There are so
many childhood
diseases, infectious and non-infectious, bronchitis is most often
caused by a viral infection. It may also be caused by bacteria or things such
as dust, allergens, strong fumes, or tobacco smoke.
In children, the most
common cause of acute bronchitis is a virus. The illness may develop after a
cold or other viral infection in the nose, mouth, or throat such illnesses can
spread easily from direct contact with a person who is sick.
A number of different viruses cause
bronchiolitis which affects children less than one year of age. Most commonly,
it is caused by respiratory syncytial
virus, but it can also be caused by influenza and other common viruses
associated with upper respiratory symptoms such as fever, runny nose, and
cough. A common symptom of bronchiolitis includes all of the above and wheezing
the same symptom observed in children with asthma. It is common in the winter
months, and some infants will require admission to a hospital when the
respiratory symptoms are very severe. The treatment of bronchiolitis is
different from asthma
Symptoms:
Mild headache, Low-grade fever, Sore
throat, Soreness or tightness in the chest, Feeling tired, Body aches,
Wheezing, Shortness of breath
How is bronchitis diagnosed in a
child?
Your child’s healthcare provider
can often diagnose bronchitis with a health history and physical exam. In some
cases, your child may need tests to rule out other health problems, such as
pneumonia or asthma. These tests may include: Chest X-rays. This test makes
images of internal tissues, bones, and organs. Pulse oximetry: An oximeter is a
small device that measures the amount of oxygen in the blood. For this test, the
healthcare provider puts a small sensor like a clip on your child's finger or
toe. When the device is on, a small red light can be seen in the sensor. The
sensor is painless and the red light does not get hot.
Sputum and nasal discharge samples.
These tests can find the germ causing an infection.
Treatment and Home Remedies:
Parents may consider using some home
remedies to alleviate their child’s symptoms. In addition to rest, giving kids
older than one year a teaspoon of dark honey to quell a cough. And good nasal
care, such as blowing your nose when it feels full and flushing the nose with
saline, can help with sinus drainage that contributes to cough. does not
recommend cold and cough suppressants. There’s not a lot of safe cold and cough
suppressants for kids, adds especially for younger children. These medicines
can suppress natural protective reflexes and often have harmful side effect.
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