When Children Have Bronchitis - Symptoms and Treatment

Bronchitis in children can start from minor ailments like running nose and mild cough with breathing problems at night. If left untreated, the ailment can deteriorate to severe chest infection as illness spreads to windpipe leading to fever and deep coughs. The most ideal precaution you can take to ensure that light flu does not deteriorate to bronchitis in your child is to take him/her to family doctor and administer appropriate medicines. The most common reason for bronchitis in children is air pollution and physical proximity to other children that are suffering from the same disease. Sometimes children get bronchitis even during seasonal changes like winter and monsoon.

Symptoms of bronchitis

The disease can be caused by bacteria or virus and is characterized by inflammation of bronchial tubes which causes breathing problems. As air is unable to pass through the lungs, the nose tissues get irritated and extra mucus is produced leading to a watery nose and persistent cough. When bronchitis is not treated properly in the early stages, it becomes acute and chronic very soon with severe symptoms of acute bronchitis.

When children develop severe bronchitis, it can last several weeks as bronchial tubes become inflamed and produce excess mucus. Children with persistent colds and fever that develop to chronic bronchitis can soon become vulnerable to more deadly diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis, so should be taken immediately to urgent care clinics that have requisite facilities. If your child has fever and chills along with shortness of breath, which are all signs of bronchitis, search for a clinic which has facility of same day appointments, so you can get him/her examined immediately.

Treatment for bronchitis

Before the cough and cold become acute, it is best to use simple home remedies to relieve these symptoms and keep the child protected from dust and cold. However, if the symptoms persist and your child looks tired, then immediately take him/her to the nearest family clinic to get professional opinion of a pediatrician or an ENT specialist. Depending on the condition of your child, the doctor will carry out detailed physical exam and will follow it up with blood tests and chest X-ray for signs of chest infection. Acute bronchitis is treated first with cough medicines in the initial states to help loosen mucus in the lungs, so the child can cough it out and breathe easily.

If the child has a fever along with cough and cold, then the physician at any same day clinic will advise ibuprofen or acetaminophen to reduce the fever. If you are living in Phoenix area, the best option would be visit Saturday Clinic of Phoenix Family Medical Clinic. The healthcare providers and physicians at Phoenix Family Medical Clinic also treat and provide care for kids with ADHD. You can take care of your child that is suffering from bronchitis by making him/her drink plenty of liquids, which will keep the air passage moist. As respiratory problems can cause permanent lung damage, it is advisable to take your child to a walk in clinic as soon as symptoms of bronchitis manifests.

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