Bacterial obstructive bronchitis

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Bacterial bronchitis symptoms

What is bacterial bronchitis, how to diagnose and treat it?

Bronchitis is a disease of the bronchi. It can be viral and bacterial. Most often, people encounter viral bronchitis, but bacterial bronchitis is much more difficult to get.

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But this diagnosis can only be made by a doctor; it is very difficult to independently distinguish between these two diseases, since they are similar to each other. If a person often suffers from bronchitis, then it is very important for him to know the difference between the viral and bacterial types of the disease. Although bacterial bronchitis is a very rare occurrence, it is more dangerous than viral bronchitis.

Basic information about the bronchi

Bronchi are two tubes that connect the trachea and lungs. These two tubes have many branches in the lungs, which allows a person to breathe freely, saturating the body with oxygen. If we consider the structure of the bronchi, we can note the following components:

  • mucous membrane;
  • fibromuscular-cartilaginous tissue;
  • adventitia.

Inside each person lives and grows its own small bronchial tree. In women, this tree is smaller than in men, and the bronchi themselves may differ from each other. For example, the right one is usually 3 cm shorter and wider than the left one. The human body is designed in such a way that the smaller the diameter of the bronchus, the greater its elasticity, that is, it loses its cartilaginous properties and becomes soft.

As for the main functions, here, in addition to supplying oxygen to the lungs, there are a couple more points. Thus, the bronchi have a protective function and, with the help of cilia, protect the lungs from environmental influences. Another point is the function that is responsible for the cough reflex. For example, a person inhaled dust, and with the help of this reflex everything came back and the lungs remained clean.

The bronchi have their own hierarchy, which defines:

  • zonal bronchi;
  • segmental and subsegmental;
  • small bronchi;
  • terminal.

Various bronchial diseases

Like any organ in the human body, the bronchi are also susceptible to a number of diseases that can worsen a person’s condition. Bronchial disease is a fairly serious thing that, if treated incorrectly or without it, can lead to death. There is such a disease as chronic bronchitis. This is a cough, constant or intermittent, that produces sputum. It lasts for at least 2 – 3 months. The cough returns when the disease gets worse.

Another well-known disease is bronchial asthma. It occurs after a person has suffered a severe infectious disease or if one of the relatives was or is suffering from asthma. It seems as if someone is strangling the person. These attacks usually occur at night. The main thing is a well-chosen treatment that will reduce the frequency of bronchial attacks.

The third common disease is bronchospasm. With this disease, the lungs spasm and shortness of breath occurs. With it, suffocation can also be observed and it is difficult for a person to take a breath, as the bronchi begin to secrete a secretion that clogs the bronchial tubes. Usually this disease does not appear out of nowhere. In parallel with this problem, the two above diseases also develop. There are many more bronchial diseases, but the most common is bronchitis, which can occur in both adults and children.

Bronchitis and its varieties

It is necessary to distinguish between viral and bacterial bronchitis. Only a doctor can give you the correct diagnosis, but knowing the difference can save you time, money and stress. If you are a person who often gets bronchitis, understanding the difference between bacterial and viral bronchitis is especially important for you.

Viral bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial mucosa due to viruses that affect the respiratory tract. As a result, the entire body system begins to suffer and the infection spreads easily. This disease is often diagnosed in children.

This happens like this: the infected air flow enters the bronchi, the viruses linger in them and remain to multiply. Children suffer most often, because this disease can be picked up not only on the street, but also in large crowds of people, namely in kindergartens, schools, and dormitories. Sometimes viral bronchitis occurs due to impaired nasal breathing or infection of the nasopharynx.

Bronchitis occurs due to weakened immunity after a recent illness (flu, cold). The symptoms of viral bronchitis are quite simple to notice:

  1. Heat.
  2. Headache.
  3. Pain in the chest area.
  4. Breathing is wheezing.
  5. Cough. At first, the cough occurs with sputum and it is very difficult for a person to cough up, but gradually it thins out and the patient becomes easier to breathe.

As for treatment, there is an individual approach to each person. The doctor decides which medications to take at a particular stage of the disease. But there are some tips that apply to all people. So, you need to drink a lot of liquid. Try to drink tea with lemon, raspberries or honey every hour. The human body becomes dehydrated and needs to replenish the water balance. The infection is removed along with the fluid, and it becomes easier for the body to cope with the disease. Eat more often. Meals should be 4 – 5 times a day. The air in the room should not be dry, so you need to do wet cleaning and place wet towels on the radiators. Eat plenty of vitamins, especially vitamin C: they strengthen the immune system and help the body fight infection.

Bacterial bronchitis

Bacterial bronchitis is very rare. Usually this is 1% of 100%. Many people believe that you can become infected with a bacterial infection in almost the same way as with a viral infection, that is, on the street or indoors. But few people know that bacterial bronchitis is actually a more complicated version of its brother. That is, this is an advanced form of viral bronchitis. It occurs when treatment is incorrect or there is no response to it.

The symptoms of bacterial bronchitis are the same as those of viral bronchitis: fever, headache, etc. but a cough is added to them, only with thick, dark sputum.

This is an indication that bacteria are involved in the process. Treatment should also be prescribed by a doctor. First, he needs to make a diagnosis and find out which of the two types of bronchitis the patient has. This will help in prescribing certain medications to combat bronchitis. Viral and bacterial bronchitis require different treatment approaches. The doctor must find out the strain of bacteria that destroys the human body.

A person who also suffers from asthma should immediately consult a doctor. These are precautions to avoid making the situation worse. The doctor will usually ask a series of questions and order tests and a chest x-ray.

The main recommendations for the treatment of bacterial bronchitis coincide with the previous disease. The main thing is to stay in bed and drink enough fluids. If severe pain occurs in the chest area, you can take a painkiller. You can take a hot shower, but don't take a full bath of water. Try not to shower for long periods of time. You can also do steam inhalations using various herbs. Whatever worries you about this disease, it is better to consult a doctor about it rather than self-medicate. However, most people think that it’s just a cough: you can drink some decoction and everything will go away. Chamomile will not kill bacteria. Antibiotics and antitussive medications are prescribed by the doctor.

