is cough. At first it is dry, then, as phlegm appears, it becomes moisturized. The cough lasts 2-3 weeks, depending on the aggressiveness of the virus that caused the inflammation.

In young and young children, bronchitis is usually manifested by low-grade fever (37.5 0 C), lethargy, lack of appetite, and repeated bouts of coughing.

It is especially important not to miss the signs of bronchitis at the very beginning of the disease to avoid pneumonia or other complications in children.

In children under one year old

Newborns and infants get sick easily, picking it up from older children and parents. Acute bronchitis in a child under 6 months often occurs with symptoms of bronchial obstruction - difficulty in removing sputum.

If a baby has conjunctivitis in the first months of life, which is later accompanied by cough, lethargy, decreased appetite, and rapid breathing, then it can be assumed that the chlamydial form of the disease is developing.

Treatment of bronchitis with such symptoms involves the use of antibiotics in children under the supervision of a physician.

Symptoms such as a red throat, lack of appetite, and restless sleep will help you understand that a child has acute bronchitis. Characteristic symptoms of bronchial inflammation in infants under one year of age are:

• , alternating with wet;
• hard breathing with difficulty exhaling.

In children under one year of age, there is a high probability of complications of bronchitis, the development of bronchiolitis, characterized by increased shortness of breath, cyanosis of the skin, and visible symptoms of intercostal muscle tension.

More information about bronchiolitis is described in the article “Bronchiolitis in infants and children under 2 years of age.”

Children under 5 years old

Children aged 3-4 years often experience symptoms of obstructive bronchitis, characterized by such signs as shortness of breath during exhalation and moist rales.

The baby sweats a lot in his sleep. In the morning, mom is faced with the “wet pillow” symptom, in which the hair on the back of his head and neck are wet from sweat.

In children under 5 years of age, with 2-3 repeated acute bronchitis within a year, a recurrent form of inflammation develops. This disease, which lasts more than 2 years, becomes chronic in children with coughing up purulent sputum.

Treatment

Infants and newborns with a severe course of the disease are hospitalized, children older than one year are treated at home, following the instructions of a pediatrician or pulmonologist.

Children under one year old

Infants are given chest massage and rubbing with Vishnevsky ointment, without affecting the heart area. The room needs to maintain a constant humidity of 55-65%, especially in winter, when the air is dried by steam heating.

For acute bronchitis in a child under 5 years of age, the pediatrician may prescribe treatment with the following drugs:

You can improve the discharge of mucus by inhalation through a nebulizer of saline solution with Pulmicort or Lazolvan. They moisturize the mucous membrane and have an anti-inflammatory effect when inhaled with saline solution, chamomile decoction, and Borjomi.

The duration of inhalation should not exceed 7 minutes; the procedure is done three times a day. More information about inhalation methods is written in the article “Inhalations for coughs.”

Rinsing the nose with saline, Dolphin, and Aquamaris solutions helps prevent the accumulation of mucus in the nasal passages.

Children under 5 years old

Children under 2 years of age are not prescribed mucolytics for the treatment of acute bronchitis, and they try not to use cough medications. This is due to the weakness of the lungs at this age. They simply will not be able to independently remove the resulting amount of sputum caused by taking mucolytics.

Mucolytics, expectorants

At 2 years of age, the child is prescribed treatment with cough suppressants for severe acute bronchitis. If a severe cough does not stop, you can give Bromhexine, Doctor Mom, ACC, Fluditec, Guaifenesin, Bronchicum, Ambroxol.

The action of these drugs thins the sputum, but does not cause an increase in its volume. When prescribing expectorants, it is necessary to provide warm, plenty of fluids. With a lack of water, the viscosity of sputum increases.

In young children, taking expectorants may cause vomiting. To prevent this from happening, it is preferable to give medications in the form of syrups, crush the tablets well, dissolve them in water, and wash them down with warm water.

Immediately after a coughing attack, the baby should be offered to drink warm water. This simple trick often works. If there are signs of a coughing attack coming, taking a sip of warm water can help prevent it. A glass of warm drink should always be close to the patient.

Antihistamines have a drying effect when there is excessive sputum; they are prescribed to children with allergies.

To improve sputum discharge, treat with Mucaltin. These tablets are made from marshmallow, a medicinal plant with expectorant properties. Mucaltin tablet can be given to children by dissolving it in water.

Mucosalvan, Bronkatar, Bisolvon, Mukodin, Mucopront thin the sputum. Water infusions of medicinal plants - plantain, anise, licorice root - help with cough.

Mucolytics are prescribed together with drugs that facilitate coughing up sputum. To better remove mucus from the bronchi, a massage is performed in the form of gentle tapping of the chest and back.

Antitussive drugs for acute bronchitis are not prescribed to children under 5 years of age.

To free the bronchi from mucus immediately after waking up, you can ask the baby to bend over from the bed, focusing on his hands, so that the upper body hangs freely down. In a playful way, you need to occupy him so that he hangs down from the bed, doing this exercise several times for 15 minutes.

Antibiotics

Children under 5 years old should not be prescribed systemic antibiotics. From the age of 2.5 years, the local antibiotic Fusafungin is used. The drug is available as an aerosol and is used for inhalation.

Fusafungin has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal effects, which is important when treating with antibiotics to prevent the growth of one's own fungal microflora.

Antibiotics are used for bronchitis in children under 5 years of age:

• protected penicillins (Amoxicillin + clavulanic acid) – Amoxiclav, Augmentin;
• 3rd generation cephalosporins (Cefuorxime, Cefaclor);
• macrolides - Sumamed, Azitrox, Clarithromycin, Azithromycin.

Flemoxin and Flemoclav are available in a convenient form for the treatment of young children - in the form of soluble effervescent tablets. Treatment for bronchitis with Ospen syrup, containing a penicillin antibiotic, does not cause negative emotions in young children.

Among the anti-inflammatory drugs used in children with bronchitis, Fenspiride is prescribed. For acute viral bronchitis, children under 5 are prescribed antiviral drugs, interferons - Viferon, Cycloferon.

Steam inhalations are strictly prohibited for children due to the risk of burns to the respiratory tract.

Auxiliary procedures

In addition to drug treatment, children are shown:

It is especially important when treating children of all ages to provide plenty of warm fluids. The lack of liquid is replenished with warm fruit drinks - cranberry, lingonberry, heated mineral water (Borjomi), warm tea with raspberries.

Children are advised to stay at home until complete recovery. If the baby is not cured and taken to kindergarten, he will easily get sick again, having become infected from other children. As the child recovers and feels better, short ones will be useful.

Bronchitis is a respiratory disease that can have dangerous complications. Parents have many questions about the treatment of this disease: in what cases are antibiotics used and whether the child can be cured with inhalations and warming procedures. The baby’s condition can deteriorate sharply, it all depends on the form of the disease and age. Therefore, home treatment should always be coordinated with your doctor. To speed up recovery, you need to maintain optimal humidity and temperature in the room.

• What is bronchitis? Types of disease
• Causes of the disease
• Symptoms of various types of bronchitis
• Types of acute bronchitis
• Symptoms of simple bronchitis
• Symptoms of obstructive bronchitis
• Signs of bronchiolitis

The course of bronchitis in children of different ages Diagnosis of bronchitis Treatment of bronchitis

• Medicines prescribed for children with bronchitis
• The use of traditional methods for bronchitis

What is bronchitis? Types of disease

This is the name for inflammation of the bronchial mucosa. The disease is infectious and allergic in nature. Often the inflammatory process appears against the background of colds and flu. Most often, children get infectious bronchitis during the cold season, when the body's immune defense weakens.

The infection enters the child’s body from the outside by inhaling contaminated air. It is also possible to activate one’s own opportunistic microflora, which is facilitated by hypothermia of the body and decreased immunity.

Depending on the cause of occurrence, the following types of bronchitis are distinguished:

1. Bacterial. Its causative agents are bacteria such as streptococci, staphylococci, pneumococci, Haemophilus influenzae and pertussis bacillus, chlamydia, and mycoplasma.
2. Viral. It occurs due to the penetration of influenza viruses and adenoviruses into the bronchi.
3. Allergic. It occurs when the bronchi are irritated by chemicals, dust or pollen, or particles of animal hair.

Infectious species are contagious. When a patient sneezes or coughs, the infection spreads 10 meters around.

When breastfeeding, a child has passive immunity, that is, with mother's milk he receives protective antibodies to infections. Therefore, babies under the age of 1 year suffer from bronchitis only in cases where they have abnormalities in the development of the respiratory system, they were born prematurely, or the body is weakened by other diseases.

The development of infection in the bronchi occurs when the mucus formed in them as a result of irritation and inflammation of the mucous membrane dries out, blocking the respiratory passages. In this case, the ventilation of these organs is disrupted.

Causes of the disease

The causes of bronchitis in children are:

If treatment of bronchitis in children is not carried out in a timely manner or turns out to be ineffective, then the disease from an acute form becomes chronic. Moreover, it lasts for years, with periodic relapses. Most often, recurrent bronchitis occurs in children 4-7 years old. The disease recurs 3-4 times a year after a cold, for about 2 years. There are no bronchospasm attacks.

The likelihood of a complicated disease increases if the child has inflammation of the adenoids or chronic tonsillitis. Factors contributing to the occurrence of bronchitis in an infant are early weaning, unsuitable sanitary conditions, and the presence of smokers in the house.

Symptoms of various types of bronchitis

The structure of the respiratory system in children has its own characteristics. Their respiratory passages are narrower, which makes them possible to quickly close when swelling of the mucous membrane occurs. Congenital malformations of the lungs or bronchi are more pronounced in infants. After 1-1.5 years, deviations often disappear.

Children's immunity is still developing and their susceptibility to infections is increased. The respiratory muscles are weaker, resulting in poorer ventilation of the respiratory organs than in adults. In addition, the lung capacity of children is smaller, which contributes to the accelerated spread of pathogens.

In children, the thermoregulation of the body is not sufficiently developed. They overheat faster and catch colds more easily.

Note: Spasm and swelling of the bronchi (obstruction) develops especially quickly in infants. The resulting lack of oxygen is life-threatening.

Types of acute bronchitis

There are the following types of acute disease:

1. Simple bronchitis. The manifestations are the mildest. There are no symptoms of lack of air.
2. Obstructive bronchitis. A serious and dangerous condition in which respiratory failure may occur.
3. Bronchiolitis. Inflammation of the bronchioles (bronchial tubes with a diameter of 1 mm located in the area of ​​transition to the lungs) occurs. This leads to blockage of the pulmonary vessels and the occurrence of heart disease.

Bronchitis of any type begins with the appearance of signs of a cold, which then acquire characteristic features of the inflammatory process.

Symptoms of simple bronchitis

Against the background of a cold, the child experiences general weakness, headache, and a severe dry cough for up to 7 days. Drying of mucus leads to hissing in the bronchi. If the inflammation also affects the larynx, a barking cough appears. The temperature rises to 37°-38° (depending on the severity of the disease). Gradually, a dry cough turns into a wet one. Gurgling wheezing appears. If sputum discharge occurs normally, the child’s condition improves significantly. The disease in this form can last for 1-3 weeks. The severity of the manifestations depends on the age of the baby, his physical development, and general health.

