Shortness of breath when coughing in a child Komarovsky

Usually, even with obstructions, inhalations with Berodual are prescribed. If you have a nebulizer, then consult a doctor - maybe you can manage without antibiotics

Did they do an x-ray to rule out pneumonia?

Usually, even with obstructions, inhalations with Berodual are prescribed. If you have a nebulizer, then consult a doctor - maybe you can manage without antibiotics

Did they do an x-ray to rule out pneumonia?

Be sure and urgently start doing inhalations with Berodual. Frequent breathing, obstruction - the child does not receive enough oxygen. And yes, Zyrtec, if you have it or what have you. It would be a good idea to consult a good pulmonologist. Regarding antibiotics. I myself didn’t give it without justification. But! I have asthmatic children. Recently my daughter was tested for allergens - she has a high titer for various bacteria, such as staphylococcus, etc. Now, to avoid trouble, I give an antibiotic immediately at the onset of the disease. Otherwise, we end up with seizures. And it all starts like ARVI and “rapid breathing”

Edited by: tanky on Apr 24, 2014, 10:17 am

The stability of the functioning of the respiratory system in children is determined by counting the frequency of respiratory movements. Periodic monitoring of respiratory rate allows you to monitor the child’s health status, as well as determine the presence of developmental abnormalities. Often, parents can diagnose rapid breathing in a child along with signs of high temperature. What does this phenomenon indicate, and also how dangerous it is.

Features of breathing frequency

Frequent breathing in a child indicates the occurrence of malfunctions and deviations in the functioning of the body. Rapid breathing in a child is called tachypnea, in which the depth of breaths should be constant, and only their number should increase. If a child breathes frequently, this indicates the development of signs of oxygen deficiency. The body strives to restore the standard process of gas exchange in the body.

Parents can detect temporary signs of tachypnea in a child, which appear mainly before the development of attacks of bronchial asthma. If a child breathes frequently, this does not indicate an independent disease, but rather a symptom of another illness. The following factors influence rapid breathing in children:

  1. Age. A baby under the age of 1 year has more rapid breathing than older children. This is due to physiological characteristics.
  2. Weight. The greater the baby's weight, the harder it is for him to breathe, so overweight children experience symptoms of tachypnea.
  3. Physical activity. After playing sports, children and adults experience increased breathing, which is absolutely normal and does not indicate serious illness.
  4. Well-being. Most illnesses, like colds and nasal congestion, cause increased breathing. A child with nasal congestion breathes heavily, so his breathing quickens to make up for the lack of oxygen in the body.
  5. Injuries and individual characteristics of the body. A deviated septum causes the baby to breathe frequently.

It is important to know! If parents cannot independently determine the causes of tachypnea in their baby, it is necessary to show him to a doctor for a diagnosis.

Bronchitis in children: symptoms and treatment Komarovsky

› Bronchitis

09.02.2020

From the point of view of Dr. Komarovsky, only a doctor should treat bronchitis in children.

Report a video?

Sign in to report inappropriate content.

Video text

It turns out that bronchitis is not a diagnosis. What can actually cause bronchitis? First symptoms and recommendations for the treatment of viral bronchitis. Possible complications. When are antibiotics prescribed? Obstructive bronchitis. What methods exist to prevent bronchitis? Air parameters in the room of a sick child and the use of a nebulizer.

(Part 1 of ShDK episode No. 39, aired on October 25, 2017)

Be the first to watch new episodes and receive valuable recommendations from Dr. Komarovsky! by clicking → https://goo.gl/WGruQw

↓More interesting links below!↓

Source: https://toyschain.ru/bronhit/bronhit-u-detej-lechenie-doktor-komarovskij.html

Features of determining tachypnea in children

When a child has a high temperature, it is not difficult to determine. It is enough to touch the forehead to understand that the baby has a fever. How can you determine respiratory dysfunction in a baby? In order to count the number of inhalations and exhalations, it is necessary to monitor the movement of the chest. With each rise of the chest, an inhalation is carried out, and with its lowering, carbon dioxide is exhaled.

