Effective treatment of bronchitis in children. How to treat acute bronchitis in children with antibiotics and folk remedies - symptoms and signs

Bronchitis in young children is more common than SARS or a cold. Swelling of the mucosa, resulting from inflammatory processes, causes a dry, painful cough in a child. Start treating bronchitis on time, and it will not cause unnecessary problems! Along with medicines, the use of folk remedies gives a good effect.

Infusions and decoctions of medicinal herbs

long time ago effective means traditional medicine decoctions and infusions of herbs are considered to increase immunity.

We offer several proven recipes:

• infusion of linden flowers has a strong disinfectant, expectorant effect. Pour 1 tbsp. l. dried flowers with a glass of boiling water, insist for an hour;
• accelerate the treatment of bronchitis in children, an infusion of blackcurrant leaves, known for its high content of vitamin C. It has an anti-inflammatory, diuretic, analgesic, vitaminizing effect;
• to increase sweating, use decoctions based on black elderberry, mint and chamomile flowers. 20 g of dry material should be poured into a glass cold water and boil under the lid for 10-15 minutes;
• in accompanying bronchitis, an infusion of marshmallow leaves will provide invaluable assistance. The peculiarity of this plant is the high content of polysaccharide mucous substances;

• infusion of oregano herb has antiseptic and expectorant properties;
• with a dry irritating cough, an infusion of ipecac root will cope;
• decoction and tincture of coltsfoot leaves are considered good sputum thinners;
• treatment of bronchitis with thyme infusion is indicated in the absence of strong sputum production. This plant has a sedative, expectorant, bactericidal effect.
• difficult to separate sputum will effectively remove the infusion of anise fruits;
• a decoction of wild rosemary will calm a coughing fit, relieve a sore throat;
• sage leaves, pine buds, tricolor violet herb have a pronounced mucolytic effect;

• decoctions of birch, parsley and juniper will strengthen the patient's immunity. For the same purpose, the use of echinacea tincture is recommended;
• bronchitis treatment in acute stage effectively with a decoction of sage in milk. Mix 200 g milk and 1 tbsp. l. dried finely chopped sage, bring the mixture to a boil. Strain the broth through cheesecloth and evaporate on fire for another 3 minutes. At one time before going to bed, the child should drink the entire dose.

Treatment of children with the help of folk remedies requires prior consultation with a doctor in order to avoid negative consequences.

Treating bronchitis with garlic

The main advantage of garlic is essential oils, which have many beneficial properties.

You can use it in different ways:

• Grate 3 cloves of garlic, squeeze out the juice, add to a glass of warm milk. This remedy is used to defuse phlegm and strengthen the immune system;
• chop 3 cloves of garlic, a head of onion, pour a glass of milk. Put on fire, boil until softened onion and garlic. When the mixture has cooled, add a spoonful of honey to it;
• grease a towel with oil, apply grated garlic (a few cloves) on it. Put a towel on the back of the child, wrap it with a scarf. Keep no longer than 15 minutes, so as not to provoke an overexcitation of the nervous system;
• chop 1-2 heads of garlic, place in an enameled container, pour honey. Put the saucepan on the fire and heat until the mass becomes homogeneous, then remove from heat, then heat again, without bringing to a boil. Let the mixture cool and strain through cheesecloth. Store the syrup in the refrigerator. This remedy can treat bronchitis, starting from the age of 3. You should take 1 tsp. every hour.

Warning! Treating bronchitis in children with garlic and honey can cause allergic reaction.

intending to use such folk remedies, make sure that the child does not have a susceptibility to any of the components!

Rubbing and warming compresses

Help to treat bronchitis in children and various compresses, rubbing:

• For "" you will need: 2-3 tbsp. L. Flour, 1 tbsp. L. Dry mustard, honey, sunflower oil and vodka. Mix everything thoroughly and heat with a water bath. Fold a piece of gauze in 4 layers and apply the dough on it (it should be sticky). Apply a compress to the chest, cover with oilcloth on top, wrap with a warm scarf. Leave for half an hour. It is better to carry out this procedure before going to bed, repeating several days in a row.
• Treatment of bronchitis with the help of "potato cakes" is no less effective. Boil a few potatoes, mash them right in the skin, mix with soda. Form 2 loaves. Put one on the chest, the second on the back of the child. Wrap them up with a towel. When the cakes have cooled, wipe the baby's skin dry and put to bed.
• Try honey-vodka: smear the baby's chest with honey, and put a cloth dipped in vodka diluted with water (3: 1) on top. Secure everything with a towel. You can use the tool both at night and throughout the day.
• You can treat bronchitis, potato-. Boil 6-7 potatoes in their skins, crush, add a glass of alcohol to the resulting mass. Wrap the cakes in separate gauze bags and apply on the chest and back of the baby at night, securing with a towel.
• Rubbing with the following mixture gives a good result: pour potato flowers (1 cup) with a liter of heated vegetable oil, put in a dark place for 10 days. Rub your baby's chest and back with this remedy regularly at bedtime. Then wrap the patient in a blanket.

• It is very effective to treat bronchitis with one of the "harmless" recipes - bread compresses. Cut a 2 cm wide piece from the loaf, sprinkle with water, warm in the oven. Wrap the compress in several layers of fabric, then apply the wet side to the back or chest of the patient.
• At an early stage of the disease, use simple honey compresses. Soak a piece of cloth in melted honey, apply every evening to the bronchial area. The first time in the morning the fabric will be almost dry. When you notice that the compress is sticky in the morning, the treatment of bronchitis can be stopped.
• An ointment made from melted butter with the addition of garlic has proven itself well. She needs to rub the chest and back of the patient.

Juice therapy in folk medicine

Natural juices provide positive influence on the body of a sick child:

• The most famous of folk remedies for the treatment of bronchitis in children is radish juice with honey. There are two versions of this recipe.