If the disease is neglected, the child may experience complications such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Sometimes a disease that occurs in a viral form has an unusual course. After the virus dies (about a week), the child feels better, but then his condition worsens sharply: the temperature rises, the cough intensifies, and the headache gets worse. This indicates that a bacterial infection has joined the viral infection and urgent treatment with antibiotics is required.

The infectious process can be either unilateral or bilateral. One of the signs of the disease is redness of the eyes due to inflammation of the mucous membrane (conjunctivitis).

Symptoms of obstructive bronchitis

Signs of obstruction most often appear in children under 3-4 years of age. They usually occur with a viral or allergic form of the disease. The main signs of obstructive bronchitis are noisy, hoarse breathing with prolonged exhalation, paroxysmal cough ending in vomiting, retraction of the intercostal muscles during inspiration, and swelling of the chest.

With this form of the disease, the child’s body temperature does not increase. Obstructive bronchitis can occur suddenly after the baby plays with a pet (for example, at a party) or inhales paint during repairs.

Signs of obstruction sometimes appear around the 4th day of illness with influenza or acute respiratory infections. Characteristic attacks are dry coughs that do not bring relief. Whistling sounds are heard in the lungs.

Up to 4 years of age, relapses of the disease are possible, then attacks most often stop.

Note: Obstructive bronchitis differs from bronchial asthma in that the symptoms of respiratory failure develop slowly, while with asthma the child begins to choke suddenly.

A frequently recurring obstructive process of any origin can develop into bronchial asthma.

Video: How to treat obstructive bronchitis in children

Signs of bronchiolitis

The main sign of inflammation of the bronchioles is shortness of breath. Initially, it occurs in a child if he is actively moving, but over time it also appears at rest. During inhalation, you can hear a characteristic hissing sound. When listening, the doctor hears wheezing in the lower part of the bronchi.

As a rule, with bronchiolitis the temperature rises to 38°-39°. It is more difficult for a child to exhale than to inhale. The chest and shoulders rise. The face swells and turns blue. A persistent cough with scanty sputum does not provide relief, causing chest pain. Manifestations of this condition are also dry mouth, rare urination, and rapid heartbeat.

The course of bronchitis in children of different ages

Bronchitis after a cold in a child is a common occurrence. Sometimes it occurs easily, without fever and is manifested only by a cough. In complicated cases, the temperature is high, bronchospasms and suffocation occur.

The disease usually begins with a dry cough. Gradually, sputum accumulates in the bronchi, which becomes mucopurulent. Wheezing appears; they can be considered signs of the disease transitioning to the recovery stage. At this moment, it is important to facilitate the removal of mucus and cleanse the bronchi of infection. This is easier for older children, since they already understand that they need to cough and spit out mucus.

A small child is not always able to do this on his own. Parents can help him, for example, by turning him over to the other side. In this case, sputum moves along the walls of the bronchi, causing irritation and coughing.

In infants, due to difficulties with the removal of mucus from the bronchi and its stagnation, the main symptoms are often attacks of severe coughing with shortness of breath. At the age of 2-6 months, the disease usually occurs in the form of bronchiolitis.

Typically, recovery from uncomplicated bronchitis occurs within 7-8 days. If bronchitis is complicated by obstruction, it can manifest itself within several weeks and develop into pneumonia.

Diagnosis of bronchitis

Based on the nature of the cough and the type of sputum produced, the doctor determines what type of bronchitis occurs in the child. White sputum is characteristic of viral inflammation, and a greenish-yellow tint appears with bacterial inflammation of the bronchi. With allergic bronchitis, lumps of clear mucus are coughed up.

During examination and listening to the chest, the presence of such symptoms of bronchitis in children as hoarse breathing, difficulty in exhaling, swelling of the chest, and retraction of muscles in the intercostal area is determined.

Using a general blood test, the number of leukocytes is determined and the presence of an inflammatory process is established.

In case of dangerous complications (severe coughing attacks accompanied by high fever for more than 3 days), an x-ray of the lungs is taken. In this case, equipment with a reduced dose of radioactive radiation is used. Pneumotachometry is performed. Using a special device, the patency of the airways is examined during inhalation and exhalation.

If there are signs of an infectious disease, a sputum test is performed to determine the type of infectious agent. To diagnose bronchiolitis in infants, a histological examination of sputum is performed for the presence of characteristic viruses that can live in the bronchi and lungs, the so-called respiratory syncytial infection. An important sign of bronchial inflammation in an infant is cyanosis (blueness of the skin and mucous membranes), which appears as a result of heart and pulmonary failure.

To make a diagnosis, the presence of characteristic wheezing and shortness of breath, as well as the frequency and strength of the heartbeat, is important.

A severe cough can also occur with other diseases, such as pneumonia, laryngitis, tuberculosis. Its cause may be a congenital pathology of the functioning of the respiratory system, or the entry of a foreign body into the trachea. Diagnostics allows you to confirm the presence of bronchitis and prescribe the correct treatment.

Video: Doctor E. Komarovsky about the cause and treatment of bronchitis

Treatment of bronchitis

First of all, parents must remember that it is under no circumstances acceptable to self-medicate. As pediatrician E. Komarovsky emphasizes, a small child with bronchitis can be harmed not only by uncontrolled use of medications, but also by improper use of home procedures.

Hospitalization is carried out in cases where acute bronchitis occurs in a complicated form (in the presence of shortness of breath, high temperature, difficulty in eating and drinking water). At home, when treating simple bronchitis, the child should stay in bed if he has a high temperature. As soon as it returns to normal, the child needs walks in the fresh air.

It is necessary to often drink warm tea, compote (liquid consumption should be increased by 1.5 times compared to usual). This helps to liquefy mucus and remove it from the bronchi. For drinking, you can prepare herbal teas (linden, mint). It is useful to drink alkaline mineral water, which will help reduce the viscosity of sputum. The infant is placed on the breast as often as possible and given additional water.

Thermal procedures (inhalations, mustard plasters, foot warming baths, chest rubbing) can be carried out only in the absence of elevated body temperature.

Medicines prescribed for children with bronchitis

For acute bronchitis, the doctor prescribes antiviral drugs such as arbidol, anaferon, influferon, interferon, taking into account the age and weight of the child.

Antibiotics for bronchitis are effective only when the disease is bacterial in nature. They are prescribed when thick sputum is yellow-green in color, and there is a high temperature, difficulty breathing, and symptoms of intoxication of the body (nausea, severe headache, weakness, sleep disturbance). The presence of a bacterial process can be indicated if the symptoms of the disease do not subside within 10 days after the start of antiviral treatment. Antibiotics are necessary if a child develops bronchiolitis and there is a risk of it developing into pneumonia. Children are usually prescribed azithromycin, zinnat, suprax, sumamed.

Cough remedies. The following types of drugs are used:

• expectorants (pertussin, licorice root extract, decoctions of some herbs);
• sputum thinners, such as bromhexine, lazolvan, libexin.

Warning: Children under 2 years of age should not be given expectorants. Taking them will intensify the coughing attack. Liquefied mucus can enter the airways and lungs, leading to even more serious complications.

Antipyretics. Panadol (paracetamol), nurofen (ibuprofen), and ibuclin are used in the form of tablets, suspensions, suppositories - in forms convenient for children of any age.

Antihistamines (Zyrtec - for children over 6 months, Erius - from 1 year, Claritin - from 2 years). They are used in the treatment of allergic bronchitis in children.

Preparations for inhalation. Used for obstructive acute bronchitis. The procedures are carried out using a special inhaler. Such agents as salbutamol and Atrovent are used.

Additional procedures include chest massage, therapeutic breathing exercises, and physiotherapeutic treatment (ultraviolet irradiation, electrophoresis). Procedures are not performed during the period of exacerbation of the disease.

Video: Therapeutic massage for coughs

The use of traditional methods for bronchitis

Traditional medicines based on natural ingredients help alleviate a child’s condition with bronchitis, carry out preventive treatment to prevent relapses, and strengthen the immune system. Such drugs, after consultation with the doctor, are taken as an addition to drug treatment.

Note: The famous Moscow doctor, chief pulmonologist of Russia, Professor L.M. Roshal, strongly recommends using the “Monastic Collection”, composed of 16 herbs (sage, string, wormwood and others) for chronic bronchitis. Herbal remedies, mustard, honey and other medicinal components used in traditional medicine cause allergies in many people. Therefore, they cannot be used by everyone.

A decoction of coltsfoot can be used as an expectorant; a decoction of St. John's wort, which has a bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effect, is good for soothing coughs in cases of simple bronchitis. A well-known cure for cough for bronchitis and pneumonia is baked radish with honey and oatmeal broth. Soda inhalations also help.

Effective home treatment methods include warming and distracting procedures (foot baths, mustard plasters, cupping, warming compresses on the right side of the chest are used).

The most important measure to prevent bronchitis is timely treatment of colds, runny nose, infectious diseases of the throat and upper respiratory tract. The child must be hardened, accustomed to physical education, and he must spend a lot of time in the fresh air. It is necessary to add vitamins to your diet all year round.

It is important for parents to ensure that the apartment always has clean, cool, sufficiently humid air.

Causes and consequences of bronchitis in children.

The second most severe respiratory pathology in young children, after pneumonia, is bronchitis. Parents are sometimes very frightened by this diagnosis, and they ask the doctor many questions. I’ll say right away - bronchitis at the present stage can be treated quite successfully and goes away without a trace - if everything is done correctly.

Bronchitis is an inflammatory process of the bronchial mucosa. This disease can occur in acute or chronic form (which is much less common in children than in adults). Most often, acute bronchitis in children begins after a viral infection (for example, influenza), which causes damage to the mucous membrane of the lower respiratory tract. Among the viral pathogens, the most common are influenza, parainfluenza, and adenoviruses. First, the child’s throat becomes inflamed, and then the infection spreads further, affecting the bronchi. As a rule, the large bronchi are affected first, then the smaller ones. This is the first reason for the development of bronchitis.

The second reason is less common - a bacterial infection. Among the bacterial pathogens currently leading are streptococcus, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella. We are also talking about microbes, which are most often “transported” into the respiratory tract along with foreign bodies. A small child, talking while eating, may inhale a piece of carrot, apple or seed. In addition, young researchers love to put everything in their mouths and may accidentally inhale small parts of toys. Foreign bodies, of course, leave the respiratory tract, but the infection may remain. Then bronchitis develops.

The third reason why bronchitis is diagnosed is mixed. That is, first a viral and then a bacterial infection enters the respiratory tract.

The fourth reason is damage to the bronchi under the influence of irritating chemical or physical factors. For example, when inhaling gasoline vapors or contaminated smoke.

The fifth reason is allergic. Some children are hypersensitive to certain allergens, be it tree or flower pollen, house dust, or the odors of laundry detergents or soaps. All this can cause a reaction in the bronchial mucosa.