Doctors recommend counting breaths while the child is sleeping. Sleep is the best way to measure temperature and also calculate tachypnea. In a dream, the calculation results are as plausible as possible and appropriate conclusions should be drawn on their basis. Doctors measure breathing using a phonendoscope. In this case, the baby should be in a state of rest, for which parents should distract him, have a conversation or tell a fairy tale. If the baby is afraid, then the results of the calculations will be unreliable and inflated, and it is impossible to draw conclusions on them.

Causes of rapid breathing and elevated temperature

Why do infants experience rapid breathing? This is primarily due to the imperfection of the respiratory system. The baby's body adapts to the environment, so if the baby is breathing heavily, there is no reason to worry. The respiratory system of children who were born prematurely will take much longer to mature, which is also a completely normal factor. If, in combination with tachypnea, a child exhibits an increase in temperature, this indicates various diseases. Let us consider these diseases in detail.

Rapid breathing during sleep in childhood may precede the development of the following diseases:

  1. Colds. These diseases include: influenza, ARVI and colds. Tachypnea is accompanied by fever, cough, runny nose and weakness of the body.
  2. Allergic processes. It is difficult for a child to breathe if he is exposed to an irritant. With the development of allergic processes in children, swelling of the larynx is observed, which leads to increased breathing. If help is not provided in a timely manner, the baby may die from lack of oxygen.
  3. Bronchial asthma. Increased breathing is observed during an exacerbation of an asthma attack.
  4. Pneumonia and pleurisy. With pneumonia, complications arise in children, as a result of which the temperature rises sharply to 39 degrees, and the baby also complains of difficulty breathing. When coughing, mucus may be produced.
  5. Tuberculosis. With tuberculosis, the temperature rises to 38 degrees, and symptoms such as coughing and general weakness of the body develop.
  6. Chronic form of bronchitis. The main sign of chronic illness is that the cough continues for a long time. When coughing, sputum is expelled along with pus.

Tachypnea in a child may indicate the development of pathologies of the heart and blood vessels. The main signs of pathologies of the cardiovascular system are hidden in frequent shortness of breath, weight loss, as well as the occurrence of swelling and weakness. In this case, the child often sighs, and also periodically complains of a strong constant heartbeat and shortness of breath.

Frequent breathing may be accompanied by the development of thromboembolism, which is a blockage of the main blood flow. The disease is extremely rare, but if present, surgery is required.

It is important to know! Parents can try to independently determine the causes of tachypnea in their baby, but the diagnosis and treatment must be prescribed by a doctor.

Another reason for the development of tachypnea is nervous overstrain. Children, just like adults, are susceptible to the negative effects of stress. Stressful situations arise for a variety of reasons. Main reasons:

  • refusal to attend kindergarten;
  • lack of desire to eat semolina porridge;
  • building relationships with peers.

With nervous overstrain in children, the development of tachypnea is also observed, complicated by headaches, increased excitability, and lack of appetite. The temperature often does not increase due to the development of stress unless complications arise.

Cough, rapid breathing in a child

Shortness of breath in children, causes of shortness of breath

Shortness of breath may indicate that your child has a serious illness. In this article we will look at all the possible causes of shortness of breath in children.

Shortness of breath due to airway obstruction

Young children often experience shortness of breath due to obstructions in the airways. The abundance of nasal secretions makes it difficult to breathe during feeding, as well as between meals, because some children do not know how to open their mouth wide enough when their nose is clogged.

Allergic runny nose. Recurrent nasal blockage, especially at night in older children, with clear secretion with a small amount of mucus. A positive allergy test (for example, for bed dust) confirms the diagnosis.

Maxillary sinusitis. Chronically blocked nose (sometimes only on one side), nasal tone of voice, thick purulent secretion, which is also visible on the back wall of the throat. X-ray shows typical darkening of the paranasal sinuses.