First: a hole is made in a black radish, filled with honey. The juice that appears is taken in 2 tbsp. l. before meals and at bedtime.

The second option: grated black radish, squeeze 1 liter of juice. Next, it must be mixed with 400 g of honey. Take in the same way as in the previous recipe.

• For the treatment of chronic bronchitis, the following recipe is effective: mix 100 g of goat fat, butter and honey with 15 g of aloe juice. Add 1 tbsp. l. in a glass of warm milk and drink 2 times a day.
• Beetroot juice is said to be the most effective in cleansing the blood of toxins as well as boosting platelet levels, which helps treat bronchitis. You can’t use it fresh, you need to grate the beets, and put the squeezed juice in the refrigerator for 4 hours. You can drink no more than 100 ml per day.
• Treatment with carrot juice with the addition of honey in a ratio of 2:1 soothes coughs, cranberry juice - perfectly removes phlegm from the body.
• This mixture will help discharge sputum: mix 20 g of aloe juice with 100 g of goose fat, butter, honey and 50 g of cocoa powder. Dilute 1 tbsp. l. in a glass of warm milk and take 2 times a day.
• You can treat bronchitis with the help of honey mixed in equal parts. To do this, pre-cut large aloe leaves, wrap in paper and put in the refrigerator for 5 days. To get juice, the leaves must be scrolled through a meat grinder, and then squeezed through cheesecloth.

Inhalations: recipes and rules

Effective folk remedies for the treatment of bronchitis are inhalations. Even in advanced cases, this method will help alleviate a dry cough and regulate sputum production.

Traditional medicine offers a large number of recipes:

• inhalation over potatoes, familiar from childhood, does not lose popularity and effectiveness;
• a simple heated mineral water will help to safely treat bronchitis;
• the simplest solution can be made from water with soda (4 tsp soda per 1 liter of water);
• dilute 6 drops of iodine, 1 tsp in 1 liter of water. soda and on the tip of the Asterisk knife. Boil the mixture and let the child breathe over it;
• garlic gruel helps, over which you can also breathe;
• dilute honey with boiled water heated to 40 degrees, in a ratio of 1:5, and let the child inhale the steam;
• using needles of cedar, pine, juniper, oak leaves, eucalyptus, birch, chamomile, mint, wormwood, lavender, sage. These plants have a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect. For best effect it is worth using fees.

In bronchitis, an infection or allergic reaction affects the airways. Inflammation leads to swelling of the mucous layer, narrowing and blockage of the bronchi. If bronchitis occurs in children, home treatment can be carried out only after visiting a doctor. The pediatrician includes complex therapy pharmacy and folk remedies.

In case of damage to the bronchial mucous membranes in respiratory tract mucus is formed. Pathological exudate accumulates if viruses, bacteria or allergens enter the lungs.

To the infectious form of the disease lead:

• colds;
• flu;
• SARS.

Allergic bronchitis is caused by:

• aerosols;
• aggressive volatile substances;
• smoky air;
• other irritants.

According to the duration of progression, the disease is divided into 3 types:

1. Spicy. The period of exacerbation lasts 2-3 weeks.
2. Chronic. It replaces the acute form of the disease. The disease does not disappear for 3 months or more.
3. Recurrent. The child suffers the disease at least 3 times a year.

The classification of the disease is influenced by the causes that cause it. Children's bronchitis is divided into 4 types:

1. Viral. Inflammatory process viruses in the respiratory tract.
2. Bacterial. In this case, bacteria are the causative agents. In the bronchi, colonies of streptococci, staphylococci are formed.
3. Allergic. Various irritants that enter the respiratory tract lead to the disease. Pathology goes away after the identification and elimination of the allergen.
4. Obstructive. With this type of disease in children up to a year and older, blockage of the bronchi occurs.. The channels become clogged if the lumen is too narrow in them, spasms appear, and sputum separation is difficult. The passage of air into the lungs through clogged airways is complicated. Often occurring obstructive form leads to bronchial asthma.

Symptoms

With the development of bronchitis, the child is tormented by the following symptoms:

• nasal congestion;
• severe runny nose;
• a debilitating cough, accompanied by sniffling, squelching and gurgling;
• heat;
• complicated wheezing breathing;
• weakness, fatigue;
• poor appetite.

Danger signs include:

• temperature reaching 38 degrees and above;
• rapid breathing (more than 70 breaths / min);
• the occurrence of shortness of breath;
• blanching of the skin.

With the appearance of aggravated symptoms of the child, it is necessary to urgently show the doctor. He needs emergency medical attention.

Medical treatment

If bronchitis occurs in children, home treatment is agreed with the pediatrician. Only a doctor is able to determine the type of pathology, identify the pathogen and prescribe adequate therapy.

Choice medicines affects the type of bronchitis, the severity of the course of the disease:

1. With a bacterial form, antibiotics are prescribed, even if the child is a newborn. Without them, it is impossible to suppress inflammation, and the risk of disease is excessively high.
2. Viral bronchitis is treated with immunomodulators and antiviral drugs.
3. To thin and accelerate the discharge of sputum, mucolytics and bronchodilators are used.
4. To combat complicated breathing, a nebulizer is used - a device for inhalation, medicines that can expand the lumen of the respiratory canals.
5. In the allergic form, immunostimulants, antihistamines, anti-inflammatory drugs are used.

If bronchitis has developed in a baby or a child of a different age, you should:

• Monitor indoor humidity. If the air in the dwelling is dry, it is humidified with the help of special devices, water containers, wet towels.
• Do massage, compresses, inhalations and other physiotherapy procedures.
• Adjust drinking regimen. Give fruit drinks, compotes, herbal teas without restriction to a sick child.
• Balance nutrition. The kid needs meat and seafood dishes, chicken broth, fruits, vegetable salads.