A person who smokes should try not to use cigarettes for at least a few days. They contain many harmful chemicals that enter the body in the form of steam and can contribute to the development of bacterial bronchitis, thereby worsening the patient’s health. In order to prevent bacterial bronchitis from occurring again, you need to try to lead a healthy lifestyle, be in nature more often, toughen up, get vaccinated against the flu and support your immune system. If you follow all the doctors’ recommendations, the human body begins to recover within 3–4 days.

Bacterial and viral bronchitis: symptoms and treatment of the disease

The human respiratory system is unique. In order for the body's cells to be saturated with oxygen, the respiratory organs need to clear it of infections, toxic substances and pathogenic microorganisms.

All these processes occur in the bronchial tree. If the activity of the bronchi is impaired, the volume of mucus released increases, and bronchitis develops.

With viral bronchitis, inflammation begins in the nasopharynx. After this, it spreads to the larynx, trachea, bronchi and bronchioles. Any virus that has entered the respiratory tract:

  • penetrates the epithelium;
  • disrupts normal metabolic processes in it.

As a result, epithelial cells die.

It is precisely the “dead” epithelium that is sputum. During treatment, it liquefies and coughs up yellow clots. Due to the strong accumulation of viscous sputum, difficulty breathing occurs.

For a patient to infect others, all he needs to do is sneeze. The incubation period of the disease lasts approximately from 2 to 7 days. With adequate treatment, after 8 weeks, complete restoration of respiratory tract function occurs.

Causes, symptoms of viral bronchitis

The main source of infection is a virus of any etiology. When a person’s tonsils are not removed, the entire infection settles in the throat.

For everyone else, it penetrates the bronchi without obstacles, where the inflammatory process begins.

In addition, other factors may contribute to the activation of inflammation.

These include:

  1. wet and cold weather;
  2. relapse of acute respiratory viral disease, influenza infection;
  3. large crowds of people during the quarantine period (when immunity is especially weakened);
  4. lesions of the nasopharynx (viral laryngitis, rhinitis, pharyngitis);
  5. infectious diseases of the mucous membrane of the maxillary sinuses (sinusitis).

Viral bronchitis is transmitted through direct contact with a sick person. Moreover, it does not make much difference which virus is present in the patient’s blood. If the body's defenses are weak, absolutely any virus can infect it.

As for symptoms, the disease has primary and secondary symptoms. So, the first group includes sore throat and unusual fatigue. A person may feel weak even after waking up or after a long period of rest. The patient suffers from profuse sweating, headache and muscle pain.

Secondary symptoms of viral bronchitis will be an increase in general body temperature (up to 39 degrees), fever, dizziness, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing. The patient will also note symptoms:

  • wheezing during breathing;
  • soreness behind the sternum.

In the first trimester of the disease, a dry cough develops. As bronchitis progresses, the cough becomes wet and dirty yellow sputum is produced. In terms of volume, it can be scanty or abundant.

A person will experience similar symptoms if he has been diagnosed with acute bronchitis.

An acute inflammatory process in the bronchi can become the onset of pneumonia and pulmonary edema. Therefore, you should not delay visiting the doctor and starting treatment.

It would be a mistake to carry out treatment at home only with the help of alternative medicine recipes.

Diagnosis and treatment of viral bronchitis

To begin treatment, the doctor must determine the causative agent of bronchitis. First you need to interview the patient, find out the symptoms, and conduct a visual examination. After this, auscultation and percussion (listening and tapping), X-ray of the lungs, general analysis of urine and blood from a finger are performed.

During the examination, the doctor will examine the general picture of the disease and the patient’s condition. You will need to listen to the patient's breathing using a stethoscope. This device allows you to detect noises and wheezing in the chest.

X-ray is necessary to identify affected areas of the epithelial layer of the mucosa and exclude pneumonia. But a blood test will help distinguish bacterial bronchitis from viral bronchitis. In the second case it will show:

  1. decreased number of immune cells;
  2. acceleration of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).

Treatment of viral bronchitis begins only after a complete examination of the body. The disease does not require hospitalization and the patient's stay in a hospital. Treatment can be carried out at home.

The acute type of viral bronchitis itself is not as dangerous as it might seem at first glance. You should be afraid of its complications, which will cause serious damage to your health.

The standard treatment for viral bronchitis begins with taking immunostimulating drugs. If they do not help, the temperature remains above 38 degrees for more than 3 days in a row, it is reasonable to start treatment with antibiotics. In this situation, bacterial bronchitis most likely began. That is, a bacterial infection has joined.

The patient must:

  1. adhere to bed rest;
  2. drink plenty of warm liquids;
  3. use medications to liquefy and evacuate mucus.

If there is a high temperature, it is recommended to take an antipyretic drug.

When the patient’s condition has stabilized and the acute period has passed, he will be prescribed a course of therapeutic exercises and inhalations. Treatment is always supplemented with a special diet.

In order to remove mucus from the bronchi as quickly as possible and eliminate the symptoms of the disease, it is useful to inflate a regular balloon several times a day.

The basis of therapy is the immediate removal of the causative agent of the disease and the accumulation of sputum. It is a dangerous misconception to start taking antibiotics from the first days of illness. Such drugs are not capable of treating diseases of viral etiology. As noted, they are justified:

  1. while maintaining a high body temperature:
  2. to prevent the development of complications.

If you take antibiotics thoughtlessly, they will further weaken the already reduced immune defense and cause intestinal dysbiosis. It is also necessary to understand that this antibiotic will be ineffective when it is really needed for treatment.

It is forbidden to carry viral, as well as bacterial, bronchitis on the legs. During illness, all the body’s strength is aimed at fighting the virus. Any unnecessary movements only:

  • will aggravate the course of bronchitis;
  • will prolong the duration of the illness.

It is better for the patient not to go outside, especially in bad weather. His relatives should not forget about regular ventilation and wet cleaning.

Diet, treatment with folk remedies

A diet will help treat the acute type of viral bronchitis and relieve its symptoms. It is recommended to avoid salty, spicy, smoked and spicy foods.