Symptoms of bronchitis in children

The term “bronchitis” refers to lesions of the bronchi of any caliber; “bronchiolitis” - mainly of small bronchi and bronchioles, “tracheobronchitis” - trachea in combination with bronchi. The classification adopted in Russia distinguishes acute bronchitis, acute obstructive bronchitis, bronchiolitis (including obliterative).

Acute bronchitis against the background of an acute viral infection in most cases does not require any specific treatment. The main focus of treatment in this case is control of the symptoms of the disease and general care of the patient. The main symptoms of acute bronchitis are fever, cough, and feeling of weakness. As it became clear, the same symptoms characterize most cases of “colds”. It is important to note, however, that in the uncomplicated course of acute bronchitis, the increase in body temperature and the feeling of weakness are moderate, while in severe forms of acute respiratory viral infection the patient’s serious condition is noted.

The main manifestations that allow the doctor and parents to suspect the baby has bronchitis are cough, diffuse dry and variable moist rales in the lungs. The main symptoms of inflammation of the bronchial mucosa are cough (dry or hacking), elevated body temperature, chest pain, and wheezing. When you cough, you may produce phlegm. In acute bronchitis, it appears as a clear liquid without pus; in chronic bronchitis, it appears with pus.

X-rays complement the picture - when examining there are no specific signs (as, for example, with pneumonia), usually an increase in the pulmonary pattern, expansion and non-structure of the roots of the lung are determined in the absence of infiltrative and focal shadows in the lung tissue.

In young children, bronchitis can occur with bronchial obstruction syndrome (blockage of small sections of the bronchi) - because of this, the main function of the respiratory system is disrupted - the exchange of gases and hypoxia develops. Bronchi of different sizes are affected; this occurs against the background of an acute respiratory viral infection, which causes characteristic clinical symptoms. Broncho-obstructive syndrome usually develops on the 3-4th day of acute respiratory viral infection and is manifested by expiratory (on exhalation) shortness of breath, noisy wheezing, scattered dry and varied wet rales in the lungs. X-ray reveals an increase in the pulmonary pattern, signs of swelling of the lung tissue (increased transparency, horizontal position of the ribs, high standing and flattening of the domes of the diaphragm) in the absence of infiltrative and focal shadows in the lungs. Relapses, that is, repeated episodes of obstructive bronchitis are always associated with ARVI and usually stop by the age of 3-4 years.

Acute bronchiolitis occurs with primary damage to the small bronchi and bronchioles. It develops, as a rule, in children of the first year of life against the background of acute respiratory viral infection and is manifested by severe broncho-obstructive syndrome and respiratory failure. Characterized by severe shortness of breath of an expiratory nature (difficulty in exhaling only) or mixed (difficulty in both inhalation and exhalation) with the participation of auxiliary muscles - the abdomen and intercostal muscles, retraction of the compliant areas of the chest, flaring of the wings of the nose, cyanosis (blue discoloration). When listening to the chest, the doctor will hear diffuse moist, finely bubbling and crepitating (as if crunching) rales. An x-ray reveals a sharp swelling of the lung tissue and a depletion of the vascular pattern.

Repeated episodes of acute bronchitis, diagnosed 2-3 times a year or more against the background of respiratory viral infections, are defined as recurrent bronchitis. Clinical and radiological manifestations during the disease period correspond to the signs of acute bronchitis. It occurs mainly in children in the first 4-5 years of life.

Timely diagnosis of various forms of bronchitis is necessary to select adequate therapy and a monitoring system for children.

How to treat bronchitis in children?

First of all, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that you should not self-medicate. Parents should definitely consult a doctor who will give recommendations based on the cause of the disease. Treatment is prescribed depending on the age of the patient and the characteristics of the course of the disease. For example, not all acute bronchitis requires antibiotic treatment. Such measures are generally needed only when there is a threat of a bacterial infection turning into pneumonia. However, only a doctor can determine this.

A doctor may recommend treating a child’s bronchitis at home. But if symptoms of intoxication appear, high temperature in the evenings (up to 38 degrees), shortness of breath, then hospitalization is necessary. This is especially true for young children (under 3 years old). If the child is older, treatment can be carried out at home.

The basic principle of treating children with infectious bronchitis, with all its diversity, comes down to suppressing the infectious onset, improving bronchial cleansing and general therapy. The leading role belongs to antibiotic therapy. Adequate antibiotic therapy can not only relieve the symptoms of acute inflammation, but also lead to the removal of the pathogen, reducing the duration of treatment and speedy recovery.

The choice of starting drug is carried out taking into account the probable etiology (cause) and sensitivity of the suspected pathogen to antimicrobial drugs. In this case, it is always preferable to take one drug by mouth. Currently, three groups of antibiotics, the so-called “gold standard” drugs, are most widely used as first-choice antibacterial drugs: penicillins (amoxicillin, inhibitor-protected penicillins), II-III generation cephalosporins) and macrolides.

For mild to moderately severe exacerbation of chronic inflammation, more often in school-age children, treatment can only be carried out with oral (by mouth) antibiotics.

In case of pronounced inflammation activity, antibiotic therapy is carried out in a “stepped” therapy mode. In this case, antibiotics are first prescribed parenterally (intravenously, intramuscularly). When the patient's condition improves (usually after 3-5 days), they switch to oral antibiotics.

If, during therapy, the child’s condition has improved, the temperature has dropped, symptoms of intoxication have disappeared, appetite has appeared, and the child has become more active, then the choice of antibiotic was made correctly and treatment should be continued. If there is no improvement or it is slight, you should change the antibiotic. Indications for changing the antibiotic or adding a second drug are clinical ineffectiveness of therapy (persistence of fever, respiratory failure, intoxication, development of complications). Moreover, in this case, correction of therapy should be carried out taking into account the results of microbiological examination (culture) of sputum. Antibiotics must be used very carefully, because later, if a more serious inflammatory disease occurs, they may lose their effectiveness. The fact is that over time, addiction to the drug sets in, and then it can no longer be used. We have to turn to other medications, which are, accordingly, more expensive. Bronchitis should be treated in combination, using, if necessary, antibacterial therapy with physical methods, including a special diet and home care.

The duration of antibacterial treatment is usually 7 days (for acute bronchitis) and 10-14 days (for exacerbation of chronic bronchitis).

In recent years, antibiotic administration via a nebulizer has been used in addition to oral and parenteral antibiotics.

When treating children with bronchitis, agents whose action is aimed at improving the drainage function of the bronchi must be used. Mucolytic (sputum-thinning) direct-acting drugs - cysteine ​​derivatives - thiolics (acetylcysteine) are widely used in pediatric practice. However, it must be taken into account that these drugs should be prescribed only when the sputum viscosity is significantly increased, since they can make the secretion excessively liquid, resulting in a possible risk of developing bronchorrhea and flooding the lungs with liquid sputum.

Mucoactive drugs of indirect (secretolytic) action include derivatives of the alkaloid vasicine - bromhexine and its metabolites (ambroxol) and mucoregulators based on carbocysteine. These drugs normalize the rheological parameters of secretions, accelerate mucociliary transport, and have an anti-inflammatory effect, while the liquefaction of sputum is practically not accompanied by an increase in its volume.

Preparations of plant origin (ipecac roots, licorice, marshmallow, elecampane, thermopsis herb, thyme), which have an expectorant reflex effect, continue to be widely used in the practice of complex therapy of bronchitis.

Important elements of complex therapy for patients with bronchitis are physiotherapy, massage, postural drainage, and physical therapy.

Usually, bronchitis goes away in 2-3 weeks. But such a period is typical only with timely treatment. Unfortunately, in recent years the course of bronchitis and pneumonia has changed somewhat. The main difference is the long duration of the disease - up to 3-4 weeks. In addition, all the symptoms now began to appear more intensely. For example, sometimes children experience pain in the heart area. The severity of neurosthenic reactions becomes more frequent: the child becomes irritable.

Often, other diseases can be hidden under the mask of bronchitis. For example, congenital malformations of the lungs and bronchi. Therefore, all children who are diagnosed with chronic bronchitis need examination and treatment in specialized institutions.

Bronchitis after a cold

Sometimes, even with good care for a sick child, a cold is complicated by bronchitis of varying severity: from mild bronchitis, which occurs even without fever, to severe forms with high fever, with the addition of asthmatic syndrome. The main symptom of bronchitis is cough. At the beginning of the disease, the cough is usually dry. Gradually, the so-called “resolution” occurs, sputum appears and accumulates in the bronchi, and even without a phonendoscope, wheezing can be heard. These wheezing sometimes (when the child is small and does not know how to clear his throat) so torment parents!

When phlegm appears in the bronchi (wheezing becomes moist), we can assume that the disease has turned towards recovery. The main concern now is that the child clears his throat on time. It is clear that when the child is old enough, you can explain to him that he needs to cough and spit out sputum. It's more difficult with a small child. With every inhalation, with every exhalation, he wheezes - it seems that he himself would clear his throat for him... Sometimes in such cases, a change in the child’s position helps coughing up. For example, your baby was lying on his right side, and you turned him to his left; at this time, sputum, under the influence of its own weight, begins to move along the walls of the bronchi, irritates them and can provoke a cough - which is what was required.

Bronchitis in children over 1 year of age.

Depending on the severity of the process, only the mucous membrane of the bronchus or its entire wall may be affected. As a rule, bronchitis occurs in spring and autumn following diseases such as rhinitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, acute respiratory disease (acute respiratory disease); practice shows that children with adenoid growths and chronic tonsillitis suffer from bronchitis more often than other children. The causative agents of acute bronchitis can be respiratory viruses, staphylococci, streptococci, pneumococci, etc.

The onset of the disease is acute. A runny nose appears, then a dry cough. The child complains of general malaise. Body temperature rises to 38-39 °C and can last two to three days. After these days, the nature of the cough changes; the cough ceases to be dry and persistent (even exhausting), sputum begins to separate, which also changes over time - first it is mucous, then mucopurulent. Wheezing may be heard from a distance; the child clears his throat and the wheezing disappears. Recovery occurs in 7-8 days. In young children, acute bronchitis can occur with an asthmatic component, simultaneously with manifestations of exudative diathesis; Such bronchitis sometimes lasts for several weeks and ends with complications - pneumonia.

Treating bronchitis at home

Regardless of the severity of your child's bronchitis, treatment should be prescribed by a doctor. Of course, parents gain experience over time and already seem to know how to cope with colds and bronchitis (and even grandmothers tell them), but the child must be shown to the doctor. In addition to making an accurate diagnosis, he will also prescribe the correct comprehensive treatment and recommend the most modern medications. At the same time, you will show the doctor your first aid kit: perhaps something from your first aid kit will be used.

So, you will discuss the specifics with your doctor. And here are general recommendations...

Treatment of bronchitis is mainly symptomatic; a sick child is given antipyretics and expectorants; Distractive procedures are widely used (mustard plasters, warm compresses, foot baths, etc.). Antimicrobial treatment (antibiotics) is prescribed only in cases of prolonged bronchitis and when there is a threat of complications. Sulfonamides are not currently prescribed.