Newborn babies continue to be breastfed. With mother's milk, the baby receives nutritious and immunity-enhancing substances, vitamins and minerals.

In the first 5 days of illness, children are prohibited from walking. The dwelling where the sick baby is located is disinfected, including periodically a quartz lamp. The radiation from the lamp destroys bacteria and viruses.

Folk ways

Phytotherapy is used to treat childhood bronchitis on early stages. Home remedies are used in addition to medications. Children are treated with the means recommended by the doctor.

Bronchitis often occurs against the background of untreated colds. In a child of 3 years or less (especially in infants), sputum accumulates in the respiratory canals, because babies are not able to completely cough up mucous exudate.

The release of sputum is facilitated if you give the child a simple massage.

The baby is laid on the stomach so that the head is lower than the body, the fingertips are tapped on the back. Vibrations free the airways from exudate.

Effective Recipes

The following methods help to quickly cope with bronchitis:

Ways to treat chronic bronchitis

If the disease develops into chronic form, the main therapy is supplemented with home methods of treatment. In this case, use the following folk remedies for bronchitis for children:

The risk of developing bronchitis is reduced if the cold is treated in a timely manner to the end, periodically give the child multivitamins, strengthen the immune system and harden. At the first signs of pathology, treatment should be consulted with a doctor.

Bronchitis in children is a respiratory disease characterized by a nonspecific inflammatory process in the lower respiratory tract. Diseases are most often exposed to young children, since their immunity is not yet fully formed.

The main manifestation of this inflammatory disease is a prolonged cough, the intensity of which increases every day. Such a symptom should be the first wake-up call for parents and encourage them to visit a pediatric specialist.

Causes of the disease

The causes of bronchitis in children are varied. This ailment in infants develops when pathogens and irritants such as:

• Viruses. First, they are activated in the nasopharynx. If appropriate measures are not taken in time, viruses enter the bronchial mucosa. Viral bronchitis can be the result of an untreated SARS or flu.
• Bacteria that infect the bronchi. The causative agents of inflammation are streptococci, pneumococci, chlamydia, staphylococci, which cannot be removed from the body without antibiotics.
• Allergens that enter the respiratory tract through the nasopharynx.
• Fungi. Bronchitis of this etymology occurs in debilitated children, for example, premature babies or those who have previously been subjected to frequent antibiotic therapy.
• Toxins that enter the body through inhalation of polluted air. The body of babies reacts very sharply to tobacco smoke, so passive smoking should be banned.
• In addition, the disease can quickly manifest itself after prolonged hypothermia or exposure to a draft.

Bronchitis symptoms

The signs of bronchitis in children are so obvious that attentive mothers can recognize them when the disease has just begun to develop. It manifests itself in infants with the main symptoms:

• A wet cough that replaces a dry one. Severe seizures disturb the child during and after sleep.
• Heavy breathing accompanied by wheezing.
• Pain in chest when coughing.
• In some cases - temperature.

Sometimes babies have shortness of breath with a strong heartbeat. The secondary signs of this disease may differ, since they directly depend on its stage and form.

Is the temperature rising?

In children, prolonged bronchitis usually rarely causes high fever. This disease is characterized by temperature instability. Infants with bronchitis often have a temperature in the range of 37.5-38 degrees, after which there is a sharp rise or fall without taking antipyretics.

In rare cases, children experience a temperature increase to febrile (38-39 ºС) or pyretic (39-40 ºС) marks. Parents in this situation do not need to panic. They should understand that the temperature in bronchitis in children is a symptom that the body is trying to fight the disease by localizing inflammation.

When asked what temperature indicator is the norm in this case inflammatory disease still no clear answer. The numbers are purely conditional and depend on the stability of the baby's immune system, as well as on the cause of the disease.

What is a cough with bronchitis?

At the initial stage, a small patient has a dry cough, which after a while turns into a wet one. Dry cough is painful for the baby, because with it the child cannot completely cough up sputum.

With a wet cough, the baby leaves a huge amount of mucus that accumulates in the bronchi. At one year old baby it complicates breathing, since the airways at this age are much narrower than those of older children. The main coughing spells occur during sleep or upon awakening.

If the treatment that was prescribed to the child turned out to be ineffective, the cough turns into a recurrent form. Protracted cough in children is very difficult to treat on an outpatient basis. Most often, hospitalization of the baby is required.

Does breathing change?

With bronchitis, parents themselves may notice changes in the breathing of the little one. For any mother, wheezing and whistling on exhalation and inhalation will not go unnoticed. Very rarely, against the background of the disease, shortness of breath occurs, accompanied by a rapid heartbeat.

At the initial stage, the pediatrician listens to dry rales, which become wet when the cough changes. At the same time, the percussion sound remains within the normal range if the disease proceeds in an unopened form.

Types of bronchitis

Determine the type of bronchitis can only pediatrician, after which he prescribes the appropriate treatment.

Depending on the duration of the course of the disease in the baby, doctors distinguish:

• Acute bronchitis. It begins on the background of hypothermia. Another reason is that bacteria or viruses have entered the bronchi. This form of the disease affects children after 1 year. The baby has a headache, he becomes apathetic and lethargic, he loses interest in food, the child begins to cough. The cough is dry in the first days, after which it turns into a wet one. At the same time, the intensity of the cough increases every day. Coughing up sputum is the key to a child's recovery, so parents need to monitor how much sputum their child is coughing up. As for the temperature, it can remain normal, but most often it rises to 37.5-38 degrees.
• Chronic form. untimely and not effective treatment acute form of bronchitis leads to chronic stage disease, that is, to relapse several times a year. In this case, the child has an acute cough in 1-2 months.

