What is Bronchitis in Children?
- Bronchitis is an inflammation of the large breathing tubes (bronchi) in the lungs. The illness can be short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic). Acute bronchitis means that the symptoms often develop quickly and don’t last long. Most cases are mild.
- Acute bronchitis is a clinical syndrome produced by inflammation of the trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles. In children, acute bronchitis usually occurs in association with viral lower respiratory tract infection.
- Acute bronchitis begins as a respiratory tract infection that manifests as the common cold. Symptoms often include coryza, malaise, chills, slight fever, sore throat, and back and muscle pain.
- Chronic bronchitis is often caused by bacteria.
What causes acute bronchitis in a child?
- Acute bronchitis is generally caused by respiratory infections; approximately 90% are viral in origin, and 10% are bacterial.
- Acute bronchitis is most often caused by a viral infection. The illness may develop after a cold or other viral infection in the nose, mouth, or throat (upper respiratory tract). Such illnesses can spread easily from direct contact with a person who is sick.
- Industrial pollution is also a common cause; however, the chief culprit is heavy long-term cigarette smoke exposure. It may also be caused by things such as dust, allergens, strong fumes.
- Rarely, a child’s bronchitis can become chronic, meaning it lasts for about a month or more. Chronic bronchitis may be caused by repeated attacks of acute bronchitis, which can weaken and irritate bronchial airways over time, eventually resulting in chronic bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis is often caused by bacteria.
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Which children are at risk for bronchitis?
Children who have a higher chance of developing acute bronchitis are those who have:
- Chronic sinusitis
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Enlarged tonsils and adenoids
- Exposure to secondhand smoke
- Other causes include the following:
- Chronic aspiration or gastroesophageal reflux
- Fungal infection
- The incidence of acute bronchitis is equal in males and females. The incidence of chronic bronchitis is difficult to state precisely because of the lack of definitive diagnostic criteria and the considerable overlap with asthma. However, in recent years, the prevalence of chronic bronchitis has been reported to be consistently higher in females than in males.
- Acute (typically wheezy) bronchitis occurs most commonly in children younger than 2 years, with another peak seen in children aged 9-15 years. Chronic bronchitis affects people of all ages but is more prevalent in persons older than 45 years.
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What are the symptoms?
- Dry or mucus-filled cough
- Vomiting or gagging
- Runny nose, often before a cough starts
- Chest congestion or pain
- An overall body discomfort or not feeling well
- Chills
- Slight fever
- Back and muscle pain
- Wheezing
- Sore throat
These symptoms often last 7 to 14 days. But the cough may continue for 3 to 4 weeks.
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How Homeopathy helps?
Homoeopathy has an excellent scope in the treatment of acute episodes of allergic bronchitis. For the children suffering from bronchitis, homeopathy is a blessing. It helps in reducing the number of attacks, the duration of acute attacks, and the intensity of attacks. It also reduces the dependency on inhaled cortisone and other bronchodilators. Various medicines are available for the treatment with good success. Homeopathic medicines cure bronchitis at the immunological level by correcting the hypersensitivity and by improving the healing capacity of the immune system. These medicines are gentler and do not leave any residual symptoms/ any side effects. Recurrent episodes are also manageable with constitutional medicines which are prescribed after taking detailed history of the patient. Homeopathic medicines not only prevent further episodes but also treat other coexisting allergies and prevent asthma.