Foreign bodies. Constant unilateral secretion, sometimes fetid, purulent or bloody. After local application of drugs that reduce swelling of the mucous membrane, foreign bodies are usually easily detected using an ear speculum.

Angina. With severe enlargement of the tonsils, pronounced lymphadenitis of the regional cervical lymph nodes (clearly demarcated, without periglandular edema) and involvement in the process of other groups of lymph nodes or the spleen are characteristic of monocytic tonsillitis. Concomitant swelling of the velum and uvula, severe pain when swallowing, salivation, slurred speech, trismus, meningism indicate a para- or retrotonsillar abscess, which is accompanied by regional lymphadenitis within the angle of the mandible (lymph nodes are clearly demarcated, without periglandular edema).

Complications

. descending mediastinitis, with perforation of an abscess - aspiration pneumonia.

Diphtheria. Vitreous edema of the velum palatine, greatly enlarged tonsils (initially without typical fibrin deposits), lymphadenitis of the glands of the angle of the mandible.

Dyspnea due to inspiratory stridor

Laryngeal stenosis. Functional or anatomical stenoses of the larynx lead to inspiratory stridor.

Symptoms

. noisy, moaning, or snoring inhalation with a high-pitched sound that weakens or disappears during sleep. Increased noise when screaming in a supine position, weakening in a prone position. The exhalation is silent.

Developmental defects and innervation disorders.

Stridor can be congenital or appear in the first weeks after birth due to malformations of the pharynx, which are diagnosed laryngoscopically or radiologically. More often, impaired innervation of the laryngeal muscles in combination with dysfunction of the velum palatine is found in children with brain disorders. However, there are also cases of isolated damage as a result of pathological birth. However, there are no other brain symptoms. A hoarse voice may occur due to paralysis of the vocal cords (laryngoscopy). If x-ray examination of functions excludes neurological causes, one can assume increased mobility of the epiglottis or arytenoid cartilage or traumatic dislocation of the vocal cord cartilage (forceps delivery).

Laryngitis. Pharyngeal stridor that suddenly appears against the background of a good medical history in children, as a rule, is a consequence of an acute upper respiratory tract infection and is usually diagnosed without difficulty.

Laryngospasm. It is necessary to exclude tetanic laryngospasm caused by hypocalcemia (in the recovery phase after rickets, with decompensated celiac disease, chronic renal failure and hypoparathyroidism). This stridor is also inspiratory, its sound is high-pitched, its course is paroxysmal or limited to a few breaths.

Inflammation of the epiglottis. Acute onset with pharyngeal stridor, accompanied by snoring sounds, more pronounced on exhalation than on inspiration. Laryngoscopy reveals an inflamed, bright red epiglottis.

Chronic hyperplasia of the tonsils. The proliferation of adenoids and chronic hyperplasia of the tonsils not only create an obstacle to nasal breathing, but also serve as a breeding ground for recurrent infections and cause a constant cough. In rare severe cases, they can cause hypoxia up to attacks of convulsions, the pathogenesis of which is not easy to determine.

Chronic tracheal stridor. Chronic stridor due to tracheal stenosis is inspiratory and, if the narrowing is very deep, then also expiratory. If the stenosis is localized below the bifurcation, the stridor is purely expiratory. Tracheal stridor, caused by a “soft trachea” or tracheomalacia, disappears as the cartilage rings strengthen by the 2nd year of life. Suspicious for the presence of a vascular anomaly as the cause of stenosis is stridor, which decreases in the position of opisthotonus and with the neck extended and increases with the neck bent, especially in cases where stridor is accompanied by symptoms of dysphagia, i.e. frequent vomiting with bouts of cyanosis during feeding and when vomiting. Tracheal stridor is characterized by a lack of relief during sleep.