If a child gets sick with bronchitis, bed rest is necessary. Even though the child is on bed rest, the child should not lie still. He can sit in bed and play; he needs to change position from time to time - this will eliminate the possibility of congestion in the lungs.

An increase in temperature during bronchitis is a protective reaction of the body. Many microbes feel great at a temperature of 36.6 °C, but already at 36.7 °C they “retire.” If the child's temperature is below 38°C, let it rise a little; if it is higher, knock it down.

If a child has bronchitis, and especially with an asthmatic component, it is important that there is always fresh air in the room... It’s cold outside, and you need to ventilate the room. Cover the child with a blanket (over the head is possible) and ventilate. You can even create a draft for a couple of minutes.

You will not harm a child with bronchitis if you start giving him a decoction of coltsfoot. Drinking plenty of warm water is helpful. Milk with butter and honey works quite effectively. Don't forget about inhalations, soda inhalations. When wheezing becomes moist, seek the help of distraction therapy. Steam your child's feet. For bronchitis, distraction therapy can be very effective: mustard plasters, mustard wraps, warm compresses, foot and general baths, etc. Try these treatments, but only if your child does not currently have a fever. Learn to alternate them: today you put mustard plasters on your child, tomorrow - a warming compress.

Get a massage once or twice a day.

Rubbing your feet (soles) with turpentine ointment gives a good effect: this is done at night; Apply a little ointment to the sole and rub it very, very hard with your palm (you will feel how your palm is baked), then put woolen socks on the child. And, of course, mustard plasters. You already know that mustard plasters are placed on small children through the diaper, and on older children - on the reverse side. Mustard plasters should not be placed on the heart area. The pepper patch is very convenient to use. Nowadays there are many warming ointments for children in pharmacies. If a child has acute bronchitis, decoctions and infusions of pine buds (10 grams of dried buds per glass of water), as well as decoctions and infusions of thermopsis grass (0.5-0.8 grams of dried herb per glass of water) have a good healing effect.

At the onset of bronchitis, the child’s cough is dry and painful. The doctor will prescribe expectorants for your child. For your part, give your child warm milk with Borjomi, soda and honey.

If the child begins to cough up phlegm, it means that things are getting better. Now it is important to remove this phlegm regularly. Explain to your child how important it is to cough well. The lumen of the small bronchi is cleared and breathing becomes much easier.

Now the child’s cough occurs soon after changing body position. The child turned on the other side and a cough appeared. This is good. This helps cleanse the bronchi. Sputum, flowing onto the walls of the bronchi, irritates them and provokes a cough. Let the child change body position more often.

You can even have your child hang out of the bed with their feet on top, or set up an incline (feet up, head down). This promotes the flow of mucus from the bronchi.

Sputum that is expelled by coughing should not be swallowed. Explain to your child that mucus needs to be spit out.

The air in the room of a child suffering from bronchitis should not be dry. You will do well to hang wet towels in your room or use a humidifier.

Regular inhalations are very helpful for coughing. Especially alkaline ones (breathe soda steam if you don’t have an inhaler).

Coltsfoot sheet - part 1
Plantain leaf - 2 parts
Horsetail herb - 3 parts
Primrose herb - 4 parts
Pour 5-6 grams of the mixture with a glass of boiling water and leave for two hours. Depending on age, take 50-100 ml three times a day before meals.

Licorice root - 2 parts

Marshmallow root - 2 parts
Coltsfoot sheet - 2 parts
Fennel fruits - 1 part
Pour 5 grams of the dried mixture with a glass of boiling water and leave for up to three hours. Take 20-30 ml three times a day before meals.

Thyme herb - 1 part
Sweet clover herb - 1 part
Fennel fruits - 1 part
Peppermint leaf - 1 part
Plantain leaf - 2 parts
Marshmallow root - 2 parts
Lungwort herb - 4 parts
Coltsfoot sheet - 4 parts
Pour 3 grams (about one teaspoon) of the dried mixture into a glass of cold water, leave for up to two hours, then boil for five minutes, strain. Take a sip during the day (7-8 times possible).

Ledum herb - 1 part

Oregano herb - 1 part
Alder cones - 1 part
St. John's wort herb - 2 parts
Sage herb - 2 parts
Rowan fruits - 3 parts
Pour 1-1.5 teaspoons of the dried mixture into a glass of water, boil over low heat for 15-20 minutes, strain. Take 20-40 ml three times a day before meals.

Carrot juice with honey. Prepare a glass of fresh carrot juice, add three teaspoons of honey, stir. Take two to three tablespoons several times a day.

Cabbage juice. Sweetened juice from fresh cabbage, take one tablespoon three to four times a day as an expectorant (you can use honey instead of sugar).

Plantain juice. Mix plantain juice and honey in equal quantities and give the child one teaspoon three times a day as an expectorant and emollient.

Marshmallow root infusion. Grind the dried marshmallow root into powder. Pour 5 grams of powder into a glass of cold water and leave for 6-8 hours. Take two to three tablespoons three times a day.

Infusion of linden flowers. Pour one tablespoon of dried raw material into a glass of water, leave under the lid (you can also fold it under a cloth several times) for an hour, pour over it. Take half a glass three times a day.

Breathing exercises for bronchitis

Kids usually do this set of exercises with pleasure, because it resembles a game!
Crow. The child, sitting on a chair, raises both arms up to the sides while inhaling. As he exhales he says: “K-a-r-r!” and gives up.

Bug. The baby sits on a chair and holds his hands on his belt. While inhaling, he turns his body to the right, moving his right arm to the side and slightly back. After this, he exhales, saying “W-w-w-w-w.” Then he returns to the starting position, inhales and repeats a similar movement to the left.

Geese. The baby leans forward from a sitting position, arms should be raised to shoulder level. Simultaneously with the exhalation he says: “Gaaaaa.”

Stork. The baby does this exercise while standing. Invite him to portray a stork - arms raised to the sides, one leg raised, bent at the knee, and at the same time inhaled. As you exhale, the baby slowly lowers his arm and leg, while saying: “Shhhh.”

Crane. During inhalation, the baby’s arms rise up, and when exhaling, with the sound “Uuuuu”, they fall down along the body.

Flying. At the very end of the complex, the baby must quickly walk around the room, flapping his arms like a flying bird. The movement ends with walking with the obligatory slowing down of the pace.

All exercises must be repeated 4-5 times (last time at least an hour before bedtime). The child must pronounce sounds loudly and clearly. The main thing is that hissing sounds must be pronounced as you exhale.

Acute (simple) bronchitis- inflammatory damage to the bronchial mucosa without clinical signs of bronchial obstruction, predominantly of a viral or viral-bacterial nature. The main symptom of this type of bronchitis is a cough, which is dry at the beginning of the disease, and after 1-2 days it is wet with an increasing amount of sputum. Bronchitis is also accompanied by tracheitis (inflammation of the trachea), which causes a feeling of pressure or pain behind the sternum. Sputum is often mucous in nature; in the 2nd week it may acquire a greenish color, which is not a sign of microbial inflammation. The cough usually lasts up to 2 weeks. A longer cough is observed in infants with RS viral infection, and in older children with mycoplasma and adenoviral infections. With tracheitis and tracheobronchitis with fibrinous deposits, the cough may bother you for 4-6 weeks in the absence of other symptoms.

With bronchitis, diffuse dry and large- and medium-bubble, less often fine-bubble rales are heard, changing with coughing. Hematological changes (in a general blood test) are inconsistent; with mycoplasma infection, ESR may increase against the background of a normal number of leukocytes.

Bronchitis with ARVI usually develops without signs of toxicosis at subfebrile temperature - 37°C-37.5°C (or febrile in the first 1-2 days) temperature, but with adenoviral infection it can remain high for up to 7-10 days. Shortness of breath, even in children of the first year of life, can be moderate (up to 50 breaths per minute).

Mycoplasma bronchitis(caused by M. pneumoniae) is more common at school age. It usually occurs with a high temperature, contrasting with a slightly disturbed general condition and the absence of signs of toxicosis. Inflammation covers the small bronchi, which is manifested by crepitus, fine wheezing, and an increase in small elements of the pulmonary pattern on the radiograph. Unlike viral bronchitis, mycoplasma bronchitis is characterized by asymmetry of wheezing. These signs, in combination with “dry” conjunctivitis (without effusion), make it possible to suspect bronchitis of this particular etiology.

Chlamydial bronchitis(caused by Chi. trachomatis) in children of the first six months of life often occurs without obstruction, severe shortness of breath, toxicosis and hematological changes; it is diagnosed when chlamydial antibodies of the IgM class are detected in any titer or class IgG in a titer above 1:64 (the diagnosis is considered reliable if the titer of IgG antibodies is lower in the mother than in the child). Chlamydial bronchitis (caused by Chi. pneumoniae) can be suspected by simultaneously occurring sore throat and/or cervical lymphadenitis. In adolescents, it often occurs with obstruction, sometimes being the debut of bronchial asthma with a late onset.

Bronchitis is very dangerous for infants, especially if you do not pay attention to it in time.

Acute simple bronchitis

What is acute bronchitis?

Recently, there has been an increase in the incidence of bronchitis among children. At the same time, the causative agents of the disease are increasingly atypical: chlamydia and mycoplasma (Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, C. Pneumoniae). Let us immediately note that infections of this type can be very dangerous and require specialized diagnosis and treatment.
In other cases, treatment of acute bronchitis is symptomatic.

Do I need to take antibiotics for acute bronchitis?

The use of antibiotics for acute bronchitis is justified only in the case of a proven bacterial infection. Most often, the addition of a bacterial infection is manifested by the following symptoms: a second wave of fever (on the 5-7th day of illness), the appearance of copious purulent sputum, and a deterioration in the general condition of the patient.
The problem of whether or not to take antibiotics in the treatment of acute bronchitis should be decided by the attending physician. It should be noted that taking antibiotics unnecessarily can be even more harmful than not taking them when taking these medications is actually recommended.
Due to the increasing incidence of mycoplasma and chlamydia bronchitis in children and adults, in addition to such classical antibiotics as penicillins and cephalosporins, antibiotics from the macrolide group began to be used: erythromycin, azithromycin. The type of antibiotic, dose and method of administration are determined by the attending physician.

What should you pay attention to when treating acute bronchitis in children?

I would like to draw the attention of parents to the fact that in some cases, acute bronchitis can cause some serious complications (pneumonia, bronchiolitis); in such cases, treatment at home should be stopped, and the baby should be urgently hospitalized. Here are some signs that indicate an unfavorable course of the disease and the need to see a doctor:

Temperature above 38° C for more than 3-4 days and the baby’s general condition is severe.

Severe shortness of breath in a child: in newborns and children up to 2 months, more than 60 breaths per minute, in children aged 3 months to a year, more than 50 breaths per minute, in children from 1 year to 3 years, more than 40 breaths per minute.
- Noticeable retraction of the skin in the intercostal spaces when inhaling.