You should limit yourself to natural juices diluted with water, vegetables and fruits. It is useful to drink chicken broths from poultry. The dish will help speed up the removal of phlegm and speed up your recovery.

Doctors recommend saturating the body with vitamin C (ascorbic acid).

Additionally, you can drink decoctions of medicinal plants. For example, chamomile is an excellent antioxidant. It will help stop the inflammatory process and relieve swelling in a short time.

Plantain decoction promotes the evacuation of sputum. The proposed decoctions can be taken in unlimited quantities. They extremely rarely provoke allergic reactions and are always well tolerated by the body.

For patients with viral bronchitis, it is useful to treat the disease with inhalations. Inhalations for bronchitis are quite effective. It is also allowed to prepare cough cakes. Their composition can be anything, but the required ingredient is natural honey.

The most popular recipe was this:

  1. chopped boiled potatoes (2 pieces);
  2. bee honey (1 tablespoon);
  3. baking soda (1 tablespoon).

All components are mixed without allowing the potatoes to cool. A cake is formed from the resulting mass and applied to the chest. The procedure lasts an hour and a half. It is important to avoid the heart area! The flatbread will warm the bronchi well and help thin mucus.

To prevent viral bronchitis, preventive measures should be taken regularly. The basis of prevention is a healthy lifestyle, sports, proper nutrition, hardening, and immune support.

Experts will talk in detail about bronchitis in the video in this article.

Symptoms and treatment of viral bronchitis

Viral bronchitis, the symptoms of which depend on the nature of the disease and the individual characteristics of the patient, is a viral inflammation of the bronchi, characterized by damage to their mucous membrane. Very often this pathology is diagnosed in children and the elderly, due to their weak immune system.

Causes and symptoms of viral bronchitis

The cause of bronchitis is harmful microorganisms that enter the bronchi along with air through the nasopharynx. When entering a human body with weak immunity, the virus settles in the bronchi and begins to multiply there, leading to inflammation of the mucous membrane.

Factors that can contribute to the spread of the virus include:

  • infectious diseases of the nasopharynx (rhinitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis) and maxillary sinuses (sinusitis);
  • high humidity and low temperatures, which causes an increase in the number of patients in the autumn-winter period;
  • large crowds of people;
  • impaired nasal breathing;
  • frequent manifestations of influenza and acute respiratory diseases;
  • weakened immunity.

The main signs of infectious bronchitis include:

  • coughing;
  • frequent shortness of breath;
  • increase in body temperature to 38° C and above;
  • chills;
  • wheezing and discomfort in the chest area;
  • constant fatigue.

If you do not pay due attention to the symptoms described above and do not begin effective treatment, then viral bronchitis can turn into a bacterial form and lead to swelling and inflammation of the lungs.

Diagnosis of viral bronchitis

Only a doctor (pulmonologist or therapist) can make the correct diagnosis, since in the first stages bronchitis is very similar to a common cold. For this, the following diagnostic methods are used:
  1. Auscultation. It is carried out using a stethoscope after clarifying all the patient’s complaints, the timing and nature of their manifestation. The respiratory process is characterized by the passage of air through the respiratory tract. This produces a specific sound, which is amplified with the help of a stethoscope and transmitted to the doctor’s ears, thanks to which wheezing in the lungs can be detected and bronchitis can be diagnosed.
  2. General blood analysis. Allows you to determine the nature of the disease. With the viral nature of the pathological process, an acceleration of ESR and a decrease in the number of immune cells are observed. In the bacterial form of bronchitis, a general blood test will show a high level of ESR and a high concentration of leukocytes and neutrophils.
  3. Radiography. With bronchitis, an X-ray will show enhancements in the basal structure of the bronchi.
  4. Bronchoscopy. It is usually used when it is necessary to exclude (confirm) a pathological intrabronchial formation or establish a form of chronic bronchitis.

Treatment methods for viral bronchitis

Viral bronchitis must be treated comprehensively, using medications, physiotherapeutic procedures and therapeutic exercises.

In this case, any treatment must be previously agreed with a doctor, since otherwise you may aggravate the course of the disease and cause undesirable consequences.

Drug therapy for the treatment of viral bronchitis includes:

  • antiviral agents (Macropen, Flemoxin, Azithromycin, Ceftriaxone, Suprax, etc.);
  • mucolytics (Bromhexine, Lazolvan, Ambroxol, ACC), which dilute sputum, which improves its removal from the body;
  • antibiotics (Amoxiclav, Panclave, Augmentin), which are prescribed only for complex stages of bronchitis and its transition to a bacterial form;
  • bronchodilators (expand narrowed bronchi, which improves the passage of air through them);
  • antitussive drugs (Glaucin, Tusuprex, Libexin, etc.), which are prescribed if the patient has a severe cough, they are prohibited from being used together with mucolytic drugs;
  • antipyretics (Ibuprofen, Paracetamol), used in the presence of high temperature (above 38 ° C).

The following are widely used as physiological procedures in the treatment of bronchitis:

  • inhalation;
  • UHF and ultrasound;
  • paraffin and ozokerite applications.

Inhalations are considered one of the most effective methods of treating bronchitis of any form. The therapeutic effect is achieved through the direct effect of therapeutic drugs on the inflammatory area. Inhalations reduce the viscosity of sputum, improve its removal from the bronchi and eliminate their inflammation.

Several types of inhalations are used in the treatment of bronchitis:

  • steam based on licorice root, eucalyptus leaves, chamomile, mint, yarrow, St. John's wort, etc.;
  • heat-moist with the addition of mineral salts, herbal mixtures, antibiotics and mucolytics;
  • wet based on aerosols (used in cases where, for some reason, the use of steam and heat-moisture inhalations is not recommended).
Therapeutic exercises and massages for bronchitis have the following beneficial properties:
  • increase the overall tone of the body and increase its resistance to harmful microorganisms;
  • increase gas exchange in the bronchi;
  • create favorable conditions for the use of drugs;
  • improve blood circulation;
  • restore the elasticity of tissues and prevent their atrophy, so that after recovery a person can return to normal life.