X-ray reveals an umbilical retraction of the trachea and sometimes at the same height a retraction of the esophagus due to the crossing of the vessels in front of the trachea. In some cases, angiographically, a vascular anomaly is detected in the form of two aortic arches, with the right aortic arch connecting to the descending part of the left arch, which stretches the trachea and esophagus; or it may be a branch of the right subclavian artery as a. lusoria, which narrows the esophagus on its way to the area it supplies.

Tumors. As a cause of chronic tracheal stridor, tumors can only be diagnosed radiographically. Thymic hyperplasia in infants is not accompanied by chronic stridor.

Acute tracheal stridor. Acute tracheal stridor in children is often a complication of early-life upper respiratory tract infection. It is sometimes difficult to differentiate from foreign body aspiration. The clinical picture of acute tracheal stridor due to aspiration is divided into two phases:

1. Immediately after the child has eaten nuts or played with small toys, sudden severe coughing attacks occur, which can be repeated many times.

2. Gradually increasing coughing attacks (if the foreign body is not removed), later signs of pneumonia. a ringing sound upon percussion of one pulmonary field and significantly weakened breathing in the other.

Diagnostics

. radiographically, segment-shaped atelectatic darkening or lobar atelectasis, most often in the upper field of the left lung, swelling of individual areas of the lung due to valvular bronchial stenosis, which is accompanied by movement of the mediastinum during inspiration in the direction of the stenosis or expiratory obstructive stenosis. If a foreign body is detected and removed during bronchoscopy, this definitively confirms the diagnosis.

Dyspnea due to expiratory stridor

Tracheal croupous cough against the background of laryngotracheobronchitis in children, as a rule, begins with inspiratory stridor, which, however, when the deeper parts of the respiratory tract are affected, soon turns into expiratory stridor. The closer the cause of difficulty breathing is to the lung, the more clearly expiratory stridor becomes spastic in nature and the more likely it is accompanied by cyanosis (due to increased hemoglobin recovery) and leads to respiratory acidosis. This picture is typical for severe attacks of bronchial asthma. Spasmodic breathing with prolonged exhalation and quiet whistling, as well as small, silent wheezing, is characteristic of descending respiratory diseases in young children. Auscultatory and percussion data for bronchiolitis in an infant, asthmatic spastic bronchitis in a young child and bronchial asthma in an older child are identical (pulmonary emphysema, low diaphragm, very loud and sonorous percussion sound over all pulmonary fields): expiratory stridor, wheezing , whistling, buzzing and small-bubbly, unvoiced wheezing. Finally, symptoms of overload of the right heart up to congestive heart failure with enlarged liver.

The differential diagnosis should be made taking into account the age of the child (bronchial asthma is rare under the age of 5 years). It is also necessary to take into account that bronchiolitis and asthmatic bronchitis always develop against the background or following a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract, while bronchial asthma, in the presence of a tendency to allergic reactions, can also be provoked by mental factors (fear, stress), physical activity (sports, wild games ).

Pulmonary dyspnea

Respiratory disorders associated with lung pathology are characterized by cyanosis due to insufficient oxygen saturation of hemoglobin. If respiratory failure has been observed since the newborn period, it is necessary to exclude a lung malformation. It should be noted, however, that even agenesis of one lung may not be clinically manifested for a long time (except perhaps by shortness of breath during feeding) and is only accidentally detected during X-ray examination. Lung aplasia, in contrast to agenesis, we call a condition when there is still a remnant of the bronchus on the affected side.

Lobar emphysema. Symptoms of lobar emphysema (shortness of breath, stridor, constant cyanosis or attacks of cyanosis during exertion, reflex cough) appear already in the newborn period. This pathology is the result of underdevelopment of bronchial cartilage or the absence of elastic fibers in the affected pulmonary segment.

Diagnostics

. The radiograph shows swelling of one of the lobes of the lung (usually the left upper lobe) with displacement of the mediastinum; in the affected lobe, local atelectasis is possible against the background of multiple foci of increased transparency; the dome of the diaphragm is flattened. Dynamic radiological monitoring of mediastinal displacement is necessary in order not to miss indications for lobe resection. Differential diagnosis is carried out with cysts formed as a result of staphylococcal pneumonia. and congenital cysts.