Clinical criteria for diagnosing acute simple bronchitis:

The general condition of the child is usually relatively satisfactory, and symptoms of intoxication are moderate, low-grade body temperature usually does not rise above 38°C, and respiratory failure is not pronounced. The baby has a cough with scanty and then more abundant sputum discharge. When listening to the chest, the doctor may detect scattered dry wheezing (less often, intermittent moist medium- and large-bubbly wheezes).

X-ray data consist of an increased pulmonary pattern in the hilar and basal parts of the lungs. The blood test showed minor inflammatory changes (significant leukocytosis is not typical), moderate acceleration of ESR.

The duration of the disease in uncomplicated cases ranges from 1 to 1.5-2 weeks. Bronchitis caused by adenoviral, mycoplasma and chlamydia infections has a more protracted course.

Basic principles of treatment of acute simple bronchitis

Treatment is usually carried out on an outpatient basis at home, with the exception of severe concomitant manifestations of ARVI. Against the background of acute manifestations of ARVI, the regime is half-bed, and then at home - the baby can get out of bed and carry out his usual activities.

It is recommended to drink plenty of fluids, in the form of herbal teas or infusions, fruit drinks, juices. The volume of liquid is 1.5-2 times the daily age requirement of the child. The diet is mainly dairy-vegetable with a limitation of extractive spicy dishes, seasonings, and a limitation of highly allergenic foods.

Antiviral therapy: interferon intranasally, 5 drops 4-6 times a day or in aerosols using an ultrasonic inhaler. If an adenoviral etiology of bronchitis is suspected, RNase, deoxyribonuclease. For influenza etiology, rimantadine, ribavirin, immunoglobulin against the background of acute manifestations of ARVI.

Antibiotics are not indicated in most cases. Indications for prescribing antibiotics are obvious foci of bacterial infection, pronounced inflammatory changes in the hemogram, a tendency to a protracted course of the disease.

Antibacterial therapy is prescribed individually by a doctor. Systemic antibacterial therapy is carried out only for mycoplasma and chlamydial bronchitis (macrolides are used); it is possible to prescribe local antibacterial therapy, for example, Bioparox, which in this case has an additional anti-inflammatory effect.
Depending on the nature of the cough, antitussives (codelac, codeine), (mucolytics) expectorants (erespal, lazolvan, gedelix, mucoltin) are prescribed. Centrally acting antitussives suppress a painful, obsessive dry cough in the initial phase of bronchitis. Antitussives of peripheral action are indicated for dry cough associated with irritation of the mucous membrane, usually accompanying tracheitis. Expectorants are designed to have an effect that stimulates cough. The anti-inflammatory drug fenspiride (Erespal) can help reduce inflammatory changes in the bronchial mucosa. Fenspiride acts both directly on the inflammatory process in the respiratory tract, and on the processes accompanying infectious and allergic inflammation, which is combined with the prevention of bronchoconstriction.
Aerosol inhalations - soda, soda-salt. For attacks of obstruction, nebulizer therapy. For long-lasting cough (whooping cough, whooping cough with persistent tracheitis), inhaled steroids (pulmicor, salbutamol) are effective.

Postural drainage with vibration massage for excessive mucus discharge.

Antihistamines. Antihistamines are used in children with manifestations of allergies; their drying effect can be used in patients with abundant secretion. Active motor mode for drainage function of the lungs after temperature normalization.

At normal body temperature - chest massage.

Therapy should be comprehensive in combination with immunocorrective treatment.

Criteria for discharge to a children's institution: normalization of body temperature, reduction of catarrhal symptoms in the nasopharynx.

Obstructive bronchitis

In domestic practice, it is customary to distinguish between acute bronchitis and bronchiolitis, but this distinction is to a certain extent arbitrary and is not recognized by many foreign pediatricians.

The terms “obstructive bronchitis” and “bronchiolitis” refer to almost the same form of bronchitis, which has only clinical differences. These terms apply mainly to children of the first 4 years of life, in whom most obstructive forms of bronchitis are caused by PC viral and parainfluenza infections. In older children, mycoplasma infection and Chi also play a role in the development of obstructive bronchitis. pneumoniae

The uniqueness of the clinical picture in infants and the rarity of the development of pneumonia allow us to consider bronchial obstruction as a reaction that protects the lungs from bacteria from the upper respiratory tract.

Obstructive bronchitis is manifested by severe difficulty breathing due to bronchospasm, prolongation of exhalation, against the background of which wheezing sounds are heard, heard during auscultation and often at a distance. Fine bubble moist rales and crepitus are heard in half of the cases.

Obstructive bronchitis is characterized by a dry, infrequent cough, low-grade fever, and the general condition often suffers little. Respiratory rate - 50, less often 60-70 per minute. Blood gas levels do not change dramatically. An x-ray shows swelling of the lungs, and a general blood test shows indicators characteristic of a viral infection.

Clinical criteria for diagnosing obstructive bronchitis:

Extended whistling exhalation, often audible remotely.
Upon examination, a distended chest (horizontal position of the ribs) is revealed.
participation in the act of breathing of auxiliary muscles with retraction of the most pliable areas of the chest.
cough is dry, paroxysmal, persistent for a long time.
Auscultation against the background of prolonged exhalation reveals an abundance of dry, whistling, and in later stages of the disease - medium- and large-bubbly moist silent wheezing.

X-ray: horizontal arrangement of the ribs on the diaphragm, lengthening of the pulmonary fields, strengthening of the roots of the lungs, low standing of the flattened domes of the diaphragm, increased transparency of the pulmonary fields.
Changes in the blood test correspond to a viral infection (leukopenia, lymphocytosis).

An episode of obstructive bronchitis differs from an asthma attack mainly in the gradual development of obstruction. Upon subsequent observation of the child, it may turn out that this was the beginning of bronchial asthma, attacks of which also often occur against the background of ARVI.

Course and prognosis.

Although an episode of obstructive bronchitis may resemble an asthmatic attack, in most children the obstruction does not recur or recurs 1-2 times only against the background of ARVI. Risk factors for the recurrence of episodes of obstruction and the development of bronchial asthma are:
the presence of allergies in the child or his parents.
IgE level is above 100 IU/l.
development of an episode of obstruction upon contact with a non-infectious allergen.
paroxysmal nature of the development of obstruction.
recurrence of obstruction - 3 or more episodes.

In these cases, it is appropriate to talk not about the “transition of obstructive bronchitis into bronchial asthma,” but about its early onset. In this regard, all children with obstructive episodes, especially those with allergies, are recommended to create an allergen-free environment and use a hypoallergenic diet, and if obstruction recurs, treatment with ketotifen for 3-6 months.

Considering the high risk of recurrence of acute obstructive bronchitis and the formation of bronchial asthma, children who have had at least one acute obstructive bronchitis and have foci of chronic ENT or bronchopulmonary infection are recommended to undergo immunocorrective therapy with a bacterial vaccine.

Bronchiolitis

Bronchiolitis is an inflammatory lesion of the terminal sections of the bronchial tree (small bronchi and bronchioles) in acute respiratory diseases, mainly in young children, accompanied by severe and often difficult to treat respiratory failure

Clinical criteria for diagnosing bronchiolitis:

A characteristic sign of bronchiolitis is severe expiratory (on exhalation) shortness of breath up to 80-90 per minute. The general cyanosis (blueness) of the skin is noteworthy. Auscultation reveals a mass of scattered fine bubbling rales over the lungs. Respiratory failure clearly prevails in the manifestations of infectious toxicosis. With significant respiratory failure, severe tachycardia and weakening of heart sounds are observed.

Diagnosis criteria for bronchiolitis according to Ogerro et al. (1983).
Symptom/Score
Shortness of breath more than 40/min. / 1
Whistling noise when exhaling / 2
Intercostal space retraction / 1
Diffuse fine bubbling rales / 1
Dry cough / 1
Increased body temperature / 1
Increasing the transparency of the pulmonary pattern on a radiograph / 2
Note: to make a diagnosis, the sum must exceed 6 points

Basic principles of treatment of obstructive bronchitis

Although the basic principles of treatment of children with obstructive bronchitis basically coincide with those for acute simple bronchitis, at the same time there are the following features of therapeutic tactics associated with the peculiarities of the clinical course of the disease (mainly with the severity of the obstructive syndrome).

Treatment of children with obstructive bronchitis and bronchiolitis with severe heart failure is carried out in a hospital setting, if necessary, oxygen therapy is required.

1. Bed rest in a position with the head end elevated.
2. Considering the significant loss of fluid with perspiration (intensified breathing), considerable attention is paid to adequate hydration (if necessary, parenteral).
3. Fractional feeding (liquid food is preferred). Dairy-vegetable diet.
4. Removing mucus from the upper respiratory tract with an electric suction.
5. Inhalation therapy, humidified oxygen for severe respiratory failure
6. Bronchodilators intravenously and by inhalation (aminophylline, b-adrenergic agonists). For bronchiolitis, the effect of bronchodilator drugs is insignificant.
7. Corticosteroid drugs.
8. Antiviral drugs interferon, amantadine, ribaverin.
9. Antibiotics for concomitant acute otitis media, pneumonia or other bacterial infection.
10. Mucolytic drugs.
Much attention is paid to the additional use of immunotropic drugs and antiviral agents.
Measures aimed at improving bronchial conductivity.
For bronchospasm, mucolytics, bronchodilators, and local corticosteroids (beclomet, becotide, etc.) are prescribed.

Recurrent bronchitis

Recurrent bronchitis is bronchitis without pronounced clinical signs of bronchospasm that recurs at least 3-4 times a year for 2 years.
Etiology - viral and viral-bacterial infection. The critical period is 4-7 years.
The clinical picture of recurrent bronchitis during the period of exacerbation is almost similar to acute simple bronchitis. However, the course of the disease is protracted, sometimes up to 2-3 months.
Paraclinical data:
A “reactive hemogram” is characteristic (no change in the blood).
X-ray changes are nonspecific.

Basic principles of treatment of recurrent bronchitis

During an exacerbation, it is treated as acute bronchitis. Much attention is paid to the additional use of immunotropic drugs, antiviral agents, and aerosol therapy. For bronchospasm, mucolytics, bronchodilators, and local corticosteroids (beclomet, becotide, etc.) are prescribed.

In the remission phase - dispensary observation and recovery in the clinic - local and climatic sanatoriums (stage 2).

Dispensary observation is stopped if there have been no exacerbations for 2 years.

Folk remedies for treating bronchitis

Folk home remedies are used only in the treatment of school-age children and only in parallel with treatment prescribed by a doctor or for prevention.