As a massage at home, you can perform light tapping on the back in the bronchi area, and as a breathing exercise, you can blow air through a tube into a glass of water or inflate balloons.

Proper nutrition for bronchitis

Together with food, the human body receives all the microelements necessary for its normal functioning and maintaining the immune system. Therefore, nutrition during the treatment of viral bronchitis must be correct and balanced. Food should be high in calories and contain large amounts of vitamins and minerals. You need to eat fractionally, that is, you should eat in small portions 5-6 times a day.

For viral bronchitis it is recommended to consume:

  • fermented milk products (normalize intestinal microflora, which is important when taking medications);
  • fresh fruits and vegetables (strengthen the immune system and improve tone);
  • honey (reduces inflammation and improves the removal of mucus from the bronchi);
  • warm liquid (milk, tea with raspberries, lemon, currants), which has an antiviral and calming effect;
  • boiled meat and fish;
  • meat and vegetable broths;
  • milk porridge.

At the same time, it is strictly forbidden to drink alcohol and energy drinks, which cause an increase in blood pressure, to eat spicy foods, excessively salty foods, various smoked foods and preserves.

For any form of bronchitis, including viral, try to move less. Remember that all the body’s forces are aimed at fighting the virus, so extra stress can only aggravate the situation and delay the recovery process. Try not to go outside, especially during the cold season. It is recommended to ventilate the child’s or adult’s room every day (morning and evening).

Bronchitis in children: acute, obstructive bronchitis, symptoms, treatment

Bronchitis in children most often occurs as a complication against the background of acute respiratory viral infections, influenza or a severe cold, or hypothermia. Provoking factors for the development of bronchitis are seasonal sudden changes in temperature, especially periods of rain with high humidity, so this disease usually occurs in autumn or spring.

According to the form, all bronchitis in children is divided into: Acute, Protracted and Recurrent.

For reasons of occurrence, it depends on the causative agent of inflammation and is divided into:

  • Viral - influenza, adenoviruses, parainfluenza
  • Bacterial - can be acute and obstructive (the causative agent is streptococcus, staphylococcus, moraxella, hemophilus influenzae, as well as mycoplasma and chlamydia)
  • Allergic, obstructive, asthmatic - occurs from irritating chemical or physical factors, such as household chemicals, house dust (read about the symptoms of dust allergies), animal hair, plant pollen, etc.

Bronchitis in a child under one year old - symptoms and treatment

Babies who are breastfed and do not have contact with sick children and adults should not have any respiratory diseases. However, if a child was born premature, has congenital malformations of the respiratory organs and other diseases, and the family also has preschool-age children who attend kindergartens and are often ill, the development of bronchitis in a child under one year of age is possible for the following reasons:

  • narrower bronchi than in an adult, drier and more vulnerable respiratory mucosa
  • existing congenital malformations
  • after a viral or bacterial infection
  • the presence of individual sensitivity to chemical and physical irritants - an allergy to something.

The most basic symptom of developing bronchitis is a severe dry cough, paroxysmal, accompanied by difficulty breathing and shortness of breath. Gradually, the cough becomes wet, but mucus and sputum during bronchitis in a child under one year of age significantly complicates breathing, and the normal functioning of the lungs is disrupted, since the airways in infancy are narrow. Bronchitis in children under one year and even up to 3-4 years most often occurs in the following types:

  • Acute bronchitis simple
  • Obstructive bronchitis
  • Bronchiolitis

We will dwell on acute and obstructive bronchitis in more detail below. Now let’s look at the most common disease in children under one year old, bronchiolitis.

Bronchitis in children under one year of age - bronchiolitis

This bronchitis affects both small bronchi and bronchioles, and develops more often against the background of acute respiratory viral infections, influenza viruses, with the subsequent proliferation of pneumococci (and other streptococci). In case of inhalation of icy air or sudden concentrations of various gases, bronchiolitis can develop as an independent disease. The danger of such bronchitis is a pronounced broncho-obstructive syndrome with the development sometimes even of acute respiratory failure:

  • Characterized by dry cough in attacks, severe shortness of breath of a mixed or expiratory form with flaring syndromes of the wings of the nose, with the participation of auxiliary muscles, retraction of the intercostal spaces of the chest, pallor of the skin, cyanosis.
  • The child has a dry mouth and no tears when crying.
  • The child eats and drinks less than usual, and therefore urinates less frequently.
  • Increased body temperature, but unlike pneumonia, it is less pronounced (see whether it is necessary to lower the temperature).
  • Shortness of breath in breaths per minute, while breathing is grunting and shallow.
  • Diffuse moist, ringing, fine-bubbling and crepitating rales are heard on both sides.
  • Symptoms of intoxication with bronchiolitis in children are not pronounced.
  • An x-ray reveals a sharp transparency of the lung tissue, a variegated pattern, horizontal position of the ribs, and the absence of infiltrative changes in the lungs.
  • If at first there was simple bronchitis, then the addition of bronchiolitis after some time is manifested by a sharp deterioration in the general condition of the child, the cough becomes more painful and intense, with scanty sputum.
  • Children are usually very restless, capricious, and excited.
  • The blood test may be slightly changed, slight leukocytosis and an increase in ESR are possible.
  • Typically, bronchiolitis in children under one year of age has a long course of up to 1-1.5 months.
  • The causes of acute bronchiolitis in children are similar to the causes of the development of obstructive bronchitis in children older than 2-4 years. The local immune system of the respiratory tract in children under 2 years of age is weak, protection against viruses is insufficient, so they easily penetrate deep into the bronchioles and small bronchi.

Treatment of bronchiolitis in children

Bronchiolitis cannot be cured at home. If bronchiolitis occurs in an infant, hospitalization is usually indicated so that the child is under medical supervision. In the hospital, pediatricians and pulmonologists will establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment. What should mom do before the ambulance arrives?

You can only alleviate the symptoms of a cold by creating optimally comfortable air in the room, turning on a humidifier or air purifier.

If the child does not have a high temperature, you can ease breathing with the help of warming creams and ointments, smear them on the legs and calves. You just need to be careful with this, if the child has not had any allergic manifestations before, then this helps a lot; if the child is allergic, warming ointments should be excluded.