Paresis of the diaphragm. Paresis of the diaphragm caused by birth trauma is diagnosed radiographically. It causes shortness of breath, is usually unilateral, and is often associated with ipsilateral nerve plexus lesions.

Lung diseases. Chronic pulmonary dyspnea in older children is often caused by lung diseases, which are accompanied by a significant reduction in the respiratory surface, a decrease in the elasticity of the lungs (pulmonary fibrosis, progressive pulmonary dystrophy) or, due to damage to the pleura, a decrease in respiratory excursion.

Diagnostics

. X-ray examination, pulmonary function tests.

Pickwickian syndrome. In severely obese children with this syndrome, alveolar hypoventilation occurs due to the high position of the diaphragm, which leads to a chronic or paroxysmal increase in PCo2 and a decrease in blood oxygen saturation. Reactive polycythemia, dyspnea, cyanosis, and bouts of drowsiness with short episodes of apnea complete the clinical picture.

All causes of acute pulmonary dyspnea, as a rule, can be identified by auscultation, percussion or, more reliably, x-ray.

Cardiac dyspnea

Cardiac dyspnea is of the expiratory or mixed inspiratory-expiratory type. Breathing is shallow, rapid, shortness of breath worsens when lying down; sitting the patient feels better (orthopnea); lack of air is sometimes felt paroxysmally (tachypnea of ​​the paroxysmal type). Moist rales are heard throughout the lung. The diagnosis is facilitated by characteristic symptoms: a large, dense, congestive liver (sometimes the spleen is enlarged), tachycardia, extrasystole, loss of pulse, edema, concentrated urine and proteinuria.

Metabolic dyspnea

Acidosis. With hyperventilatory type of breathing, acidosis.

Diagnostics

. smell of acetone from the mouth, acetone in the urine, acidic reaction of urine, metabolic acidosis according to the results of blood gas analysis. Causes of acidosis in children:

1. Ketonemia with intoxication, cyclic-ketonemic vomiting, diabetic precoma and coma, fasting, hypoglycemia, fever, thyrotoxicosis.

2. Uremia (renal failure, especially tubular disorders, with urine clear, alkaline or slightly acidic.

3. Poisoning (especially with salicylates).

Alkalosis. Dyspnea with rapid shallow breathing is suspicious for metabolic alkalosis.

Diagnostics

. blood has a high pH, ​​low standard bicarbonate, Pco2 is reduced, urine is alkaline.

The cause of alkalosis and associated respiratory disorders can be:

1. Indomitable vomiting (hypertrophic pyloric stenosis).

2. Frequent gastric lavage (without the introduction of table salt).

3. Hyperaldosteronism. Primary hyperaldosteronism (Conn's syndrome) is characterized by hypertension, hypernatremia and hypokalemia. In secondary nephrogenic aldosteronism, along with hypokalemia, hypochloremic renal acidosis usually occurs. Bartter's syndrome is not accompanied by hypertension.

4. Potassium deficiency syndrome.

5. Condition after forced diuresis.

6. Hyperventilation syndrome (respiratory alkalosis) with fever, heart failure, poisoning.

7. Psychogenic hyperventilation.

Cerebral dyspnea

Characteristic type of breathing: deep, rapid, irregular (Biot breathing) or periodic (Cheyne-Stokes breathing). The underlying disease is usually diagnosed by characteristic symptoms (encephalitis, meningoencephalitis, cerebral hemorrhages, space-occupying processes). It should not be forgotten that the immediate cause of periodic breathing can also be severe heart failure or an overdose of opiates.

Hypoventilation dyspnea

Due to the lack of characteristic symptoms, it is not easy to diagnose clinically. It often occurs in newborns who have suffered birth trauma and in children with respiratory distress syndrome. It may also be caused by weakness of the respiratory muscles.