Depending on the severity, we can talk about three types of the disease:

1. Uncomplicated bronchitis. It is characterized by profuse sputum production and a deep, wet cough.
2. Obstructive bronchitis (we recommend reading:). The child is clearly audible wheezing. A distinctive feature of this form is bronchial obstruction, expressed as shortness of breath. At the initial stage, the child may be disturbed by rhinitis and dry cough. Soon, parents may hear wheezing in the child, which prevents him from sleeping peacefully. At the same time, the temperature of the baby begins to change, sometimes it reaches high rates.
3. Obliterating. This is chronic bronchitis. It is characterized by overgrowth of the channels that are in the bronchi, which greatly complicates the baby's breathing.

Localization is another criterion for the distribution of types of bronchitis into categories such as:

• Tracheobronchitis. The inflammatory process is localized in the bronchi and trachea. The child is tormented by coughing fits, but sputum is very problematic at the same time.
• Bronchiolitis affecting the bronchi and bronchioles. This disease affects mainly children under one year old, since their immune system is not yet able to defend itself against viruses that penetrate deep into the respiratory system. The main manifestations are fine bubbling rales, shortness of breath, and palpitations. Another sign of bronchiolitis is an increase in temperature to febrile levels.

How to treat children for bronchitis?

Most often, it is allowed to treat an infant for bronchitis at home. However, sometimes doctors want to play it safe and insist on hospitalization. This happens when the disease is severe or if the patient is less than 3 months old.

If close relatives and the doctor have agreed on a common decision on treatment at home, parents must impeccably follow all the doctor's instructions. Only effective treatment will allow the child to be thoroughly cured and not to start the disease.

Medications

The main treatment of bronchitis is based on taking medications, the most effective of which are such tablets and syrups:

With extreme caution, the child should be treated with antibiotics. They are prescribed only at a high temperature, which does not go astray for three days, as well as when infected with streptococcus, staphylococcus or pneumococcus.

In all other cases, it will be appropriate to treat bronchitis in children without antibiotics, using tablets and syrups.

Drainage massage

Drainage massage refers to the auxiliary methods of therapy for a child in the treatment of bronchitis. It is very effective in removing mucus. Massage is allowed only from 6 months of age. Dry cough and fever are contraindications for drainage massage. It is carried out no more than 10 minutes 2 times a day.

The technique for performing drainage massage is as follows:

1. First, the child must be laid on the stomach. It is best to put a blanket or a large pillow under the baby's body. This is done so that the head is in a half-deflated state.
2. Next, the parent proceeds to directly massaging the back, using essential oil. After that, you need to start tapping the branches along the spine with the help of fingertips. The procedure should be carried out with gentle and unobtrusive movements without the use of excessive force. During these soft taps, mucus is discharged from the walls of the bronchi and removed from them.
3. The last step is to sit the baby in a chair so that he can take an upright position and cough up sputum.

Inhalations

During inhalation, the medicine acts on the bronchi, due to which a positive effect is achieved.

Today, you can carry out inhalation at home using a nebulizer. The only contraindication for inhalation is elevated body temperature.

Before using inhalation products, you should read the instructions, since some of them are allowed only after 2 years. Medicines used for inhalation different forms bronchitis:

Traditional medicine

In order to cure bronchitis without the use of medicines, some parents resort to traditional medicine.

The most famous among them:

• Compresses from sunflower oil and honey. The oil compress is heated in a water bath, after which it is applied to the back or chest baby and wrapped in polyethylene, after which it is necessary to wrap the child with a warm woolen scarf or blanket. You can also add honey to the oil and mix the components in equal proportions. However, it should be remembered that honey is an allergenic product, so it should be used with extreme caution.
• Potato flatbread is the safest and quickly relieves cough. To prepare it, it is necessary to boil the potatoes in their uniforms, then ceiling them and place them in gauze. In this form, the cake is applied to the back and wrapped in polyethylene, and covered with a warm blanket on top.
• Mustard plasters. They can be applied to children from 5 years old on the chest area without affecting the heart zone.

Therapy with folk remedies includes drinking plenty of water. Milk with honey and butter has a softening effect on the respiratory tract. Cowberry juice with honey when warm has a similar effect.

Treatment with folk remedies also involves the use of herbs:

• One of the most effective is a decoction of thyme, which should be taken 3 times a day instead of tea.
• A positive result also gives a tincture of the following herbs - marshmallow root, licorice, anise fruits, sage and pine buds. This collection must be poured with a glass of boiling water and boiled in a water bath for 15 minutes, then drained, divided into 4 parts and drunk 4 times a day.
• Medicinal syrup can be replaced with a decoction of mint and wheatgrass. To do this, pour 3 teaspoons of mint and 5 teaspoons of wheat grass with three glasses of water, put on fire, bring to a boil and consume 1/3 cup before each meal.

How to prevent the appearance of bronchitis in a baby?

Prevention of bronchitis in a child is aimed at strengthening the immune system, therefore, to prevent this disease, parents should heal their children in such ways as:

• vitamin therapy;
• healthy eating;
• hardening.

If the baby is ill with SARS and at the same time he is tormented by a strong cough, it is not necessary that the disease will flow into bronchitis. In order to prevent bronchitis, parents should pay attention to the therapy of the baby - take a full course of medication prescribed by the pediatrician, do not supercool the child, give warm drinks, vitamins as often as possible, and also observe bed rest.

Vitamin therapy and diet

The use of vitamins strengthens the immune system, so it helps to prevent bronchitis in a small child:

• To do this, parents need to take care of taking a complex of multivitamins of groups A, B and C during an exacerbation of infectious and viral diseases, as well as during periods of beriberi.
• Vitamins are also needed by the child in case of illness. Immunity during this period is very weakened and is in great need of vitamins B and C.
• Diet plays an important role in the prevention of respiratory diseases. The nutrition of the child should be varied and enriched as much as possible. useful substances. Doctors recommend eating vegetable salads, seafood, meat dishes, chicken broths, fruits.