To make the cough softer, you can do steam inhalations - over a boiling pan with a weak saline solution, hold the baby in your arms. Or sit him down at the table and cover him with a towel over a cup of hot medicinal solution.

Try to get the baby to drink more to avoid dehydration; if the child refuses breastfeeding or formula, give the child just clean water.

In the hospital, to relieve signs of respiratory failure, the baby is given inhalations with bronchodilators and allowed to breathe oxygen. Also, at the discretion of the doctor, an antibiotic is selected - Sumamed, Macropen, Augmentin, Amoxiclav. It is possible to use various medications with interferon. Antihistamines must be prescribed to relieve swelling at the site of inflammation and a possible allergic reaction to treatment. If symptoms of dehydration are observed, the necessary rehydration therapy is carried out.

Acute bronchitis in children - symptoms

Bronchitis in children is the most common type of respiratory tract disease. Acute bronchitis is considered to be acute inflammation of the bronchial mucosa without symptoms of inflammation of the lung tissue. Simple bronchitis in children is 20% an independent bacterial disease, 80% - either in the program of viruses (Coxsackie virus, adenovirus, influenza, parainfluenza) or as a bacterial complication after these viral infections.

Clinical symptoms of bronchitis in children are as follows:

First, the child develops general weakness, malaise, headache, lack of appetite, then a dry cough or cough with sputum appears, the intensity of which rapidly increases; when listening, dry diffuse or variable-sized moist rales are detected. Sometimes there may be a barking cough in a child, the treatment of which is slightly different.

In the first 2 days, the temperature rises to 38 C, however, with a mild form, the temperature can be 37-37.2.

After 6-7 days, the dry cough turns into a wet one, the discharge of sputum relieves the child’s condition and is a good sign that the body is coping with the infection and virus.

On average, the duration of acute bronchitis in children is 7-21 days, but the nature of the disease and the severity of the inflammatory process depend on the age of the child, the strength of his immune system, and the presence of concomitant chronic and systemic diseases. If treatment is inadequate or untimely, acute bronchitis can lead to complications such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

Sometimes after the flu, the child’s condition improves for a while, and then there is a sharp deterioration, a rise in temperature, an increase in cough - this is due to a weakening of the immune system in the fight against the virus and the addition of a bacterial infection, in which case an antibiotic is indicated.

With mycoplasma or adenoviral acute bronchitis in children, symptoms of intoxication, such as high fever, headaches, chills, and lack of appetite, may last for about a week. Typically, acute bronchitis is bilateral, however, with mycoplasma bronchitis it is most often unilateral, sometimes combined with conjunctivitis.

Acute bronchitis in children - treatment

Most often, the duration of acute bronchitis in children, the treatment of which is correct and carried out on time, should not be more than 14 days, but in infants the cough can persist for up to a month, as well as in older children with atypical mycoplasma bronchitis. If suddenly a child’s bronchitis drags on, a number of diseases should be excluded:

  • food aspiration
  • pneumonia
  • cystic fibrosis
  • foreign body in the bronchi
  • tuberculosis infection

The pediatrician prescribes a full range of treatment. In addition to following all the doctor’s recommendations, the child should be provided with special nutrition and quality care. It is advisable to create optimal humidity and cleanliness in the room; for this it is convenient to use a humidifier and air purifier, frequently ventilate the room and carry out daily wet cleaning in the room in which the child is located. And:

Provide plenty of warm fluids. To soften a cough, warm milk with butter or Borjomi mineral water helps, or you can replace it with honey.

In case of fever, temperature only above 38C, you should take antipyretics - paracetamol in syrup.

Antibiotics for bronchitis in children, if recommended by a doctor, should be given strictly on an hourly basis. If you need to take antibacterial agents 3 times a day, this does not mean that you should drink them for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but this means that they should be taken 24/3=8, every 8 hours, if once a day , then give it only at the same time, for example at 9 o’clock in the morning. 11 rules - how to take antibiotics correctly.

For a dry cough, a child can be given antitussive medications as prescribed by a doctor, and when it becomes wet, switch to expectorants. For dry cough, the remedies can also be combined (Sinekod). If the cough is wet, then expectorants are indicated - Mucaltin, Bromhexine, Gedelix, marshmallow syrup, Infusion of thermopsis herb or its dry extract, Bronchicum, Eucabal, Prospan, chest preparations.

Inhalations for bronchitis in children, the symptoms of which are very pronounced, are well helped by inhalation with ordinary baking soda, which is called over a hot pan, inhalation of sodium bicarbonate using a nebulizer, or inhaler.

For small and infant children who do not know how to cough on their own, doctors advise turning the child more often from one side to the other. In this case, the sputum moves down, irritating the walls of the bronchi, which leads to a reflex cough.

For older children, cupping, mustard plasters, hot foot baths still help, and if the child has a strong immune system, such procedures will help avoid taking antibiotics. You can steam a child’s feet after 1 year, and also rub them with warming agents - turpentine ointments, Barsukor, Pulmax baby, etc., but only if there is no high temperature; after rubbing, you should insulate the feet and wrap the child up. However, in the case of allergic bronchitis in a child, neither mustard plasters nor warming ointments can be used, since the composition of the ointments and mustard can worsen the child’s condition.

For bronchitis in children, warm oil compresses help in treatment. Heat sunflower oil to 40C and moisten gauze with it, folded several times. This compress should be applied only to the right side and back of the baby, put a plastic bag and a layer of cotton wool on top, bandage the baby around several times. Wear warm clothes; this procedure should be done at night if the child does not have a fever.

The old folk method is radish juice with honey, cabbage juice, turnip juice - any of these juices should be given 1 teaspoon 4 times a day. You can also give lingonberry juice, mixing it with honey in a ratio of 3/1, a tablespoon 3 times a day.

In the first week, chest massage helps a lot; older children would do well to do breathing exercises.

