Respiratory disorders such as bronchitis could change from acute to chronic if not identified at an early stage. Learning how to identify bronchitis helps parents seek medical intervention on time, and save the child’s lungs from infection and inflammation. This article discusses the methods of diagnosing bronchitis in children.
Bronchitis, in general, refers to the infection or more commonly inflammation of the lining of a child’s bronchial tubes.
Bronchial tubes are the large air channels that connect the windpipe to the lungs. The lining of the bronchial tubes is very delicate and produces mucus which has an antibacterial action. The mucus safeguards your child’s respiratory system, keeping it free from infections. Inflammation of the tubes causes excessive production of mucus, making it difficult to breathe, and causing bronchitis.
When your child has a cold, sore throat, flu, or sinus infection, the virus that causes it can spread to the bronchi. Once the germs reach there, the airways become swollen, inflamed, and partially blocked with mucus. It is important that you watch out for signs of bronchitis in babies at an early stage to prevent it from spreading further.
Allergic bronchitis in children could be caused by bacteria, viruses, allergens or irritants. In infants, bronchitis is called bronchiolitis, and denotes the inflammation of the airways, called the bronchioles. The symptoms and cure of both bronchitis and bronchiolitis are almost the same. The process of treating bronchitis in infants aims to ease the respiratory process and bring down the infection in the lungs.
Bronchitis can be classified into two types:
Acute bronchitis occurs chiefly in children younger than two years of age, and children between the ages of nine and fifteen.
It is observed that while it is mostly caused by a viral infection, a bacterial infection can also have the same effect. The onset of acute bronchitis in children is rather quick, and it leads to severe symptoms.
Chronic bronchitis is common in people older than 45 years of age, but it can affect kids, teens, and young adults, as well.
If your child has chronic bronchitis, he will take longer than usual to recover from a cold or any other respiratory infection.
Chronic bronchitis could be a long-lasting condition. In this case too, the lining of the bronchial tubes gets inflamed and irritated, and it produces excessive mucus. However, the inflammation lasts anywhere from a few months to years. Children exposed to passive smoke and dust can develop this condition and end up with severe complications, such as pneumonia.
A study reveals that 90% cases of acute bronchitis occur due to viral infection, and the remaining 10% are bacterial infections. Your child may also get repeated attacks of acute bronchitis, which could remain undiagnosed and untreated. Industrial pollution and cigarette smoke could result in chronic bronchitis.
Many times, a secondary bacterial infection could result in bronchitis. This could mainly occur in in children who have immunodeficiency or cystic fibrosis. The bacteria which could cause infection include Mycoplasma, Chlamydia pneumonia, H. influenza, M. catarrhal and S. pneumonia
Other reasons of Bronchitis in children are:
If you see the symptoms of bronchitis in your child, it is important to see a doctor who will be able to identify the root cause of the attack, and treat it. Here are a few symptoms to watch out for if your child has a cold and fever.
Bronchitis can be mistaken for a common cold initially, but if the cold and fever persist, you may need to look out for the following symptoms:
The prevalence of the following symptoms warrants immediate medical attention
Thick mucus that is streaked with blood in very severe cases
If you suspect that your child has bronchitis, do see a paediatrician to confirm the diagnosis.
Bronchitis can be diagnosed in a child with a simple few tests. The tests are as mentioned below:
Generally, children with bronchitis make a rattling, wheezing sound that emanates from their lungs when they breathe and cough.
The medical practitioner may inquire about your family’s health to see a history of asthma and to check whether anyone in contact with your child smokes.
The doctor will take an X-ray to make sure that your child does not suffer from lung problems due to exposure to passive smoking, and to know the extent of congestion.
In this test, the child’s mucus is taken to check if he is infected, and if he suffers from other health conditions like diphtheria or whooping cough. It will also reveal if your child is allergic to agents like dust.
This breathing test makes use of a device known as a spirometer. It helps doctors identify asthma in children
Sometimes, children with bronchitis suffer from cyanosis and depletion of oxygen in the blood which causes the skin to turn blue. A test called pulse oximetry is conducted to check for cyanosis.
The diseases causing bronchitis are contagious and can spread via tiny drops of fluid that are secreted from an infected child becoming airborne through sneezes, coughs, or laughs.
If your child is exposed to another infected child, there is a high risk of coming in contact with the pathogens. Infants in child care centres could easily get infected if preventive measures are not taken.
Viral bronchitis generally lasts for around 7 to 10 days in infants. However, some may have symptoms such as coughing that could last for around 3 to 4 weeks.
Bronchitis usually takes 1-2 weeks to ease, and generally, doesn’t cause any complications. If your child’s coughing and wheezing persists, some short-term anti-asthma medication is advisable. A virus usually causes bronchitis, and antibiotics don’t help as they don’t combat viruses.
However, remember that there is no cure for chronic bronchitis. The treatment, to a large extent, helps minimise the symptoms, but the symptoms never completely disappear. They keep returning, and your child may need regular and long-term treatment for it.
Treatment is determined for each child based on several factors including the age, medical history, and the severity of the condition. The treatment of bronchitis in toddlers will also depend on whether the child is suffering from acute bronchitis or chronic bronchitis.
Not all cases of acute bronchitis require the administering of antibiotics. Extra care must be taken to ensure hygiene around the child, included frequent hand-washing and avoiding dust or second-hand smoke. The treatment for the ailment may include:
Symptoms of chronic bronchitis may need to be treated with antibiotics. The treatment may include the following:
This therapy ensures that your child’s growth and development stay on track. It involves wearing a face mask or inserting a nasal cannula or tube into the windpipe. The mask, cannula or the tube remains connected to the cylinder containing oxygen. This therapy is usually given in a hospital, but your kid can receive it at home as well.
Most cases of bronchitis are mild and don’t need specific professional treatment. Some simple remedies for bronchitis can ease the symptoms of the infection. However, these should be attempted only after getting a green signal from your physician.
If your child experiences any of the symptoms mentioned below, he/she is at a high risk of bronchitis:
If bronchitis is left undiagnosed, the child is susceptible to developing pneumonia. And if the bronchitis is chronic, he may also suffer from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease(COPD).
According to statistics, 5% cases of children with bronchitis develop pneumonia. Chronic bronchitis results in a bacterial infection in the form of pneumonia. The tiny air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs are affected by these bacteria.
Due to lower levels of immunity, infection-causing bacteria can lead to pneumonia very easily in a child. Children become susceptible to pneumonia if they have a weak immune system.
Symptoms of Pneumonia Are:
This disease limits the ability of the lungs to function normally and causes breathing difficulties. It also makes your child more susceptible to other lung infections. Since the lungs sustain irreversible damage, treatment and lifestyle changes are the only way to slow down the progress of the disease and allow your child to lead a more active life.
Never ignore a cough that your child has and ensure an early diagnosis and the right treatment. Hence, bronchitis does not have to be a cause for concern.
To protect your child from bronchitis, it is necessary to follow regular practices of hygiene, which include frequent hand sanitization, good nutrition, adequate sleep, and distancing him from those who are ill. In addition to this:
If bronchitis is acute or is occurring frequently, there is a great probability that the child has asthma. Children who have undiagnosed asthma for several years are most susceptible. Contact the doctor the moment you observe symptoms. It is better to nip an infection in the bud rather than let it prolong and cause problems later.