Bronchitis is a disease that, according to modern medical statistics, is one of the most common pathologies of the respiratory system. This disease can occur in people of any age. But in children, especially small ones, it occurs most often and proceeds, as a rule, more severely than in adults. Therefore, it is important for parents to know the main symptoms of the disease and methods of its treatment.

In most cases, bronchitis is caused by infectious causes, which is why the term infectious bronchitis is quite common.

Although there are cases of non-infectious origin of this disease.

What is bronchitis?

The bronchi are one of the most important parts respiratory system person. When inhaled, air passes through the larynx and trachea, then enters the branched system of the bronchi, which deliver oxygen to the lungs. The ends of the bronchi that are directly adjacent to the lungs are called bronchioles. When exhaling, the products of gas exchange formed in the lungs, primarily carbon dioxide, go back out through the bronchi and trachea. The surface of the bronchi is covered with mucus and sensitive cilia, which ensure the removal of foreign substances that have entered the bronchi.

Thus, if the patency of the bronchi is disturbed for some reason, this can negatively affect the respiratory process, and, as a result, cause an insufficient supply of oxygen to the body.

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the lining of the bronchi. This disease often affects children due to their weak immunity and underdeveloped respiratory organs. The incidence of the disease in children is quite high. Statistics show that for a thousand children a year there are up to two hundred diseases. Most often, children under five years of age get sick. And most cases are recorded in the autumn-winter period, during outbreaks of various acute respiratory diseases.

Bronchitis in a child is divided into several varieties according to the degree of development:

• simple (catarrhal),
• obstructive.

Bronchitis is also divided according to the nature of the course into:

• spicy,
• chronic.

Chronic bronchitis in children can be discussed when the patient suffers from this disease for about three to four months a year. A variety of bronchitis in children is also bronchiolitis - inflammation of the bronchioles.

Obstructive bronchitis is a type of bronchitis in children, in which there is a strong narrowing of the lumen of the bronchi due to mucus accumulated in them or bronchospasm.

Bronchitis in a child can also affect either individual branches of the bronchial tree, or all branches on one side, or affect the bronchi on both sides. If inflammation extends not only to the bronchi, but also to the trachea, then they speak of tracheobronchitis, if to the bronchi and lungs, then bronchopneumonia.

The reasons

The respiratory organs in children are not as well developed as in adults. This circumstance is the main reason that bronchitis in children is much more common than in adults. Respiratory problems in children include:

• short airways, which contributes to the rapid penetration of infection into them;
• small lung capacity;
• weakness of the respiratory muscles, which makes it difficult to cough up sputum;
• insufficient amount of immunoglobulins in the cells of the mucous membrane;
• tendency to tonsillitis and inflammation of the adenoids.

Bronchitis in a child in the vast majority of cases is a secondary disease. It occurs as a complication in diseases of the upper respiratory tract - laryngitis and tonsillitis. Bronchitis occurs when bacteria or viruses travel from the upper respiratory tract to the lower respiratory tract.

However, primary bronchitis, that is, a disease in which the bronchi are primarily affected, is not excluded. Most experts believe that purely bacterial bronchitis is not very common, and viruses (flu, parainfluenza, rhinoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, adenoviruses) play the main role in the occurrence and development of the disease.

Bronchitis in a child, accompanied by a bacterial infection, is usually more severe than a viral one. Bacterial bronchitis often results in purulent discharge from the bronchi, the so-called purulent sputum. Bacteria that cause bronchial damage usually include streptococci, staphylococci, mycoplasmas, chlamydia, Haemophilus influenzae, pneumococcus.

Children of different age groups with unequal frequency are affected by bacteria various types. Bronchitis caused by mycoplasma is most often observed in school-age children. But in children under one year old, this is usually chlamydial bronchitis caused by chlamydia pneumoniae. Also, with this disease in children under one year old, an extremely dangerous form of the disease caused by respiratory syncytial virus is often observed.

Primary bacterial bronchitis in children is also possible. Usually its cause is the aspiration of small objects, food by young children. After coughing foreign bodies usually leave the respiratory tract. However, the bacteria that got inside at the same time settle on the bronchial mucosa and multiply.

Much less often than viruses and bacteria, bronchitis in children can be triggered by a fungal infection and other microorganisms.

There is also a type of bronchitis known as allergic bronchitis. It is observed as a reaction to some external stimulus - medicines, chemicals, dust, pollen, animal hair, etc.

Factors contributing to the development of bronchitis in children are:

• low level of immunity;
• hypothermia;
• sudden changes in temperature;
• too dry air, especially in a heated room, which contributes to the drying of the mucous membranes of the respiratory organs;
• beriberi;
• second hand smoke;
• long stay in a close team with other children;
• comorbidities such as cystic fibrosis.

Bronchitis in children under one year old is relatively rare. This is due to the fact that the child does not communicate with peers, and therefore cannot become infected with viruses from them. Bronchitis in infants can be triggered by factors such as prematurity, congenital pathologies respiratory organs.

Acute bronchitis in children, symptoms

bronchitis in children characteristic symptoms distinguishing it from other respiratory diseases. First of all, cough speaks about bronchitis in children. However, coughing can also be associated with other respiratory diseases.

What kind of cough usually occurs in children with bronchitis?

At the onset of bronchitis in children, symptoms include a dry and non-productive cough, that is, a cough without sputum production. The positive dynamics of treatment, first of all, is indicated wet cough. The sputum may be clear, yellow or green in color.