Physiotherapy for bronchitis

In children, these procedures are prescribed and carried out only at the discretion of the doctor; these are physiotherapeutic methods that promote rapid recovery, since they have an anti-inflammatory effect, however, they cannot be performed more than 2 times a year:

  • Ultraviolet irradiation of the chest
  • Mud and paraffin applications on the chest and between the shoulder blades
  • Inductometry on the same areas
  • Electrophoresis with calcium
  • Sollux on the chest
  • Aeronization of the respiratory tract with a hydroionizer with solutions of chamomile and antibiotics.
Prevention of acute bronchitis in children:

A child should not have a prolonged runny nose; timely treatment of any colds and infectious diseases will be the best preventive measure against infection entering the lower respiratory tract.

Walking in the fresh air in the park, playing in the country, physical exercise in nature, hardening, daily intake of natural vitamins in fruits and vegetables, and not in tablets, is the way to your child’s health.

Obstructive bronchitis in children - symptoms

In young children, usually up to 3-4 years of age, acute bronchitis may be accompanied by obstructive syndrome - this is acute obstructive bronchitis. In children, symptoms of such bronchitis most often begin after viral infections or an allergic manifestation to an irritant.

The main symptoms of obstructive bronchitis:

  • Hoarse, whistling breathing audible from afar
  • Cough in attacks, to the point of vomiting, debilitating
  • During inhalation, retraction of the intercostal spaces and swelling of the chest during breathing

With obstructive allergic bronchitis, children do not have a fever, it begins due to an allergic reaction to the strongest irritant for the child, and parents can often remember that they recently purchased something for the child - a down pillow or blanket made of camel or sheep wool, or inhaled paint at home from renovations or went to visit places where there are cats.

With obstructive bronchitis in children, symptoms can begin on the 3-4th day of influenza or ARVI, and can also be caused by other bacteria, which is expressed in the appearance of expiratory shortness of breath - an increase in the respiratory rate to 60 per minute, and difficulty in inhaling.

The child begins to wheeze, noisy breathing, especially an elongated whistling exhalation, which is audible to persons near the baby. The chest seems to be swollen, that is, the ribs are horizontal. The cough is dry, obsessive, comes in fits and starts suddenly, does not bring relief and gets worse at night.

If this disease does not develop after acute respiratory viral infection, then the temperature in the first days is not increased.

Headache, weakness and nausea are very rare.

When listening, dry whistling rales are observed in the lungs.

X-ray reveals increased transparency, increased pulmonary pattern, in the absence of infiltrative changes in the lungs.

Blood test as for a viral infection - lymphocytosis, leukopenia. accelerated ESR, if the child has allergic bronchitis, then eosinophilia.

Obstructive bronchitis is almost always associated with a virus or mycoplasma infection; relapses of obstructive bronchitis in children most often spontaneously stop by the age of 4.

If the bronchioles and small bronchi are affected, then this is acute bronchiolitis.

Obstructive bronchitis in children differs from asthma attacks in that the obstruction develops slowly, and with asthma the child suddenly begins to choke. Although the first attacks of bronchial asthma in children also begin during ARVI. If obstruction occurs several times a year, this is a signal that the child is at risk for developing bronchial asthma in the future.

Obstructive bronchitis in a child may be due to passive smoking; it can be distinguished by a strong cough with whistling in the morning, while the child’s condition is quite satisfactory. Allergy obstruction occurs upon contact with an allergen, and recently this has become a very common manifestation in children prone to allergies; such bronchitis is recurrent in nature and is threatened by the development of bronchial asthma.

Allergic and obstructive bronchitis in children - treatment

Hospitalization

For obstructive bronchitis in children under one or 2 years of age, treatment should be carried out in a hospital under the supervision of a pediatrician, in other cases at the discretion of the doctor and parents. Treatment is best done in a hospital if:

  • In addition to obstruction, the child has symptoms of intoxication - loss of appetite, high fever, nausea, general weakness.
  • Severe signs of respiratory failure. This is shortness of breath, when the respiratory rate increases by 10% of the age norm, it is better to count it at night, and not while playing or crying. In babies under 6 months, the respiratory rate should not be more than 60 breaths per minute, 6-12 months - 50 breaths, 1-5 years - 40 breaths. Acrocyanosis is a sign of respiratory failure, manifested by cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle and nails, that is, the body experiences a deficiency of oxygen.
  • Often, pneumonia is disguised as obstructive bronchitis in children, so if the doctor suspects pneumonia, hospitalization cannot be refused.

Bronchodilators

Bronchiolytics dilate the bronchi, so they are intended to relieve obstruction. Today they are presented in the pharmaceutical industry market in various forms:

  • In the form of syrups (Salmeterol, Clenbuterol, Ascoril), which are convenient to use for small children, their disadvantage is the development of tremor and palpitations.
  • In the form of solutions for inhalation (see Berodual for inhalation) - this is the most convenient way for young children, by diluting the medicinal solution with saline, inhalation is carried out 2-3 times a day, after improvement it can be used only at night. The frequency and dosage, as well as the course of treatment, are determined only by the pediatrician.
  • Aerosol inhalers can only be used for older children (Berodual, Salbutamol).
  • Tablet forms of bronchodilators such as theophylline (Teopek, Eufillin) are not indicated for the treatment of children with obstructive bronchitis; they have more pronounced side effects and are more toxic than local inhalation forms.

Antispasmodics

Can be used to reduce bronchospasm. This is papaverine or Drotaverine, No-shpa. They can be taken with an inhaler, orally in tablet form, or intravenously in a hospital setting.

Cough remedies

To help clear sputum better, various mucoregulatory drugs are used; they help thin the sputum and speed up its elimination:

  • These are drugs with the active ingredient ambroxol (Lazolvan, Ambrobene). These drugs should not be taken for more than 10 days; it is most convenient to use them in the form of inhalations, as well as carbocysteine ​​preparations (Fluditek, Bronhobos, Mukosol).
  • After the cough has become wet, the attacks have become less intense, the sputum is liquefied but difficult to clear, ambroxol should be replaced with cough expectorants for children, which should be given for no more than 5-10 days, these include Gedelix, Bronhikum, Prospan, Bronchosan, Herbion (see Herbion for dry and wet cough), Tussin, Bronchipret, chest preparations 1,2,3,4.
  • It is not recommended for children to take codeine-containing drugs if the child has a paroxysmal obsessive cough; if prescribed by a doctor, you can use Sinecode, Stoptusin Phyto, Libexin (with caution in children), Bronchicum, Broncholitin.
  • Erespal - helps relieve obstruction and reduce sputum production, and it also has anti-inflammatory activity, is used from the first days of the disease, reduces the risk of complications, and is contraindicated in children under 2 years of age.

