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Breathing problems are unfortunately all too common in our society. Cases increased by more than 300% in just one month in 2022 – this is just one example of the importance of paying attention to this matter. Therefore, in this post, we will talk about the bronchitis crisis in children.
Bronchitis is a relatively common disease, especially among little ones. Understanding more about this subject and knowing the symptoms of this problem is essential for the treatment of children to be as appropriate as possible.
So, how about knowing about the main characteristics of childhood bronchitis, its symptoms and, of course, how to deal with this situation? Continue reading and clear your doubts!
What is bronchitis?
As the name already indicates, bronchitis is an inflammation in the bronchial region – which, in turn, are fundamental structures for the functioning of the lungs. Their function is to carry the air we breathe to the alveoli, where gas exchanges take place – that is, breathing.
The inflammation of these structures causes mucus production not to be properly eliminated. Thus, there is difficulty breathing, in addition to other symptoms that can be not only unpleasant, but also dangerous.
What are the most common symptoms of bronchitis in children?
The main symptoms involved in a childhood bronchitis crisis are:
- difficulty breathing and shortness of breath;
- wheezing when breathing;
- very productive cough – that is, with a lot of mucus production;
- fever;
- runny nose (runny nose);
- trouble sleeping;
- loss of appetite;
- general malaise.
Of course, not all children will show all of these signs. Therefore, it is essential that parents and guardians remain very attentive in order to identify any changes early on.
How to improve a bronchitis crisis?
Check out, now, some tips on what to do in case of bronchitis attacks!
provide hydration
Hydrating the body, from the inside out, is a good way to deal with many unpleasant symptoms in our body. This is even more important when we are sick, as our body has to work overtime to deal with this problem.
So, it’s interesting to offer the little one plenty of water, replacing what he’s been losing and even helping with mucus expectoration.
Remember that liquid can also be offered in the form of juice, tea and coconut water.
Help with inhalation
One of the focuses of bronchitis treatment is to perform good inhalations. In addition to hydrating the airways and improving symptoms, they help with the expectoration of the mucus formed in the bronchi.
Standard inhalation, with saline solution, can be used to relieve symptoms. However, it is not always really effective, requiring the addition of some medications to the inhaler – which must be prescribed by a doctor, okay?
Make the environment humid
We’ve already talked about how important it is to help a child who has bronchitis through hydration. Another way to do this is to moisturize her entire environment, making her feel more at ease — especially during dry weather.
One of the ways to make this possible is with the use of humidifiers. If you don’t have one, don’t worry: placing a wet towel near the child, or a bucket of boiling water, are also good ways to help.
Remove any source of strong smell
Another problem that can aggravate bronchitis is the presence of smells, especially in the case of allergic bronchitis – but this is also valid for other cases of the disease.
Therefore, one of the ways to alleviate the symptoms and the intensity of the crisis is to remove any source of odors near the affected child. If this is not possible, move the little one to a room where the smell is less noticeable.
contact the doctor
Finally, it is very important to take the child to a doctor. While the above measures are good for relieving the symptoms, they are not long-lasting. The problem will still be there and will need to be addressed!
The good news is that bronchitis attacks can be properly treated in an emergency room. Afterwards, the follow-up of the problem can be done by the pediatrician responsible for the child – but there is no reason to wait!
How is childhood bronchitis treated?
Now that you know what to do when the bronchitis crisis strikes, it is also important to understand what are the steps to treat this problem.
Again, each case is different. Treatment will depend on some factors, such as the cause of the problem and the age of the child.
In general, the treatment is drug. In the case of bronchitis caused by bacteria, for example, antibiotics are used. In allergies, antihistamines are prescribed — and so on!
Inhalation is also often applied in such cases. In addition, control of the environment in which the child lives is extremely important. It must be constantly cleaned and free from problems such as the presence of dust.
Smoking around the little ones is also out of the question, this being one of the main triggers for crises.
When to Seek Medical Care for Bronchitis?
It’s best not to expect too much. Therefore, you can (and should!) seek support from a professional as soon as your child shows the first symptoms of bronchitis.
After all, they are very nonspecific and can represent any type of respiratory infection, including the flu and Covid-19 — and we don’t want to let that get worse, do we?
However, if the symptoms have passed, take the little one to the doctor as soon as you notice them. The sooner he is attended to, the better. After all, early treatments are faster and more efficient.
As we can see, bronchitis attacks in children can be very serious. Therefore, we need to know not only how to identify the symptoms of this problem, but how to approach it in the best possible way, with the support of good professionals!
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Technical review: Alexandre R. Marra, researcher at the Instituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Albert Einstein (IIEP) and permanent professor at the Graduate Program in Health Sciences at the Faculdade Israelita de Ciências da Saúde Albert Einstein (FICSAE).
Source: vidasaudavel.einstein.br