Diagnostics

. blood gas analysis indicates respiratory acidosis.

Rare causes of respiratory problems

Wilson-Mikiti syndrome. In newborns weighing less than 1500 g, approximately in the third week of life, increasing shortness of breath, tachypnea, episodes of respiratory arrest, mild cyanosis, and progressive retraction of the compliant areas of the chest appear, as in respiratory distress syndrome.

Cause

. immaturity of the lungs, prolonged supply of oxygen under pressure during mechanical ventilation.

Diagnostics

. X-ray - reticular darkening and cyst-like clearing, especially in the recovery phase.

Idiopathic arteriosclerosis of early age. In the first months of life, the disease manifests itself as shortness of breath, tachypnea, increasing cyanosis, coughing fits, vomiting, and refusal to eat. Clinical examination reveals enlargement of the heart and signs of myocardial infarction on the ECG. Based on the listed symptoms, the picture of pneumonia becomes increasingly clear even without changes in auscultatory and radiological data. Histologically, obliterating and calcifying endarteritis is found.

Bland-White-Garland syndrome. At the 2-3rd month of life, due to heart failure, tachypnea and cyanosis occur during exercise, especially during feeding. The boundaries of the heart are expanded, the cardiac muscle is hypertrophied. The cause is an anomaly of the coronary arteries (the left coronary artery arises from the pulmonary artery).

Endocardial fibroelastosis. During the first 6 weeks of life, shortness of breath, pallor, cardiomegaly (usually no sounds are heard), congestive liver, and slight edema appear and increase. In chronic forms, starting from the second half of life, symptoms become more pronounced due to thickening of the endocardium, accompanied by cardiac hypertrophy (a consequence of intrauterine disease or viral myocarditis).

Cofferat's syndrome. Paresis of the diaphragm in newborns due to traumatic damage to the cervical plexus during childbirth when applying forceps or traction by the shoulders (in a breech presentation) is combined with Horner's syndrome and obstetric paralysis.

Kugel-Stoloff syndrome. Shortness of breath, jerky breathing, cyanosis, paroxysmal tachycardia, increasing heart failure due to cardiomegaly caused by myocardial dystrophy with interstitial fibrosis and fat deposition. There is no endocardial fibrosis. The ECG shows low voltage and prolonged P-Q interval.

Pompe syndrome. With glycogenosis type III, in the first half of life, increasing shortness of breath, cardiomegaly, and moderate hepatomegaly are noted. Other metabolic abnormalities accompanied by acidosis or central respiratory failure.

Ondine syndrome. In young children, the syndrome manifests itself with symptoms of progressive respiratory failure: cyanosis, respiratory acidosis, and, finally, a violation of the mechanism of automatic regulation of breathing. The cause is damage to central chemoreceptors or poor response to stimuli that stimulate breathing.

Alveolar pulmonary proteinosis. Progressive respiratory failure with tachypnea, cough, sometimes with fine wheezing, later cyanosis with polyglobulia and deformation of the fingers like drumsticks.

Diagnostics

. X-ray reveals finely spotted uneven darkening of the lungs without a root reaction, caused by intra-alveolar protein deposits and subsequent diffusion disorders due to the pathology of the alveolar integumentary cells.

Alveolar capillary block syndrome. Progressive shortness of breath, hyperventilation, tachypnea, cyanosis and fingers in the form of drumsticks, right heart failure with impaired capillary blood flow and gas exchange for various reasons.

Zelena-Hallerstedt syndrome. Attacks of shortness of breath with recurrent pulmonary hemorrhages and hypochromic anemia.

X-ray

. reticular pattern of the lungs in the root zone.

Hamman-Rich syndrome. Increasing shortness of breath, reflex cough with wheezing, tachypnea, cyanosis, polyglobulia, drumstick fingers due to progressive interstitial pulmonary fibrosis.