Drainage massage

To facilitate the passage of mucus, parents can massage their child’s collar area, chest, and back. A particularly strong massage should be done for the back muscles along the spine. Postural massage is useful for obstructive bronchitis in children - that is, tapping the baby's back in the morning, you should hang the child upside down from the bed (put a pillow under the tummy) and tap with your palms folded into a boat for minutes. For older children, when doing a massage, ask the child to take a deep breath and tap while exhaling. Additional exercises such as inflating balloons and blowing out candles are also useful.

Antihistamines

Allergy or virus

If the obstruction is caused by an allergy or a virus, antibiotics cannot be used, and even dangerous (see antibiotics for colds and acute respiratory infections). Prescribing antibiotics is possible only if the infectious origin of bronchitis in children is proven.

When are antibiotics indicated?

Treatment of bronchial obstruction with antibiotics is not indicated, only if the child has a high fever for more than 4 days, or there is a second jump in temperature to 39C 4-5 days after the onset of the disease, accompanied by severe intoxication, severe cough, if, with adequate treatment, the child unexpectedly becomes apathetic, lethargic, refuses to eat, has weakness, nausea, headaches and even vomiting. In such cases, the use of antibiotics is justified. They are prescribed only by a pediatrician based on the clinical picture, the presence of purulent sputum (indicating bacterial bronchitis), inflammatory changes in the blood test, as well as other signs of bacterial bronchitis or pneumonia (wheezing, radiological signs).

Antiviral drugs

Most doctors recommend taking antiviral drugs for ARVI and influenza, for children Genferon, Viferon suppositories, as well as in the form of Gripferon, Interferon drops, taking Orvirem (rimantadine) syrups, and after the age of three, tablet forms, such as Kagocel and Arbidol, Tsitovir 3. But it is worth remembering that if there are any autoimmune diseases in the family history (in close relatives) (Sjogren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, diffuse toxic goiter, vitiligo, multiple sclerosis, pernicious anemia, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, myasthenia gravis, uveitis , Addison's disease, primary biliary cirrhosis, autoimmune hepatitis, scleroderma) you cannot take immunostimulants (Kagocel, Tsitovir, Amiksin), this can cause the debut of an autoimmune disease in a child, perhaps not now, but later (see antiviral drugs for ARVI for more details).

Hormone therapy

What not to do

For obstructive bronchitis in children, treatment is by rubbing and smearing the child’s body with various warming ointments (Doctor Mom ointment, ointments with medicinal plants, essential oils); the use of mustard plasters is unacceptable, since they cause an even greater allergic reaction and bronchospasm, especially in children under 3 years of age. It is also strictly forbidden to inhale various medicinal herbs and essential oils for bronchitis. It is only possible to use such folk remedies for warming up - heat compresses with potatoes, salt, buckwheat.

Physiotherapy

Hypoallergenic diet and plenty of fluids

Any natural drinks - mineral water with milk, tea, rosehip decoction - should be drunk by the child as often as possible. The diet should be hypoallergenic, but at the same time maximally fortified, complete in protein and fat content. Eliminate from your child’s diet anything that can cause an allergic reaction:

  • citrus, red and orange fruits
  • store-bought spices, sweets, milk cheeses, yoghurts, carbonated drinks, sausages and sausages - everything that contains dyes, flavors, preservatives and flavor enhancers
  • honey and other bee products
  • fish grown on fish farms, broiler chickens - since they are stuffed with hormones and antibiotics, which causes allergies.

When caring for a child, you should ventilate and humidify the room where the child is located daily. It shouldn’t be hot in the apartment; it’s better to have cool, fresh, clean air. After recovery, the child should be registered with an allergist.

Source: http://neb0ley.ru/bronhit/bakterialnyj-bronhit-simptomy.html

Bacterial bronchitis in children and adults

Bacterial bronchitis is a disease accompanied by inflammation of the bronchi, caused by pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria) that have entered their lumen.

The incidence of bronchitis among the adult population is quite high. In children, bacterial bronchitis is less common. With proper treatment, bronchitis goes away successfully, otherwise it can be complicated by pneumonia or bronchiolitis.

Factors influencing the occurrence of the disease

Many factors contribute to the development of bronchitis. The fact of decreased immunity after an illness or the presence of chronic diseases is especially important. A person’s age affects the state of the immune system; older people are more susceptible to a high incidence of bronchitis.

Factors that cause bacterial bronchitis include:

  1. chronic diseases of the ENT organs: tonsillitis, sinusitis, sinusitis, adenoiditis;
  2. drinking large amounts of alcoholic beverages, smoking (more than 2 packs of cigarettes per day);
  3. congenital lung diseases;
  4. mechanical chest injuries;
  5. the presence of a foreign body in the lumen of the bronchi;
  6. work in hazardous industries (with chemicals (carbon, hydrogen sulfide, chlorine vapors, various acids, alkalis), dust, etc., damaging the respiratory system);
  7. allergic diseases;
  8. heart disease accompanied by pulmonary edema (carditis, stenosis of the left atrioventricular valve);
  9. untreated acute respiratory infections;
  10. immunodeficiencies;
  11. pertussis infection, cystic fibrosis, aspiration of pieces of food, foreign bodies in the bronchi (in children).

Causes of bronchitis

Bacterial bronchitis occurs after the penetration and proliferation of pathogenic bacteria.

The causative agents of this disease are:

Klebsiella and Haemophilus influenzae are nosocomial infections. They are difficult to treat because they are resistant to many antibiotics used on an outpatient basis. Bronchitis caused by these bacteria is treated in a hospital setting. You can become infected with a nosocomial infection after tracheal intubation and tracheostomy, with improper care of the tracheostomy tube, non-compliance with sterilization rules, and incorrect selection of antibiotic therapy.

