Bronchiolitis in children occurs as a result of complications of diseases such as acute respiratory viral infections or influenza. This disease is most often affected by babies up to a year. The peak of infection is from the second to the sixth month. The reason is quite simple - the immune system is not yet strong enough to withstand all viruses. Once in the body, the infection penetrates the bronchioles.
First warning signs
If bronchiolitis is observed in children, the symptoms can be detected as follows:
- spasmodic cough, in some cases it is dry;
- body temperature does not rise much;
- whistling sounds appear during breathing;
- there is a runny nose or a nose, on the contrary, is blocked.
The disease develops quickly, and if nothing is done during this time, then a complication in the form of respiratory failure can occur .
How to identify the disease?
Suspicions of bronchiolitis in young children can be confirmed in such a simple way. Put an ear to the baby’s back, and if gurgling sounds are heard, then this most likely means that the diagnosis will be confirmed. It is worth noting that it is not necessary to have frequent bouts of coughing and fever.
Acute bronchiolitis: symptoms
With a cold, treatment does not give a positive result for a long time? Perhaps this is manifested by acute bronchiolitis in children. Its symptoms are:
- appetite decreases or disappears altogether;
- the skin turns pale, and in some places cyanosis manifests itself;
- if you refuse to use water and food, dehydration may occur, the signs of which are as follows: decreased urination, dry mouth, there are no tears during crying, the pulse is increased;
- the child is more capricious, irritable, sleeps poorly;
- body temperature is increased, but not by much;
- the presence of dry cough, sometimes with a small amount of sputum;
- difficulty breathing is possible - sounds arise grunting and groaning, the wings of the nose swell, the rib cage retracts a little more strongly, shortness of breath is pronounced;
- in more complex cases, respiratory arrest is possible;
- with complications, breathing occurs more than 70 times per minute;
- after examination, the doctor can diagnose clear wet rales;
- after taking a blood test, it is clear that the rate of ESR and white blood cells is lowered.
It is important not to make a mistake!
Bronchiolitis in children is characterized by respiratory failure, which, if severe, can lead to suffocation. In this case, medical assistance is urgently needed, but it is necessary to be qualified, as there are sometimes cases when this disease is confused with asthmatic bronchitis or pneumonia with obstructive syndrome.
Conditions for a little patient
While the doctor has not yet arrived, it is necessary to create all the conditions so as not to aggravate the baby’s serious condition. To do this, you must adhere to two basic rules:
- The air in the room should not be hot and dry, as this causes the mucous membranes to dry out and sweating strongly, which is fraught with rapid loss of moisture by the body. The temperature should not be higher than 20 degrees, and humidity - from 50 to 70 percent.
- The child should be given plenty of fluids. More often, newborns should be brought to the breast, and older ones should be given drinks that they can drink. This must be done in order to prevent dehydration of the child's body.
It is forbidden to perform these actions
In such cases, it is strictly forbidden to undertake such methods of assistance at home:
- carry out any physiotherapy in the chest;
- make hot inhalations;
- apply any pharmaceutical preparations without medical prescription.
Obliterating bronchiolitis: symptoms
What can happen when an acute form of the disease starts? You can observe obliterating bronchiolitis in children. This means that the bronchioles and small bronchi narrow, after which there is a violation of pulmonary blood flow. After some time, pathological processes of the lungs and pulmonary heart disease may begin to develop.
The following symptoms will help to recognize the ailment:
- the occurrence of dry unproductive cough, which is accompanied by a small amount of sputum;
- shortness of breath is observed not only after physical exertion, but also (with a progressive disease) in a state of calm;
- you can distinguish between wheezing, breathing as if wheezing.
Such signs can be observed for a long time - even more than six months.
Bronchiolitis in children, especially small ones, is very widespread. It goes along with pneumonia, which is also one of the complications after ARVI. Grudnichkov with this diagnosis is immediately sent to hospitalization. But with premature babies, as well as those children who have congenital heart and bronchopulmonary defects, which is fraught with dehydration and hypoxia, it is more difficult. In some cases, it is fatal.
