bronchitis This is one of the most common questions in the pediatrician’s office, especially in Children under 4 years oldas well as in winter.
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While an isolated episode of bronchitis is certainly not a warning sign, Its development and frequency must be monitored Among them, because it can be a chronic disease.
What is bronchitis?
Dr. Laura Valdesoiro, a pediatrician specializing in pulmonology and board member of the Spanish Society of Pediatric Pulmonology (SENP), explains that bronchitis:
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“This is inflammation of the bronchi, which causes the bronchi to narrow so that air cannot pass through them properly. This makes breathing more difficult. “
and clarified that, in the first years of lifeMany children will suffer from isolated bronchitis, but we must be vigilant.
if you have recurrent bronchitis Perhaps research or preventative treatment should be considered.
causes of bronchitis
There are different types of bronchitis As well as various factors that influence the development of this disease.
As Dr. Valdesoiro points out, bronchitis and genetic basis Very important, this marks the child’s tendencies.
However, other reasons also come into play:
- envirnmental factor. smokes. When children smoke passively, they are more likely to develop bronchitis.
- infection factor. Bronchitis can be caused by a virus or bacteria, such as a cold or flu.
- Allergic factors. Bronchial inflammation is caused by an allergic reaction, such as dust or pollen.
“In general, the most common triggers in childhood are viral infections”The doctor said.
Symptoms of bronchitis
Symptoms of bronchitis can take many formsdepending on the age of the peño.
when they were babiesthe compensatory capacity for respiratory distress is poor, so we must be more heed warning signs.
In general, according to Dr. Laura Valdesoiro, the most common symptoms of bronchitis in children are:
- cough
- respite (wheezing or noise in the chest when breathing)
- Difficulty breathing. It is characterized by accelerated breathing, flaring of the nostrils and compensating mechanisms that try to capture more oxygen. For example, you can see how the baby’s breastbone is sunken.
- fatigue. They will be more tired due to difficulty breathing.
- loss of appetite or difficulty feeding the baby
- difficulty speaking. In the most severe cases, air enters the lungs but cannot escape, so they cannot speak.
- fever. Bronchitis caused by infection usually presents with fever and general malaise.
What is the treatment for bronchitis?
“The treatment always depends on the severity of the crisis” Dr. Baldesoro clarified, but in general:
- In case of isolated bronchitisthe most common treatment is inhaled bronchodilators.
- If bronchitis or asthma recurs, maintenance or preventive treatment is necessary. That is to say, in addition to bronchodilator treatment when bronchitis occurs, children also need to take medicine every day to reduce bronchial inflammation.
“The goal of asthma treatment and prevention is to ensure that the child has a normal life and development, that he can run, sing, laugh… without any limitations”’, insists Dr. Laura Valdesoiro.
How can we prevent bronchitis?
because it is a viral infection Solitary bronchitis is hard to prevent. With this in mind, doctors offer a series of tips:
- avoid smoking environment. “This is the number one preventable cause of bronchitis flare-ups. It is very important to avoid this at all costs”
- look after overall health. Maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle.
- Avoid respiratory viral infections as much as possibleespecially in autumn and winter: handwashing If we have a cold, use a mask
If we are faced with recurrent bronchitis, the best way to avoid a crisis is to follow the preventive treatment prescribed by the pediatrician.