Acute bronchitis in a child is also accompanied by elevated temperature. But its value in this type of disease is relatively small in the vast majority of cases. The temperature is only slightly higher than subfebrile and rarely rises to +39 ºС. This is a relatively small indicator compared to the temperature during pneumonia. With catarrhal bronchitis, the temperature rarely exceeds +38 ºС.

Other symptoms of bronchitis in children include signs of general intoxication:

• headache,
• weakness,
• nausea.

Breastfeeding babies usually do not sleep well, do not suck milk.

The nature of wheezing in the chest area can also indicate bronchitis in children. With catarrhal bronchitis in a child, when listening to the chest, scattered dry rales are usually heard.

With mycoplasmal bronchitis, the child has a high temperature, but there are no symptoms of general intoxication.

Since bronchitis in a child affects the lower respiratory tract, there are usually no symptoms that indicate damage to the upper ones (runny nose, sore throat, etc.). However, in many cases, bronchitis is accompanied by inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, so diseases such as pharyngitis, rhinitis and laryngitis do not exclude the simultaneous presence of bronchitis as a complication.

About bronchitis in children, accompanied by tracheitis, may indicate a feeling of heaviness or pain behind the sternum.

Bronchiolitis and obstructive bronchitis in children, symptoms

Symptoms of obstructive bronchitis and bronchiolitis in children are somewhat different than in the catarrhal form of the disease. By the way, many experts do not separate bronchiolitis and acute obstructive bronchitis in children.

Symptoms in these varieties of the disease also include cough and fever. But with bronchiolitis and obstructive bronchitis in children, symptoms of respiratory failure are added to them: an increase in respiratory rate, a blue nasolabial triangle. Breathing becomes noisier. The abdominal muscles are also included in the breathing process. Noticeable retraction of the skin in the intercostal spaces during inspiration.

In obstructive bronchitis in children, symptoms also include characteristic wheezing, noticeable when listening to the chest. The rales are usually moist and wheezing. Sometimes they can be heard even without a stethoscope, at a distance. Exhalation in this form of the disease is prolonged.

With obstructive bronchitis in children under one year old, a sign of shortness of breath is a respiratory rate of 60 breaths per minute or more, in children aged one to 2 years - 50 breaths per minute or more, in children aged 2 years and older - 40 breaths per minute and more.

With bronchiolitis, shortness of breath can reach even greater values ​​​​- 80-90 breaths per minute. Also, with bronchiolitis, tachycardia, muffled tones in the heart can be observed.

Diagnostics

When diagnosing, doctors, first of all, must determine the type of bronchitis (catarrhal or obstructive) and its etiology - viral bacterial or allergic. You should also separate simple bronchitis from bronchiolitis, which is more serious illness, and from pneumonia.

obstructive bronchitis with respiratory failure should also be differentiated from bronchial asthma.

When diagnosing, data obtained from examining the patient and listening to his chest are used. During hospitalization, the child may have a chest X-ray, which will show all pathological changes in the bronchial structure and lungs. Methods are also used that determine the volume of air passing through the bronchi, sputum examination in order to search for pathogens (bacterial culture, PCR analysis).

Blood and urine tests are also taken. In the blood test, pay attention to the level of ESR, as well as to leukocyte formula. An upward change in the total white blood cell count (leukocytosis) is a sign of a bacterial infection. A relative decrease in the number of leukocytes (leukopenia) with a simultaneous increase in the number of lymphocytes (lymphocytosis) may indicate viral infections. However, with recurrent bronchitis, an attack of the disease may not be accompanied by changes in the composition of the blood. Such types of studies as bronchogram, bronchoscopy, computed tomography can also be carried out.

Prognosis and complications

With timely treatment of bronchitis detected in children, the prognosis is favorable, and the risk of complications is minimal. However, inflammation of the bronchi is a long-term illness, and the complete recovery of a child, especially a younger one, may take several weeks. It is important to prevent the transition of simple bronchitis into more severe forms- obstructive bronchitis and bronchiolitis, as well as an even more severe and dangerous disease - pneumonia.

Keep in mind that obstructive bronchitis in children can be life-threatening. This is especially true for young children. The fact is that as a result of the overlap of the lumen of the bronchi with secreted mucus or as a result of their spasm, suffocation may occur.

Under certain circumstances, bronchitis can turn into diseases such as chronic bronchial asthma , recurrent bronchitis, which, in turn, can cause chronic bronchitis.

In the case of the spread of infection throughout the body, the development of such dangerous complications as endocarditis, inflammation of the kidneys is not excluded. This moment can occur in cases where the treatment for children is chosen incorrectly. This happens extremely rarely, since the disease is clearly diagnosed, but such a possibility cannot be ruled out.

Acute bronchitis in children, treatment

Treatment of bronchitis in children is a complex process that requires long-term therapy. And here you can not do without the recommendations of a doctor, since the disease can occur in various forms, and the methods of treatment in individual cases can be radically different.

Treatment of children from bronchitis can be directed both to the causative agents of the disease (etiotropic treatment), and to the elimination of unpleasant for the child, dangerous to health, and even sometimes life threatening symptoms (symptomatic treatment).

At the same time, the alternatives drug treatment no.

It should be borne in mind that the treatment of obstructive bronchitis and bronchiolitis, as a rule, is required in a hospital setting.

Etiotropic treatment of bronchitis

With viral bronchitis, etiotropic therapy, as a rule, is not used. However, in the case of bronchitis caused by the influenza virus, etiotropic drugs can be used:

With bronchitis caused by ARVI viruses (rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, parainfluenza viruses), there is no etiotropic therapy, and therefore the treatment is symptomatic. In some cases, immunomodulatory drugs are prescribed:

However, these drugs can be used only in exceptional cases, with very weak immunity, as they have many side effects.