Treatment methods
When bronchiolitis is observed, treatment in children can drag on for more than a month. To do this, use several techniques:
- Rehydration therapy, which means replenishment of the child's body with glucose and saline solutions. This can be done both intravenously and orally. It is carried out in cases where emergency care is needed.
- Conduct emergency measures when respiratory failure occurs. In this case, an acid mask and inhalation with drugs are used, the actions of which help relieve the attack of suffocation.
- Antiviral drugs are used, since the disease occurs by the viral route. The basis of drugs, in most cases, is interferon.
Preparations
When bacterial infections are also observed with this disease, which include pneumococcal or streptococcal, antibiotics are prescribed, mainly such:
- Amoxiclav.
- Macropen.
- "Sumamed."
- "Augmentin."
- Amosin and many others.
Antihistamines are prescribed to relieve swelling of the bronchi and facilitate breathing.
Chronic bronchiolitis
The disease itself develops very quickly. Although its symptoms may be present for less than five months. The result will be either a complete recovery, or it will develop into chronic bronchiolitis in children. It is divided into several forms of inflammatory processes:
- panbronchiolitis;
- follicular;
- respiratory.
Also, inflammation can be of the following types:
- constrictive;
- proliferative.
Constrictive (or narrowing) is characterized by the fact that gradually the fibrous tissue grows between the muscle and epithelium layers and bronchioles. After some time, the lumen not only narrows, but can also completely close. Respiratory structures are no longer so malleable, and this is fraught with emphysema, as well as respiratory failure.
Proliferative are characterized by the fact that they damage the mucous membrane, and granulomatous and connective tissues - Masson's bodies - appear. The respiratory department significantly reduces its diffusion ability, and external respiration is impaired.
Chronic disease treatment
Chronic obliterating bronchiolitis in children is treated with two methods:
In the first embodiment, mucolytic, bronchodilator or expectorant drugs may be prescribed. If there is inflammation of a bacterial nature, then antibiotics are also a plus for all this.
Auxiliary therapy includes massage in the chest area, breathing exercises, physiotherapy exercises, climatotherapy, speleotherapy and physiotherapy.
Effects
If bronchiolitis was observed in young children, the consequences can be very diverse (this is when there was no timely treatment). Now we will consider them
- Pneumonia. It affects the tissues in the respiratory system, resulting in a strong cough. Such a disease, if it proceeds in a neglected form, may be accompanied by a slightly high temperature. Often there are complications with the breathing process. If in this case you do not undergo antibiotic treatment, then this is fraught with even more pernicious complications.
- Bronchiectasis This process is characterized by the fact that it expands and further damages the walls of the bronchi.
- Heart and respiratory failure. Due to the disease, gas exchange is disrupted, and many of the internal organs do not receive enough oxygen. This primarily affects the heart muscles. As a result, this organ is overworked, and blood no longer circulates in the volume necessary for the body. And this, in turn, violates the performance of other organs and systems of the child’s body.
- Chronic bronchitis. If left untreated, the consequences can be dire. In this case, harmful factors such as dust, gases and various allergens play a large role.
- Bronchial asthma, which passes from the advanced stage of allergic bronchitis. The disease is characterized by swelling of the mucous membrane and periodic spam. This consequence of bronchiolitis is dangerous in that there are attacks of suffocation.
- Pulmonary emphysema. This consequence is extremely rare in children. It is characterized by the fact that in the lungs gas exchange and their elasticity are impaired. In the early stages, this is manifested by shortness of breath in cold weather. But if deterioration occurs, then in any other season.
- Bronchial obstruction. She is characterized by heavy breathing, which is accompanied by a disturbed exhalation. The child does not have time to completely exhale air, as he again takes a breath. As a result, the accumulation of these residues provokes increased pressure.
- But the rarest consequence is the pulmonary heart. It provokes a constant high blood pressure. As a result, gas exchange is disturbed, the child is not able to do anything from physical exertion.
Disease Prevention Tips
So that bronchiolitis does not occur in children, you need to try to protect them from communication with already sick babies. Also, do not ignore antiviral measures, hardening procedures and proper eating.
It is advisable to create a hypoallergenic life, since allergies and bronchiolitis have a lot in common. Do not forget to monitor the children's nasopharynx. It must be always clean, and there should be no accumulations.