• Boil two or three leaves of coltsfoot in half a liter of fresh milk. Add a small amount (at the tip of a knife) of fresh pork fat. Take one cup of coffee in the evening before bed.
• For severe wet cough, when sputum is difficult to clear or does not clear at all, you should give 2 to 3 drops of almond oil in sugar syrup several times a day.
• If bronchitis progresses and the child begins to choke, a doctor is needed urgently, as this is already very dangerous.
• For pneumonia, bronchitis, tracheitis and persistent cough, Vanga recommended an oat decoction prepared as follows: mix 2 tablespoons of oats with the same amount of raisins and pour in 1.5 liters of cold boiled water. Cook over very low heat or simmer in the oven, covered, over low heat until half the liquid has evaporated. Cool slightly, strain, squeeze, add 1 tablespoon of natural honey to the expressed liquid and mix thoroughly. Give children a teaspoon several times a day.
• Cut the radish into small cubes, place in a saucepan and sprinkle with sugar. Bake in the oven for two hours. Strain, discard the radish pieces, and pour the liquid into a bottle. Give your child two teaspoons 3-4 times a day before meals and at night before bed.
• Collect violets and snowdrops early in the morning, while the sun is still sleeping. Store in a dark place, dry in the shade. Brew 1 tablespoon of dried flowers per glass of boiling water and keep in a water bath for 15 minutes. After it has cooled, strain. Give your child 1 tablespoon to drink 3 times a day. For small children, you can add syrup and sugar. This is an excellent anti-inflammatory agent. It can be used as a gargle.
• Garlic drink: boil five medium-sized cloves of garlic, cut into small pieces or crushed, in a glass of unpasteurized milk and give to children several times a day.

Herbs and infusions for the treatment of bronchitis

When using any herbs, you must be sure that the child is not allergic to them!

Crushed angelica leaf is poured with boiling water at the rate of 10 g per 1 glass of boiling water, boiled for 5 minutes and left for 2 hours. The finished infusion is suitable for use within 2-3 days. It can be replaced with powder: 1-3 pinches per day. Angelica infusion eliminates mucus in the lungs, chest and bronchi, and relieves heartburn.

Prepare yarrow tincture: pour 30 g of herb with 0.5 cups of alcohol or 1 cup of vodka. Drink 3-4 times a day, 30-40 drops before meals for bronchitis.

An infusion of nasturtium leaf is effective for chronic bronchitis. 10 g of leaf is brewed with 1 liter of boiling water, left for 10 minutes and filtered. Drink 0.5 cups throughout the day.

For bronchitis with viscous sputum, brew 0.5 liters of boiling water with 4 tablespoons of crushed plantain leaf and leave for 4 hours. Drink 0.5 cups 4 times a day.

Boil 2-3 leaves of coltsfoot in 0.5 liters of milk and add fresh lard to the broth at the tip of a knife. Drink 3 tablespoons before bed for bronchitis. Health portal www.7gy.ru

Mix equal proportions of grass and lungwort flowers, picked in early spring. Brew 4 tablespoons of the mixture into 0.5 liters of boiling water and leave for 2 hours. Drink 0.5 cups 4 times a day for bronchitis.

Mix leaves and bark or young shoots of ash in equal proportions. Brew 1 tablespoon of the mixture with 1 cup of boiling water and heat over low heat for 20 minutes. Take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day for bronchitis.

Pour 1 glass of milk into an enamel bowl and put 1 tablespoon (without top) of finely chopped Icelandic moss. Cover the pan with a saucer or non-metallic plate and boil for 30 minutes, then strain. Drink the decoction hot before bed.

Pour 1 tablespoon of crushed oregano herb into 1 glass of boiling water, leave, covered, for 1 hour, strain. Take 1 tablespoon 5-6 times a day 30 minutes before meals. Strong oregano tea causes profuse sweating. It is drunk for colds, for convulsive coughs, for acute and chronic bronchitis as a means of enhancing the secretion of the bronchial glands.

Dilute the powdered marshmallow root with warm boiled water, bringing it to the consistency of thick sour cream. Take the resulting mixture 1 tablespoon 4 times a day before meals for coughs and chronic bronchitis.

Take 3 parts of licorice (roots) and blue cyanosis (roots), 4 parts of chamomile (flowers) and peppermint (herbs), 2 parts of valerian officinalis (roots), motherwort (herbs), St. John's wort (herbs) ). Pour 1 tablespoon of the collection into 1 cup of boiling water, keep in a closed enamel container in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes, cool at room temperature for 45 minutes, strain through 2-3 layers of gauze, squeeze and bring the volume with boiled water to the original volume. Take 0.25-0.3 cups 4-5 times a day after meals for bronchospasms.

Home remedies for bronchitis

For acute bronchitis, thoroughly mix 100 g of ground flax seeds, 20 g of anise fruit powder, 20 g of ginger root powder with 0.5 kg of garlic-honey mixture. Take 1 teaspoon 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals.

Peel 3 heads of garlic and, together with 5 lemons with peel, but without seeds, pass through a meat grinder or grate on a fine grater, pour 1 liter of boiled water at room temperature into them and keep in a closed jar for 5 days, strain, squeeze out the rest. Take as a resolving agent for diseases of the lungs and bronchi 3 times a day, 1 tablespoon 20 minutes before meals.

Take 5-6 large cloves of garlic, grind into a paste, mix with 100 g of butter and a bunch of finely chopped dill. Morning, noon and evening spread the mixture on bread. This oil will help with bronchitis, as well as pneumonia.

Boil finely chopped garlic (1 head) in fresh milk until it becomes completely soft. Grind in the same milk, add 1 teaspoon of mint juice and 2 tablespoons of linden honey. Take 1 tablespoon every hour for the whole day, the cough will become softer.

An excellent recipe for treating bronchitis: grind 1 kg of ripe tomatoes and 50 g of garlic in a meat grinder, grate 300 g of horseradish root. Mix and add salt to taste. Place in glass jars and store tightly closed in the refrigerator. Use: children 1 teaspoon before meals 3 times a day, adults - 1 tablespoon before meals 3 times a day. Warm to room temperature before use.

Mix finely grated onions, apples, honey in a ratio of 1:1:2 by weight. For the treatment of bronchitis in children accompanied by cough, take at least 6-7 times a day, regardless of meals.

Infuse carrot juice, boiled hot milk and honey in a ratio of 5:5:1 for 4-5 hours and drink warm, 0.5 cups 4-6 times a day for bronchitis.

Fresh carrot juice mixed with warm milk in a 1:1 ratio, take 0.5 cups 4-6 times a day for bronchitis.

Mix 1 glass of freshly prepared carrot juice with 2 teaspoons of honey. Take 1 tablespoon 4-5 times a day for bronchitis.

Mix 300 g of honey and 1 leaf of finely chopped aloe, pour 0.5 liters of boiled water over them, put on fire, bring to a boil and keep on low heat for 2 hours, then cool and stir. Store in a cool place. Take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day for bronchitis.

Several times a day, chew 1 clove of garlic with 1 teaspoon of flower honey until completely crushed for bronchitis.

Take 1.3 kg of linden honey, 1 glass of finely chopped aloe leaves, 200 g of olive oil, 150 g of birch buds and 50 g of linden flowers. Before preparing the medicine, place the aloe leaves, picked and washed with boiled water, in a cold and dark place for 10 days. Melt honey and add crushed aloe leaves to it. Steam the mixture well. Separately, brew birch buds and linden blossom in 2 glasses of water and boil for 1-2 minutes. Pour the strained and squeezed broth into the cooled honey, stir and pour into 2 bottles, adding an equal amount of olive oil to each. Store in a cool place. For bronchitis, take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day. Shake before use.

To facilitate the separation of sputum, it is useful to drink lingonberry juice with sugar syrup or honey. The product should be taken 1 tablespoon as often as possible. At the same time, it is recommended to drink tea from strawberry leaves.

Prepare fresh cabbage juice, add sugar (2 teaspoons per 1 glass). Take 1 glass 2 times a day as an expectorant.

Before using folk remedies, consult your doctor.

Treatment of bronchitis in children should be carried out as soon as the disease is detected, since the disease poses a serious threat to the child’s life. Although bronchitis in children (its first signs) resembles a common cold or ARVI, parents should still take the child to an appointment so that the doctor can conduct an examination and identify the cause of the pathology. Today, it is not difficult to cure the disease even in the youngest children, since a large arsenal of drugs and folk recipes make it possible to forget about bronchial inflammation forever. But for this you need to make a correct diagnosis, because incorrect treatment will only aggravate the course of the disease and develop its complications. How to quickly cure bronchitis in a child, as well as what kind of disease it is, and how to correctly recognize it?

Childhood bronchitis - what is it?

Bronchitis is a dangerous inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the bronchial tubes. In terms of its harm to health, it ranks second, since the most dangerous respiratory disease is pneumonia. Quite often, acute bronchitis in children affects not only the bronchi, but also the trachea, larynx, nose, and so on. This phenomenon means that as a result of the negative effect of certain causes of the development of pathology, the structures of the lumen of the bronchial cavity are damaged, which causes massive damage to the respiratory organs.

Although some respiratory organs suffer from bronchitis, the pathology never spreads to the lungs and other important parts of the respiratory tract. This is what gives doctors a complete clinical picture of the disease, since in this case it will not be difficult to identify the disease.

With bronchitis, children experience unpleasant symptoms that cause the patient a lot of inconvenience. Most often, the disease develops during the cold period, when the body’s defenses, hidden in the immune system, are weakened and are not able to fully perform their duties. However, bronchitis does not only develop in winter. If spring and autumn are cold and rainy, this can also cause the development of pathology. In addition, bronchitis will develop at any time of the year if the child suffers from it often and is not able to completely cure the inflammation.

According to statistics, today bronchitis appears in a 2-year-old child much more often than in teenage children. At 1-3 years of age, pathology is also not uncommon. This depends on the children’s immune system, which is not yet fully stabilized and formed until the age of 3. Doctors say that approximately 80 children out of 1000 under one year old are exposed to bronchial inflammation, and from 1 year to three years - 200 babies. Therefore, parents should be especially careful when their children develop a cough, because a long absence of treatment or its improper management will result in complications of the disease for the child, which may include bronchial asthma or pneumonia.

It is important to note that most often the occurrence of bronchitis in children appears as a result of the following diseases:

• laryngitis;
• pharyngitis;
• tracheitis.

In this case, the pathogen penetrates the bronchi through a descending route. Is bronchitis contagious to other people? It all depends on the type of disease and its causative agent. If it is caused by bacteria or viruses, it can be contagious, but infection in this case occurs only through close and constant contact with the patient.

Quiz: How susceptible are you to bronchitis?

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This test will allow you to determine how susceptible you are to bronchitis.

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• You lead a healthy lifestyle and you are not at risk of bronchitis

  You are a fairly active person who cares and thinks about your respiratory system and health in general, continue to play sports, lead a healthy lifestyle, and your body will delight you throughout your life, and no bronchitis will bother you. But do not forget to undergo examinations on time, maintain your immunity, this is very important, do not overcool, avoid severe physical and strong emotional overload.

• It's time to think about what you are doing wrong...

  You are at risk, you should think about your lifestyle and start taking care of yourself. Physical education is required, or even better, start playing sports, choose the sport that you like most and turn it into a hobby (dancing, cycling, gym, or just try to walk more). Do not forget to treat colds and flu promptly, they can lead to complications in the lungs. Be sure to work on your immunity, strengthen yourself, and be in nature and fresh air as often as possible. Do not forget to undergo scheduled annual examinations; it is much easier to treat lung diseases in the initial stages than in advanced stages. Avoid emotional and physical overload; if possible, eliminate or minimize smoking or contact with smokers.

