Bronchitis in infants is a disease characterized by inflammation of the main air passages to the lungs, also known as the bronchi. The disease, mainly caused by a virus called Influenza, takes two forms: acute and chronic. Infants in most cases are infected by the acute type which is usually short-lived.
Acute bronchitis infects the respiratory system in stages by first affecting the nose, sinuses and throat, and eventually spreads to the lungs. Chronic bronchitis on the other hand, is characterized by excessive production of mucus. Unlike bronchitis in infants that spans a few days to a few weeks, this type of bronchitis is usually long-term with a cough lasting over three months.
Causes and Symptoms of Bronchitis in Infants
Causes
As briefly mentioned earlier, bronchitis is mainly caused by a virus called Influenza commonly referred to as flu. The two common types that are associated with the disease are Influenza A and B. The disease is also caused by bacteria, Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
Other causes that cause the disease are inhaling of irritating fumes or dust, chemical solvents and tobacco smoke that lead to the acute type that normally attacks kids. This in essence means that the likelihood of infection of bronchitis in infants is increased with these exposures.
Kids are also known to have narrower airways and a weakened immune system and therefore are at higher risk of being attacked by bronchitis. Other risk factors that accelerate the rate of infection of the disease include air pollution, allergies and exposure to industrial chemicals.
Symptoms
Bronchitis in infants is manifested by a number of symptoms ranging from a stuffed-up runny nose and post-nasal drip to a mild cough and wheezing. Infants with bronchitis also experience chills or fever, sore throat, short breathes, muscle aches and they are normally fatigued most of the time. Continued, forceful coughs lasting for more than two weeks may lead to chest problems and sore abdominal muscles. Severe cases may experience faints or even death if medical attention is not sought early.
Treatment of Bronchitis in Infants
To ensure effective management and treatment of bronchitis in infants, two approaches may be pursued; home based care or hospital care. Home based care is generally sufficient for healthy kids diagnosed with viral bronchitis, while severe cases and those caused by bacteria may require hospital attention.
Home Based Care
Some of the home based infant care strategies to avoid bronchitis in infants include continuation of breast or bottle feeding and adequate fluid intake to help avoid the risk of dehydration resulting from high flow of mucus and body fever. Use of cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier in the infant’s room is another remedy that can loosen mucus and ensure fresh air circulation. Regular cleaning of the vaporizer should be done to prevent growth of mould.
Infants can be treated at home by administering acetaminophen, a drug that eases the sore throat and reduces fever. It is important to note here that aspirin should NOT be used to treat the fever associated with bronchitis in infants. This way, a potentially fatal condition called Reye’s syndrome can easily be avoided.
Other home based treatments include giving your infant doctor-approved expectorant to loosen mucus and administration of antibiotics if the infection is bacterial.
Hospital Care
Hospital care should be sought immediately you notice the following severe conditions of bronchitis in infants: wheezing, vomiting, high fever, decreased urination, lethargy, rapid or shallow breathing.
Adverse symptoms of bronchitis in infants include blue discoloration around the lips or fingernails, irregular breathing and even fainting.
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