Clinical picture of bacterial bronchitis

The disease begins with general malaise, unexplained weakness, and lethargy. The next day, a dry paroxysmal cough appears, disturbing the patient both day and night. These symptoms are accompanied by a temperature of up to 38°C, sometimes up to 39°C, which is difficult to control with Paracetamol. The temperature can only be lowered to 37°C. The cough becomes wet, with scant sputum. Hyperthermia may persist for several days, worsening at night. The patient experiences chest pain, a burning sensation, especially when coughing, complains of headaches, night sweats, intolerance to bright light, and lack of appetite. Shortness of breath occurs at the slightest physical exertion, causing weakness and dizziness.

Forms of bacterial bronchitis in adults and children

Bacterial bronchitis is divided into acute, spastic, protracted, and chronic forms.

In the acute form of the disease, only the bronchial mucosa is affected and lasts up to two weeks.

Bacterial bronchitis in children under 4 years of age very often manifests itself in a spastic form (obstructive bronchitis). This form is often a complication of untreated acute respiratory viral infection. A spasm of the bronchi occurs, which leads to severe shortness of breath, since in children the lumen of the bronchi is much narrower than in adults. If the child is not helped in time, he may suffocate. All infants have a tendency to spasm of the larynx or bronchi, so parents should closely monitor the child. If shortness of breath occurs, call an ambulance or a pediatrician at home.

The protracted form occurs in both children and adults. It lasts more than two weeks.

In the chronic course, not only all layers of the bronchi are damaged, but also the lung tissue. Its duration can be up to one and a half months. Chronic bronchitis recurs at least three times a year.

Important! If shortness of breath occurs in a child under 1 year old, you must call an ambulance!

Symptoms of obstructive bacterial bronchitis in children

With obstructive bronchitis, the child is lethargic. Breathing is difficult, hoarse, there is severe shortness of breath, the chest is swollen due to difficult and prolonged exhalation. The child exhales air with a whistle, which can be clearly heard from a distance without a stethoscope. When inhaling, retraction of the intercostal spaces is observed. Inhalation is also difficult. The child has a paroxysmal cough that ends in vomiting, disturbing the child at night.

During auscultation (drying the chest with a stethoscope), the doctor hears wheezing as you inhale and exhale.

Diagnosis of bacterial bronchitis

The list of diagnostic measures includes an examination by a general practitioner or pulmonologist. The children are examined by a pediatrician. The doctor collects anamnesis from the patient. With bacterial bronchitis, in the first days the doctor hears harsh breathing in the lungs. With obstruction, the child can hear dry wheezing on inhalation and exhalation. The doctor prescribes a general blood test, which shows a high level of leukocytes and ESR.

For adults and children over 5 years of age, the doctor takes a sputum test. You can see large numbers of leukocytes and bacteria in it. If treatment is ineffective, a sputum test is taken to determine the sensitivity of the bacterial flora to antibiotics. To exclude tuberculous etiology of bronchitis, an analysis is done for the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

If there is a suspicion of a complicated course of the disease, an X-ray examination of the chest is performed. For children under 1 year of age it is mandatory.

The doctor may prescribe spirography to determine lung capacity. The results of spirography in this case will be reduced.

Treatment of bacterial bronchitis

How is bacterial bronchitis treated? The list of therapeutic measures includes: antibacterial therapy, symptomatic treatment. The patient needs plenty of fluids, a nutritious diet containing all the necessary vitamins and minerals, and sleep.

Antibacterial therapy

Antibiotics are prescribed according to the bacteria that caused the disease. The most common antibiotics include:

  • group of penicillins (Amoxicillin, Flemoxin, Augmentin);
  • group of cephalosporins (Cefixime, Cefazolin, Claforan, Cefuroxime, Cefaclor);
  • group of macrolides (Clarithromycin, Azithromycin, Erythromycin, Macropen, Rovamycin);
  • group of fluoroquinolones (Levofloxacin, Sparfloxacin).

Antibiotics must be taken for the full course every 8 hours if the doctor has prescribed them 3 times a day. A single dose of antibiotic involves the patient taking a tablet or syrup at the same time every day. If the course of treatment is interrupted (taken for less than 7 days), the bacterial flora develops addiction to the drug used (resistance).

Symptomatic therapy

For symptomatic treatment, antipyretic and antitussive drugs (mucolytics, drugs for dry cough) are used.

Antipyretic therapy includes drugs: Paracetamol, Ibuprofen. The temperature must be brought down if it reaches 38°C, since low-grade fever (up to 37°C) has a protective function. Ibuprofen copes better with high temperatures; doctors especially recommend using it for hyperthermia in children. For this purpose, children's forms of the drug (syrup) are used.

If you have a dry cough, doctors prescribe the drug Sinekod. Children use syrups Gedelix (from birth), Eucabal (from 6 months of life), Gerbion and Doctor Theiss, Travisil, Tusamag (from 1 year), Pertussin (from 2 years), Sinekod, Doctor Mom (from 3 years).

Mucolytics are used when viscous sputum appears: Lazolvan (from birth), Acetylcysteine ​​(for children from two years of age and adults), Bromhexine (from 6 years), Carbocysteine ​​(in capsules from 12 years, in syrup from 2 years).

You can do inhalations with saline solution and Lazolvan. They are indicated after the temperature has dropped.

Inhalations for obstructive bronchitis in children and adults

In the obstructive form of bronchitis, inhalations with drugs that increase the lumen of the bronchi are indicated. Berodual and Salbutamol are suitable for this purpose. When performing them, it is advisable to use a nebulizer. It sprays the medicine into small drops, which are deposited on the walls of the bronchi and have a therapeutic effect. Such inhalations are necessary for asthma attacks. Children under 4 years of age must be hospitalized in a hospital.

Conclusion

To avoid the occurrence of bronchitis, you should completely treat respiratory viral infections, exercise more, eat right, harden yourself, give up bad habits, normalize your work and rest schedule, and avoid severe overwork. These activities allow you to maintain good health for many years and avoid various diseases.

Source: http://zdorovie-legkie.ru/bakterialnyj-bronhit/