• It's time to sound the alarm! In your case, the likelihood of getting bronchitis is huge!

  You are completely irresponsible about your health, thereby destroying the functioning of your lungs and bronchi, have pity on them! If you want to live a long time, you need to radically change your entire attitude towards your body. First of all, get examined by specialists such as a therapist and a pulmonologist; you need to take radical measures, otherwise everything may end badly for you. Follow all the doctors’ recommendations, radically change your life, perhaps you should change your job or even your place of residence, completely eliminate smoking and alcohol from your life, and reduce contact with people who have such bad habits to a minimum, toughen up, strengthen your immunity as much as possible spend more time in the fresh air. Avoid emotional and physical overload. Completely eliminate all aggressive products from everyday use and replace them with natural, natural remedies. Do not forget to do wet cleaning and ventilation of the room at home.

1. With answer
2. With a viewing mark

Task 1 of 17

• Yes, daily
• Sometimes
• Seasonal (eg vegetable garden)

1. Task 2 of 17

   How often do you undergo a lung examination (eg fluorogram)?

   • I don’t even remember when was the last time
   • Every year, without fail
   • Once every couple of years

2. Task 3 of 17

   Do you play sports?

   • Yes, professionally and regularly
   • It happened in the past
   • Yes, amateur

3. Task 4 of 17

   Do you snore?

   • When I'm sick
   • Sometimes

4. Task 5 of 17

   Do you treat acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections, influenza and other inflammatory or infectious diseases?

   • Yes, at the doctor's
   • No, it goes away on its own after some time
   • Yes, I self-medicate
   • Only if it's really bad

5. Task 6 of 17

   • Only when sick
   • I find it difficult to answer

6. Task 7 of 17

   Have any relatives or family members suffered from serious lung diseases (tuberculosis, asthma, pneumonia)?

   • Yes, parents
   • Yes, close relatives
   • I can not say for sure

7. Task 8 of 17

   • Yes, I live permanently
   • Yes, I work in such conditions
   • Previously lived or worked

8. Task 9 of 17

   Do you have heart disease?

   • Yes, chronic
   • Rarely, but it does happen
   • If you have any doubts, you need an examination

9. Task 10 of 17

   • Constantly
   • I'm not there
   • Previously was
   • Rarely, but it happens

10. Task 11 of 17

    Do you often get sick with acute respiratory infections or acute respiratory viral infections?

    • I'm constantly sick
    • Rarely, no more than once a year
    • Often, more than 2 times a year
    • I never get sick or once every five years

11. Task 12 of 17

    Do you have any allergic diseases?

    • Yes, one
    • Not sure, needs testing
    • Yes, even a few

12. Task 13 of 17

    What kind of lifestyle do you lead?

    • Sedentary
    • Active, constantly on the move
    • Sedentary

13. Task 14 of 17

    Does anyone in your family smoke?

    • Happens sometimes
    • Used to smoke

14. Task 15 of 17

    Do you smoke?

    • Yes, I smoke regularly
    • No and never smoked
    • Rarely, but it happens
    • Previously smoked, but quit

15. Task 16 of 17

    Do you have air purification devices in your home?

    • Yes, I change filters all the time
    • Yes, we use it sometimes
    • Yes, but we don’t monitor the devices

16. Task 17 of 17

    Do you often use household chemicals (cleaning products, aerosols, etc.)?

    • Often
    • Rarely, when necessary
    • Constantly, that's the job
    • I don't use it at all

Types of bronchitis in children

How to treat bronchitis? The method of treating bronchitis in children depends on the type of disease and its causative agent. Having correctly understood the type of disease, the doctor will understand how dangerous it is for the child, as well as whether complications can develop from it. That is why the type of bronchitis is included in the mandatory diagnostic procedures.

Bronchial inflammation today comes in two types, each of which differs in the duration of the disease and its form:

1. Acute bronchitis in a child. Treatment of acute bronchitis in children is easier, since the disease affects a small area of ​​the bronchi. In addition, this infection is not considered “stagnant”, which means it is easy to get rid of without causing inconvenience to the child.

This form of bronchitis is mainly observed in children under 3 years of age, depending on the characteristics of the body. Older children suffer more from chronic inflammation, as parents confuse bronchitis with a common cold.

The acute form of the disease is not isolated - this means that it most often appears as a result of damage to the child’s body by ARVI. How long does it take to treat bronchitis in children? On average, the acute course of the disease is treated in 1.5-2.5 weeks, since the cough lasts just that long. Other symptoms of bronchitis disappear immediately as treatment is carried out.

1. Chronical bronchitis. This form is characterized by a sluggish course of pathology, which gradually affects the bronchial cavity. The main difference between chronic inflammation and acute inflammation is that in this case the patient accumulates a lot of mucus in the bronchi, which causes a lot of discomfort. What is dangerous about bronchitis in children that develops in chronic form? In addition to the appearance in a child of such signs as shortness of breath, severe coughing attacks at night, deterioration of breathing during physical exercise, he is also subject to bronchial asthma and obstructive bronchitis, characterized by difficulty breathing.

After curing the chronic form of inflammation, the patient requires mandatory prevention of bronchitis in children, since in its absence it can quickly return and attack the child’s body again.

How to recognize bronchitis in a child? It is important to strictly monitor its condition, because each type of disease characterizes itself with certain symptoms. If you familiarize yourself with the development of other respiratory diseases, you will notice that bronchitis differs significantly from them in its course and condition of the patient.

Causes of pathology

The causes of bronchitis in children are different, depending on the type of pathology and the general well-being of the patient. If in a 3-year-old child these are the characteristics of the body and weakened immunity, then in older children they are joined by some other reasons. How does bronchitis manifest? The main reason why one can notice the development of pathology is considered to be the penetration of microorganisms into the bronchial cavity, which cause serious damage to them. In this case, it is not difficult to notice the disease, because the patient will have all the signs of a cold - fever, cough, snot, headaches, cough.

However, not only damage to the bronchi by dangerous microflora can lead to the development of childhood bronchitis.

When should you not take antibiotics? It is possible to treat bronchitis in children without antibiotics, since most often the disease develops due to damage to the bronchi by viruses (this happens in children of any age).

If antibiotics are not needed, the doctor prescribes expectorant and mucolytic compounds presented in the form of syrups to patients. Bronchitis without a cough does not require taking antitussives - in other cases it is recommended to take such medications. All of the above groups of drugs can suppress the development of cough, remove phlegm from the body, alleviate the condition and overcome the patient’s anxiety.

It is prohibited to prescribe treatment on your own!

Bronchitis in children, the symptoms of which indicate the presence of sputum, is treated with drugs such as:

• Linkas;
• Gedelix;
• overslept;
• Gerbion;
• Bronchicum.

How to treat bronchitis without antibiotics?

Other medications that relieve the disease include (it is important to note that they are not dangerous to the baby’s health):

• Ambroxol;
• Mukobene;
• Bromhexine.

If the manifestations of bronchitis do not stop, it means that the treatment for the patient was prescribed incorrectly.

When should a child take antibiotics? What should you do if your baby develops bronchitis due to infection of the body with dangerous microflora? To do this, you need to take antibiotics, but such treatment must be justified. It has long been proven that treatment with antibiotics without good reason leads to a deterioration in the baby’s condition, and also causes an advanced stage of bronchitis.

Symptoms and treatment of inflammation, which should be treated with antibiotics, is recommended immediately after the infection is detected. Most often it is caused by pneumococci, streptococci and staphylococci.

In this case, the patient is prescribed:

• Amoxiclav;
• Cephalexin;
• Amoxicillin;
• Augmentin.

If children have been prescribed a course of antibiotic treatment, it should not be violated under any circumstances, as this can lead to health problems. You should also take antibiotics if it is necessary to restore the normal microflora of the body.

Auxiliary treatments

In addition to taking medications, bronchial inflammation is treated with other methods that can be performed at home. The main thing is to correctly identify the diagnosis and combine such treatment with medication.

Depending on how bronchitis progresses and how long it lasts, all additional methods of treating the disease must be strictly agreed with the doctor.

These methods include:

1. Distraction procedures. By taking a medicine prescribed by a doctor, you can also be treated with special restorative procedures, which include the use of mustard plasters, warming ointments for the back and chest, compresses, and foot baths. A certain type of procedure can be used only if the patient does not have a fever, severe intoxication of the body, bacterial infection, allergies, or age restrictions.
2. Folk recipes. Hot milk, in which honey and butter will be dissolved, is a well-known method of treating cough. If desired, you can add a little soda to the milk. Butter can be replaced with cocoa butter, which is sold at any pharmacy.

If the symptoms are severe, you can use breast milk, which effectively eliminates the symptoms and signs of the disease. To protect your child from the unpleasant symptoms of pathology for longer, it is recommended to drink or inhale herbs such as marshmallow, plantain, calendula or licorice.

Also, to achieve a quick therapeutic effect, you can use radish with honey, which perfectly eliminates cough and removes phlegm.

1. Vitamins, walks and exercise. If bronchitis can manifest itself as sputum, but the child can cough it up on his own, all medications and folk decoctions are canceled. To do this, you need to spend more time in the fresh air and take vitamins to quickly get rid of the disease.

If the patient does not have shortness of breath, he can undergo light physical activity, since during exercise it is possible to quickly remove mucus from the bronchial cavity.

1. Massotherapy. At the first signs of the disease, you can use a massage that will warm the bronchi, increase blood flow and allow sputum to be better separated. The consequences of such treatment will only be positive. In this case, the manifested pathology will gradually fade away.

Bronchitis in young children and adolescents is the second most severe type of respiratory pathology that anyone can become infected with. Any parent should understand this when identifying symptoms of the disease.

If there are more than two signs of bronchial inflammation, the patient needs to undergo a full course of treatment, the duration of which depends on the form and severity of the disease.

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• Congratulations! You are completely healthy!

  Your health is fine now. Don’t forget to take good care of your body, and you won’t be afraid of any diseases.

• There is reason to think.

  The symptoms that are bothering you are quite extensive, and are observed in a large number of diseases, but we can say with confidence that something is wrong with your health. We recommend that you consult a specialist and undergo a medical examination to avoid complications. We also recommend that you read the article on identifying and treating bronchitis.

• You are sick with bronchitis!

  In your case, there are clear symptoms of bronchitis! However, there is a possibility that it could be another disease. You need to urgently contact a qualified specialist; only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment. We also recommend that you read the article on identifying and treating acute bronchitis.

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Task 1 of 14

Does your lifestyle involve heavy physical activity?

• Yes, daily
• Sometimes
• Seasonal (eg vegetable garden)

1. Task 2 of 14

   Do you take care of your immunity?

   • Only when sick
   • I find it difficult to answer

2. Task 3 of 14

   Do you live or work in an unfavorable environment (gas, smoke, chemical emissions from enterprises)?