With the bacterial form of the disease, as well as with the threat of the transition of viral bronchitis to a more complex, bacterial form, antibiotics are prescribed. The type of antibiotic is selected based on the type of pathogen. It should be noted that it is not recommended to engage in antibiotic therapy on your own, since with viral, and even more so, allergic bronchitis, it will not lead to any positive result, and can only complicate the course of the disease. Most often, antibiotics of the penicillin and tetracycline series, macrolides, cephalosporins (amoxicillin, amoxiclav, erythromycin) are used in the treatment of bronchitis. With mild and moderate course of the disease, as well as in children of school age, drugs are prescribed in tablets. In severe cases of bronchitis, as well as in young children, parenteral administration is often used. But with the improvement of the patient's condition, it is possible to switch to tablet forms of antibiotics.

In case of suspicion of bacterial bronchitis, the appointment of a specific drug is done by choosing the most appropriate one. The doctor determines it by the totality of the features of the course of the disease, as well as by the results of studying the patient's history. Positive dynamics drug therapy already three to four days after the start of treatment, it is a signal of the correctness of the chosen tactics and the treatment of bronchitis in a child is continued with the same drug. Otherwise, the appointment is reviewed and other drugs are prescribed.

Duration of admission antibacterial drugs is a week for acute bronchitis and two weeks for chronic bronchitis.

The etiological treatment of allergic bronchitis is to eliminate the agent causing the allergic reaction. It can be animal hair, some kind of chemical (even household chemicals), dust.

Symptomatic treatment of bronchitis

In the acute form of bronchitis, treatment, first of all, should be aimed at eliminating the inflammation of the mucous membranes of the bronchi and the cough it causes. It should be borne in mind that coughing in itself is a protective reaction of the body, seeking to remove foreign agents from the respiratory organs (it does not matter if they are viruses, bacteria, allergens, or toxic substances). For this purpose, the epithelium produces a large amount of sputum on the walls of the bronchi, which is then coughed out. The problem, however, is that very viscous bronchial secretions are coughed up with great difficulty. This is especially difficult for young children with their weak lungs and respiratory muscles and narrow airways. Accordingly, in the youngest children, treatment should be aimed at stimulating expectoration.

To facilitate this process, mucolytic and expectorants. mucolytic drugs ( ACC, Ambrohexal, Bromhexine) dilute sputum and make it more convenient for coughing.

• thinning sputum and increasing its volume (acetylcysteine);
• secretolytics (bromhexine and derivatives, carbocysteine), which facilitate the transport of sputum.

Expectorants (Ascoril, Gerbion, Gedelix, Prospan, Dr. Mom) facilitate the removal of sputum from the respiratory tract during a cough. Among this group of preparations, preparations based on herbal components are often used (licorice roots, marshmallow, elecampane, thyme grass).

The third group of drugs is antitussive drugs (codeine). They block the activity of the cough center of the brain. This group of drugs is prescribed only for long-term fruitless dry cough. As a rule, a dry cough is characteristic of the onset of the disease. But with active sputum formation, antitussive drugs are not prescribed, since blocking the antitussive center makes it impossible to remove sputum from the bronchi.

Mucolytic drugs are also prescribed with caution, primarily direct-acting drugs (cysteines) in young children (up to 2 years old), due to the risk of increased sputum production, which a young child cannot effectively cough up due to the imperfection of his respiratory system.

There are also drugs that expand the lumen of the bronchi and relieve their spasm (Berodual, Eufillin). Bronchodilators are available as tablets or inhaler aerosols. They are usually not prescribed if the bronchi are not narrowed.

Another group of drugs - drugs with complex action - anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator. An example of such a drug is fenspiride (Erespal).

Soda and soda-salt inhalations can also be used as anti-inflammatory drugs.

From the foregoing, it follows that cough treatment is a complex process that has many nuances and independent, without consulting a doctor, prescribing cough medicines to a child is unjustified and may lead to a deterioration in his condition.

Antipyretic, analgesic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (paracetamol, ibuprofen) or their analogues (Efferalgan, Teraflu) are recommended to be given to children only when the temperature rises above a certain limit (+38 ºС - +38.5 ºС.). subfebrile temperature(up to +38 ºС) does not need to be lowered. This is a normal physiological reaction of the body to infection, facilitating immune system fight with her. Medicines such as aspirin and analgin are contraindicated in young children.

With severe inflammation, hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs may also be prescribed by a doctor. If bronchitis is allergic in nature, then antihistamines reducing swelling of the epithelium of the bronchi.

Non-drug treatments

However, do not think that drugs alone can cure your child with bronchitis. There are a number of guidelines to follow regarding the creation necessary conditions for recovery.

First of all, it is worth increasing the amount of water consumed by the child - about 2 times compared to the norm. When the temperature rises, dehydration of the body occurs, which must be compensated. In addition, water is required in order to quickly remove toxins from the body. It should also be borne in mind that with rapid breathing associated with obstructive bronchitis in children, fluid loss through the lungs increases, which requires increased rehydration measures.

The drink should be warm enough, but not hot. Hot drinks can only burn the larynx, but will not bring much benefit. Kissels, fruit drinks, juices, teas, warm milk, rosehip broth are well suited.

If a child has bronchitis, then he should observe bed rest. However, it should not be strict, because with a constant stay in bed, congestion in the lungs and bronchi may occur. It is important that the child has the opportunity to move. If the child is small, then you can regularly turn it from side to side. When the condition improves and the air temperature is sufficiently high, even walks are recommended, since fresh air has a beneficial effect on the bronchi.

Special mention should be made of the temperature in the room where the child is. It should neither be too low nor too high. The optimal range is +18 ºС-+22 ºС. Too high a temperature dries out the air, and dry air, in turn, increases the inflammation of the bronchi and provokes coughing fits. The optimal indicator of humidity in the room is 50-70%. Therefore, in the room where the patient is located, periodic ventilation is necessary.

