How to cure bronchitis in a child?

Babies are very often sick. Statistics show that about 60% of children fall ill every year in the autumn-winter and winter-spring period. The most common diseases are respiratory diseases, including bronchitis. In terms of severity, bronchitis ranks second, so many parents have a lot to suffer to find a suitable medicine for the baby. After all, we all know that children should not be given all drugs. And if at the time of not starting treatment, then the bronchitis from the acute form can go into the chronic.

Danger of disease in young children

Before prescribing treatment for bronchitis, doctors, first of all, take into account the age of the child. This is very important, since sometimes quite potent drugs are required.

Most often, children suffer from bronchitis of mild and medium severity. But if at the time of not starting treatment, the disease will progress and can cause serious complications. In addition, bronchitis can go into a chronic form. Babies who suffer from chronic bronchitis are more likely to have infectious and viral diseases, since their immune system is very weak.

Bronchitis is very treatable, but you need to constantly monitor the condition of the sick child to avoid complications and the development of chronic bronchitis. Sometimes bronchitis is mild, so parents do not pay much attention to this. However, it is worthwhile to know that bronchitis sometimes leads to thinning of the bronchial mucosa, which leads to the appearance of various allergic reactions.

Bronchitis is an acute infectious disease that most often develops as a complication from a previous viral disease, such as influenza. In such cases, the body is weakened and unable to fight bacteria that penetrate inside and affect small and large bronchi. It is believed that initially bronchitis infects the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, and then spreads to the bronchi.

Children who suffer from allergies and asthma suffer from bronchitis more often, as well as have birth defects of the bronchi. To treat this disease in children, doctors use not only medications, but also folk remedies, which are no less effective. With chronic bronchitis requires a comprehensive treatment. More details on the methods of treatment of bronchitis in children, we'll tell you below.

Treatment of bronchitis in children under three years old

Most often in children of this age, bronchitis develops as a result of congenital bronchial obstruction or as a complication after a cold. It is worth noting the fact that even a newborn who can not leave the hospital can become infected with bronchitis. If the child rises above 38 degrees, he immediately hospitalized, and do not prescribe treatment at home. The whole point is that the condition can deteriorate sharply, so you need constant monitoring of the doctor. If the child is experiencing shortness of breath, then he is diagnosed with an obstructive bronchitis. The manifestation of shortness of breath in children up to a year is considered the respiration rate of 40-60 breaths per minute.

After diagnosis, the doctor prescribes a number of medications: antibiotics( in tablets or intramuscularly), drugs that eliminate shortness of breath, drugs that repair the intestinal microflora, nasal drops, syrups or tablets for cough and inhalation.

All medications should be prescribed only by a doctor and, if necessary, treatment should be adjusted. Babies are most often prescribed antibiotics such as: Zinnat, Sumamed and Tsefuraksin. To eliminate dyspnea, a solution of Euphylin is used. Various syrups are prescribed for the cough: Lazolvan, Ambrolan and the like.

Children up to three years from the first antibiotic for use should be given drugs that normalize the intestinal microflora. These drugs include: Bifidobacterin, Latsidofil. The remaining medicines are aimed at eliminating the symptoms of the disease: drops in the nose, antipyretic. All this is selected individually.

Treatment of bronchitis in children older than 3 years

Light and acute forms of bronchitis are easily treated if the treatment was started in a timely and correct manner. Children over the age of three years are hospitalized rarely, only with a severe form of the disease. Drugs are prescribed based on the age of the patient and the symptoms of the disease. For the treatment of inflammatory processes in the bronchi are prescribed antibiotics, expectorant drugs, mucoactive drugs, bronchodilators and inhaled medications and, if necessary, nasal drops, fever and so on.

Most often, doctors use antibiotics of the penicillin group and macrolipids to treat bronchitis in children. These drugs compete well with bacteria that cause inflammation. Many parents insist that a child is not attributed to antibiotics, but without them the state can significantly deteriorate, there may be a variety of serious complications, such as pneumonia. With a mild course of the disease, antibiotics should be taken no more than seven days, with acute form - from seven to fourteen days.

Expectorants should be taken strictly according to the instructions. If the child has a strong swelling of the respiratory tract, then diuretics can additionally be prescribed, for example, furasemide. A sick child needs to adhere to bed rest and complete rest, otherwise the disease can become complicated and change into a chronic form.

Antipyretics should also be taken strictly according to the instructions. After the temperature returns to normal, it is necessary to make mustard plasters and take mustard baths. It will be useful and frequent hot drink. Acute bronchitis with proper treatment is completely cured in two to three weeks.

Treatment of chronic bronchitis in children older than 3 years

Curing chronic bronchitis is very difficult. It is very important not only to eliminate the symptoms of the disease, but also to increase the immunity of the child. After all, with chronic bronchitis, it is very reduced, and the child often suffers from cold illnesses. In addition, if you do not treat chronic bronchitis, then with age, the condition will only worsen.

In chronic bronchitis treatment is the same as bronchitis in the form of exacerbation. However, in this case, the treatment will last longer - about a month. Even with the treatment of bronchitis in a chronic form, the pathogen microflora remains in the child's body, which is activated when the immune system is weakened.

reduce the risk of bronchitis in the following ways: the child must observe the daily routine, it has to do physical exercise, hardening, lead an active lifestyle, spending time outdoors. It is very important to include in the diet foods rich in vitamins, and also give the child vitamin supplements.

Folk remedies for the treatment of bronchitis

If the child has a temperature, then it will go to the benefit of the bath with addition of decoction of sage, peppermint, chamomile, St. John's wort and essential oils. These baths have a warming and inhalation effect. In addition, inhalations on potatoes with soda are useful - this facilitates the liquefaction of mucus in the bronchi and its excretion.

You can use ready-made breast picks for bronchitis, which are sold in a pharmacy. It is recommended to drink chamomile tea with mint, teas based on dog rose and so on. Tea with raspberries or honey is useful. No less useful is milk with honey.