   • Yes, I live permanently
   • Yes, I work in such conditions
   • Previously lived or worked

3. Task 4 of 14

   How often are you in damp, dusty or moldy environments?

   • Constantly
   • I'm not there
   • Previously was
   • Rarely, but it happens

4. Task 5 of 14

   Have you been feeling physically or mentally unwell lately?

   • Yes, pronounced
   • No more than usual
   • No, that didn't happen

5. Task 6 of 14

   Have you been worried about elevated body temperature lately?

   Task 7 of 14

   Do you smoke?

   • Used to smoke
   • Sometimes
   • No, and never smoked

6. Task 8 of 14

   Does anyone in your family smoke?

   • Used to smoke
   • It happens sometimes
   • No and have never smoked

7. Task 9 of 14

   Do you suffer from congenital disorders of the bronchopulmonary system?

   Task 10 of 14

   Have you been out in cold air for an extended period of time recently?

8. Task 11 of 14

   Do you suffer from diseases of the cardiovascular system?

   • Yes, innate
   • No, my heart is fine

9. Task 12 of 14

   Have you been bothered by a low chest cough lately?

   • Yes, and the cough is severe
   • There is little

10. Task 13 of 14

    Have you been bothered by runny nose and nasal congestion lately?

    • Yes, chronically
    • Only if a little bit
    • No, I breathe freely

11. Task 14 of 14

    Have you been feeling weak and unwell lately?

    • Yes, I feel terrible
    • Mild fatigue, not critical
    • No, I feel great

Mothers treat diseases of their newborn with particular caution. For example, bronchitis in children under one year of age is more severe than in adults and is accompanied by dangerous symptoms.

How to cure it in an infant as quickly and safely as possible, and how to understand that bronchitis is going away?

Causes

The causes of bronchitis can be:

1. Viruses.
2. Bacteria.
3. Allergens or toxic substances.

Most often, bronchitis develops as a consequence of acute respiratory infections and is viral in nature.

Bacterial bronchitis appears as a complication of viral bronchitis as a result of the addition of bacterial flora.

It is very important to understand what type of bronchitis your baby has in order to begin proper and effective treatment.

Diagnostics

A doctor knows how to distinguish viral bronchitis from bacterial bronchitis. You should not try to diagnose yourself, especially small child. The doctor will determine the correct diagnosis based on:

1. Listening to a child with a phonendoscope.
2. Sputum analysis. Culture and color of sputum during bronchitis will give an answer about the pathogen.
3. Clinical blood test data.

Classification

According to the clinical course, the following are distinguished: types of bronchitis:

1. Spicy. Symptoms increase rapidly, including general malaise and fever. The treatment is effective, symptoms disappear within 2-3 weeks.
2. Obstructive. Bronchitis, in which the lumen of the bronchi narrows and leads to respiratory failure. It is very important to diagnose this form in infants in a timely manner, because treatment is carried out mainly in a hospital.
3. Chronic. Cannot occur in infants.

Symptoms

Symptoms of bronchitis:

1. May begin with general manifestations of a viral infection: elevated temperature, redness of the throat, weakness.
2. Appears first dry frequent cough which causes anxiety to the child and may be paroxysmal. Then the cough turns into wet, however, sputum is usually separates poorly.
3. Wheezing and whistling may listen without a phonendoscope.

Dangerous symptoms are:

1. Blue discoloration of the nasolabial triangle.
2. Dyspnea.
3. Lack of air, difficulty breathing.

In such cases, you need to call an ambulance and continue treatment in a hospital under the supervision of doctors. If a child has an attack of suffocation, humidified air will help to help wait for doctors. You can do this using a humidifier or an open hot water tap in the bathroom.

The danger of obstructive bronchitis

Treatment of allergic and infectious bronchitis in children under one year of age is recommended in a hospital. The fact is that coughing and sputum production often lead to life-threatening attacks. The airways of infants are much narrower than adults, therefore any inflammatory swelling or accumulation of sputum causes narrowing of the bronchial lumen and respiratory failure.

How to recognize bronchitis

Possible causes of cough for an infant, taking into account one month's age, are described below. However, this is only a guide; an accurate diagnosis is made based on the results of blood and listening to the child.

At the age of 1-3 months The baby receives immune protection through mother's milk, so viral infections rarely provoke any diseases. A child's cough at this age may be associated with an allergic component or insufficient humidity in the room.

Parents should pay more attention to ventilation, wet cleaning and maintaining the right climatic conditions.

Age: 4-6 months Infants begin to cut their first teeth. This is often accompanied by increased production of saliva, which the child tries to cough up. This cough is usually wet, the sputum comes out well and is accompanied by rhinorrhea. The doctor must make an accurate diagnosis after listening to the bronchi and examining the baby.

From 6 to 12 months Children encounter their first infections and begin to get sick. At this age, infectious bronchitis is most likely. It can be recognized by typical symptoms: increased temperature, decreased activity of the baby, wheezing.

Treatment

Many medications are prohibited for use in children under one year of age. Come to the fore alternative treatments:

1. Mode. It is necessary to provide the child with peace, reduce active games, and not force him to eat. The child's room should maintain a humidity level of 60% and a temperature of 20 degrees.
2. Diet. Children who are already eating complementary foods do not need to be forced to eat. During the period of bronchitis, it is better to give them more fluids so that the sputum passes more easily and quickly.
3. Massage. Drainage massage will help remove stubborn mucus. To do this, the child is placed on his stomach and lightly tapped with his fingers on the back in the bronchi area.
4. Folk remedies. Treatment of bronchitis in children under one year of age is often carried out with folk remedies. The most popular are steaming, inhalations, and herbal decoctions. It is not recommended to install mustard plasters on young children. Treatment of bronchitis with breast milk is allowed only from three years of age.
5. Drug treatment. Viral bronchitis is preferably treated symptomatically. For this, antipyretics (paracetamol, ibuprofen), saline solution to moisturize the respiratory tract (or mineral water), and mucolytics (ACC. Fluimucil) are used. For a bacterial infection, the doctor prescribes antibiotics, taking into account the age and weight of the child. Antibiotics (macrolides, cephaloporins, aminopenicillins) can be used even by the youngest children, but strictly according to the doctor’s indications and in the age-appropriate dosage.

For obstructive bronchitis, the following procedures are added to treatment:

1. Inhalations with bronchodilators.
2. Electrophoresis, UHF.
3. Therapeutic gymnastics.

The weakening of symptoms will help the mother understand that the child’s bronchitis is going away. First the temperature returns to normal, then the breathing. The mucus will begin to be coughed up more easily, and the cough will occur less frequently and bring relief.

Complications

Treatment of bronchitis should be carried out to the end, without interrupting treatment. Otherwise, you may experience the following complications:

1. Pneumonia.
2. Transition of inflammation into a chronic form.
3. Bronchial asthma.
4. Respiratory failure.

Bronchiolitis

This is a disease that affects the smallest parts of the bronchial tree - bronchioles. This diagnosis is very dangerous, irreversible tissue changes may occur in the bronchioles, which will lead to impaired blood circulation and breathing. Symptoms:

1. Dyspnea.
2. Weakness.
3. Lack of air.
4. Cyanosis.

Prevention

Considering the importance of the respiratory system for the human body, it is better to take care of its health constantly. Preventive measures will keep the child healthy and prevent many diseases:

1. Eliminate any potential allergens from the home.
2. Daily wet cleaning and ventilation.
3. Maintaining optimal temperature (20 degrees) and humidity (60%) in the room.
4. Make sure your baby drinks enough fluids.
5. Hardening, walks in the fresh air.
6. Holidays at sea.

Planning

pregnancy with chronic bronchitis

Mom must first cure her illness. How dangerous is bronchitis during pregnancy? The infection can be transmitted to the baby and cause miscarriage or developmental defects.

Noticing signs of poor health in your baby, do not try to figure out the reason yourself. A qualified doctor will make the correct diagnosis and will tell you how to treat bronchitis in children under one year old quickly and safely.

We discussed above how to recognize the signs of bronchitis. The earlier treatment is started, the more likely it is to carry it out at home.

Treatment of bronchitis in children

Dr. Komarovsky will tell you how to properly treat bronchitis in children.

At the age of five, bronchitis can become one of the complications of common colds. When it occurs, inflammation forms in the area of ​​large and medium bronchi, which causes their swelling and breathing problems. The peculiarity of bronchitis is that if it is not treated, it can become chronic.

With bronchitis, inflammation of the bronchi occurs, which leads to their irritation, mucus production and a reflex cough. Typically, bronchitis occurs as a complication of colds such as a prolonged runny nose, pharyngitis, and adenoiditis. Viruses or microbes spread from these organs down the respiratory system, leading to damage to large and smaller bronchi. Such bronchitis is called infectious - viral or microbial. However, bronchitis can develop as a result of contact with allergens, or as a result of irritation of the walls of the bronchi with smoke and gases, dust, and soot. Therefore, treatment of bronchitis in a 5-year-old child will largely depend on its cause. Treatment will not always require antibiotics, therefore, it is necessary to be examined by a doctor to find out the true causes of inflammation. In addition, for allergic or viral bronchitis, antibiotics may be contraindicated; they can lead to negative consequences.
Along the way, bronchitis at the age of five can be acute, if it occurs suddenly and lasts up to three weeks, as well as chronic, if it lasts a long time, with periods of exacerbation and attenuation of the disease. For children with chronic bronchitis, any common ARVI will be dangerous, as it can immediately provoke exacerbation of the process in the bronchi.
The main symptoms of bronchitis in children 5 years old include fever, sometimes up to 38.5-39.0°C, general malaise, and pallor. Respiratory symptoms include a runny nose and cough. At the same time, the cough can be different, initially wet with wheezing, similar to gurgling sounds, with dry wheezing and hard breathing, with noisy wheezing and shortness of breath (in the presence of bronchial obstruction). In some cases, bronchitis can develop gradually, with an increase in temperature to insignificant numbers, a gradual deterioration of the condition and an increase in cough. Bronchitis caused by a special atypical flora (mycoplasma or chlamydia) can manifest itself as a long-term persistent cough that does not go away with standard treatment.
Viral bronchitis is usually mild, with a dry cough, hard breathing and virtually no shortness of breath, and the temperature does not rise much. The child's condition remains relatively satisfactory.
If there is a confirmed diagnosis, the main question becomes how to treat bronchitis in a 5-year-old child. In the presence of secondary bronchitis, which occurs against the background of an acute respiratory viral infection and occurs with a high fever and wet cough, the cause is usually a microbial infection. With such bronchitis, treatment with antibiotics is indicated, as well as the use of drugs to relieve inflammation and thin the mucus, stimulating its coughing. These can be medicinal syrups with mucolytics, inhalations with substances that act directly on the bronchi.
If this is an allergy, how to treat bronchitis for a 5-year-old child should be decided by an allergist. Often, hormonal drugs used by inhalation are needed, drugs to relieve bronchospasm and reduce allergic inflammation. Children are also shown long courses of antihistamine therapy and a hypoallergenic diet, separation from the allergen and the creation of a special, hypoallergenic lifestyle.