Is it worth it to use the previously popular mustard plasters and jars? Currently, many doctors doubt the high efficacy and safety of such methods for bronchitis in a child. At least they are not recommended for children under 5 years of age. However, in some cases, mustard plasters can help alleviate the condition of the child. It is only important to remember that they cannot be placed on the heart area. If it becomes necessary to put mustard plasters on small children, then they should not be placed directly, but wrapped in diapers.

Banks and mustard plasters, however, are contraindicated in the purulent form of bronchitis caused by a bacterial infection. The reason is that heating the chest can help expand purulent process to other sections of the bronchi. For the same reason, warm baths and showers are contraindicated in bronchitis. The previously popular steam inhalations are also not recommended.

However, with bronchitis found in a baby, inhalations can be prescribed using nebulizers. Foot warming baths are also helpful.

Treatment in a hospital

Highly dangerous complication bronchitis is obstructive bronchitis in children, the treatment of which is carried out, as a rule, in a hospital. This is especially true for children who have signs of heart failure.

When diagnosing obstructive bronchitis, children in a hospital are treated with oxygen therapy, removal of mucus from the respiratory tract with an electric suction, intravenous administration bronchodilators and adrenomimetics.

Diet for bronchitis

The diet for bronchitis should be complete, contain all the vitamins and proteins necessary for health, and at the same time easily digestible, not causing rejection in conditions of intoxication of the body. Most suitable are dairy products and vegetables.

Massage for bronchitis

With bronchitis in children, parents can independently conduct a course of chest massage. However, this procedure is best done with the positive dynamics of the main therapy. The purpose of the massage is to encourage the child to cough up. This procedure can be beneficial for children of any age, but especially for infants.

The duration of the procedure is 3-5 minutes, the number of sessions is 3 times a day for a week. Massage is done very simply: with the help of hand movements along the back of the child from the bottom up, as well as careful tapping movements with the palms or fingertips along the spine. The body of the baby at this time should be in a horizontal position.

Folk remedies

Many folk remedies have long been successfully used in the treatment of bronchitis. However, they should be used only with the permission of the attending physician. It should be borne in mind that many plant components that make up folk remedies can cause allergic reactions.

Folk remedies include taking various decoctions of herbs, drinking breastfeeding, inhalation. Well helps with bronchitis hot milk with honey, radish juice with honey (for dry cough), decoctions of calendula, plantain, licorice, mother and stepmother.

Breast herbal preparations for acute bronchitis

What herbal preparations are most effective for bronchitis? You can use the collection with coltsfoot, plantain, horsetail, primrose (ratio of components (1-2-3-4), herbal collection with licorice root, marshmallow root, coltsfoot leaves, fennel fruits (2-2 -2-1).

Herbal juices for acute bronchitis

The following recipes are also suitable for acute bronchitis. They can be used as an effective expectorant:

• Carrot juice with honey. To prepare it, you need to use a glass of carrot juice and three tablespoons of honey. It is best to take the composition 2 tablespoons three times a day.
• Plantain juice with honey. Both components are taken in equal amounts. Take one teaspoon three times a day.
• Cabbage juice. Sweetened cabbage juice can also be used as an expectorant for bronchitis (honey can be used instead of sugar). It is taken three to four times a day for a tablespoon.
• Althea root infusion. Prepared as follows. Marshmallow root is ground into powder. A glass of water is taken for 5 g of powder. The powder dissolves in water and settles for 6-8 hours. An infusion is taken 2-3 tablespoons three times a day.

Other treatments for bronchitis

Also, methods such as breathing exercises (inflating balloons, blowing out candles), some physiotherapeutic methods (electrophoresis, UHF therapy, UV irradiation) can also be useful in the treatment of bronchitis. Physiotherapy can be used as a method of treatment when the patient's condition improves.

How quickly can bronchitis go away?

Acute bronchitis, especially in children, is not among the diseases that go away on their own. To defeat him, the parents of the child will have to make a lot of efforts.

Treatment of acute bronchitis, unfortunately, is not a quick process. However, bronchitis of a simple uncomplicated form should proper treatment pass in one to two weeks. Otherwise, there is a high probability of transition of bronchitis into a chronic form. Relapses of bronchitis in the case of the development of a recurrent form of the disease can have an even longer course - 2-3 months. Cough usually lasts two weeks, with tracheobronchitis, cough can be observed for a month in the absence of other symptoms of the disease.

Adenovirus bronchitis and bronchitis caused by bacterial infections usually have a longer course than bronchitis caused by other types of pathogens.

Prevention

As a prevention of inflammation of the bronchi effective methods are:

• hardening,
• prevention of hypothermia,
• increased immunity,
• complete nutrition.

Do not allow the child to be in a smoky room. If there are smokers in the family, then smoking in the presence of a child is also unacceptable. In addition, it is necessary to promptly treat the child's acute respiratory diseases and flu. After all, often bronchitis is one of the options for complications of influenza and SARS.

For the prevention of exacerbations of chronic bronchitis during remissions, sanatorium treatment is recommended. Children with chronic bronchitis should be dressed appropriately for the weather, avoiding overheating, which can cause increased sweating.

There is no specific vaccination against bronchitis, although it is possible to get vaccinated against some of the bacteria that cause bronchitis in children, as well as against the influenza virus, which is also the root cause of the disease.

Is bronchitis contagious?

Contrary to popular belief, bronchitis itself is not contagious. The fact is that bronchitis is a secondary disease that appears as a result of a complication viral infection. Thus, these are contagious viral diseases rather than bronchitis itself. As for bacterial bronchitis in children, it is usually caused by bacteria that normally live in the respiratory tract of any person and show pathological activity only under certain conditions, for example, with hypothermia or a decrease in immunity.