Bronchitis is an infection or inflammation that occurs in the main airways to the lungs or lungs which is called bronchi. Bronchitis in children can occur when a bacterial or viral infection causes the flu, cough, and sinusitis spread to the bronchi.
When bacteria or viruses have settled and reproduced in the bronchi, the airways will swell, become inflamed, and filled with mucus. In addition to bacteria and viruses, bronchitis in children can also be caused by allergies and irritation due to pollution smoke, cigarette smoke, and dust.
What are the symptoms like?
Acute bronchitis will cause the following symptoms:
- Cough that lasts five days or more.
- Clear, white, yellow, or green phlegm.
- Chest pain, or pain when coughing.
- It is not always accompanied by fever, although a low-grade fever may appear occasionally.
In certain conditions, the child must immediately seek medical help, namely if there is a fever with a temperature above 38ºC accompanied by loss of appetite, shortness of breath, and body aches. These signs could mean your child has pneumonia and needs a doctor to get antibiotic treatment.
Apart from being acute, bronchitis in children is also chronic. Chronic bronchitis in children has the following symptoms:
- The child has a persistent cough accompanied by clear, white, yellow, or green phlegm for at least three months of the year or for more than two consecutive years.
- The child sometimes has wheezing or wheezing (wheezing) and shortness of breath.
- Feeling very
How To Treat It?
Cases of acute bronchitis in children, mostly recover on their own in two weeks without treatment. However, in certain situations, the doctor may give you a prescription. Ask for an explanation if your doctor prescribes any of the following medications:
- Antibiotics
Most bronchitis in children is caused by a virus so that antibiotics will be useless. But if the cause is bacteria, then antibiotics are the right answer. Ask your doctor about this so that antibiotics are not in vain.
- Cough medicine
Coughing up phlegm has advantages for children with bronchitis. This type of cough actually helps remove irritants from the lungs and airways. Parents can give cough medicine to children if the cough makes the child unable to sleep. However, the use of cough medicine needs to be adjusted to the type of cough. Consult a doctor before giving cough medicine to children. Because, at the age of under 6 years, giving cough medicine may not be recommended.
- Other types of drugs
Other medications may be needed, especially if the child has allergies, asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Usually, the doctor will recommend the use of inhaler or other medications to relieve inflammation and narrowing of the airways.
In addition to paying attention to the above, children should be given enough fluids to avoid dehydration and help thin the mucus that causes airway obstruction. If the child continues to be in the room using the air conditioner, provide a humidifier or humidifier This makes it easier for the child to breathe.
So that the child's nose is not blocked, put drops in the nose to make it easier for him to breathe. Make sure the child gets enough sleep and make sure the room the child is in is free of dust and smoke. If needed, support the body with a pillow into a semi-sitting position while sleeping, to make breathing easier.
Children with chronic bronchitis may need breathing exercises. In order for the training that children get optimally, it may be necessary to have the presence of a therapist. This therapist must master a physiotherapy program for the lungs, which includes practicing easier breathing and improving the child's ability in physical activities and sports.
Prevention is Always Better
Bronchitis in children can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection, so preventing it can be done by keeping the child away from the cause. Make sure children always wash their hands thoroughly after playing and when they want to eat. Parents must provide good and balanced nutrition to their children so that their immune system can work optimally. If necessary, keep the child away from people with bronchitis so they don't get infected.
Give children vaccinations according to the immunization schedule, as an effort to prevent disease. What must be done is to keep children away from cigarette smoke, given the high risk of bronchitis in children exposed to cigarette smoke.