Julien Marie syndrome. Pulmonary dyspnea with whooping cough in infants due to reticuloendotheliosis with predominant damage to the lungs.

McLeod syndrome. Increasing shortness of breath and respiratory failure with recurrent bronchitis due to unilateral partial blockage of bronchioles (progressive pulmonary dystrophy syndrome).

Mounier-Kuhn syndrome. Constant shortness of breath with severe cough and recurrent pneumonia with congenital tracheobronchomegaly.

Women's magazine www.BlackPantera.ru: G. Everbeck

Cough in a child, symptoms, causes, treatment

Why does the child cough?

Cough is a protective reaction of the body caused by irritation of the respiratory tract. Irritation can be caused by various reasons. A cough occurs if a child chokes and pieces of food or some foreign body get into his windpipe. A cough can occur when mucus leaks from the nose and throat. A cough may be caused by a respiratory allergy. And cough is a characteristic manifestation of a cold.

What remedies can relieve a cough?

Depending on the pathogen that caused the disease and the child’s reaction to it, in some cases the cough is dry, obsessive, in others it is wet with sputum discharge. Accordingly, treatment should vary. With a dry, obsessive cough, it will be easier for the child if he is prescribed medications that soften the mucous membranes. The child coughs less when he is in a warm room with humidified air. If possible, during this period you should try to protect the child from changes in air temperature. If the cause of the cough is inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, gargling with soothing herbal decoctions (for example, chamomile, sage) helps. In some cases (with an obsessive painful cough), antitussives are used - drugs that suppress the cough reflex. Moreover, in some cases, for example, with the flu, they use drugs that reduce the irritability of the mucous membranes - libexin, levopront, and in others - drugs that suppress the activity of the cough center in the brain (sinecode, glauvent, tusuprex).

With a wet cough, it is necessary, on the contrary, to encourage coughing from the respiratory tract in every possible way. A wet cough occurs when phlegm accumulates in a child's respiratory tract. Sputum is an accumulation of mucus and pus formed during inflammation. Sputum contains microbes, and if the child does not cough it up in a timely manner, the flow of sputum into the deeper parts of the respiratory tract leads to the spread of infection.

“Cough remedies” for the most part help to cough up phlegm and only in this way ultimately help to stop the cough, i.e. they are intended “for coughing”.

These drugs include expectorant mixtures (licorice root extract, marshmallow theory decoction, thermopsis infusion, pertussin, etc.), which strengthen the cough reflex. Like any medicine, expectorant mixtures, if used in excess, can cause an undesirable reaction, in particular vomiting. Decoctions of a number of herbs have an expectorant effect: calamus, anise, primrose, violet, licorice, coltsfoot.

Another group of drugs used for difficult sputum discharge are thinning agents. These include a 2% solution of potassium iodide, which is given 1-2 teaspoons 3-4 times a day after meals in a glass of milk (as stomach irritation is possible), as well as a number of medications (mucaltin, bromhexine, fluimucil, lazolvan and etc.). Decoctions of some herbs have the ability to thin sputum: marshmallow, wild rosemary, valerian, sweet clover, flax, Icelandic moss, pine buds.

In order to reduce viscosity and improve the evacuation of sputum for laryngitis, tracheitis and bronchitis, inhalations are performed. The simplest option for inhalation is that the mother and child lock themselves in the bathroom and, turning on a hot shower, inhale hot, moist air.

Steam soda inhalations are also available at home. A preschool child is seated and held firmly on the lap of one of the adults. This is done in order to protect the child from burns. A pan with a pre-boiled 2% soda solution is placed on the floor between the adult’s legs (soda is added at the rate of 5 teaspoons per 1 liter of water). The adult and the child are covered with a blanket, and they inhale the steam for 5-10 minutes. Instead of a soda solution, a decoction of herbs, for example, violet, eucalyptus, and chamomile, can be poured into the pan. If the child is of school age, there is no need to restrain him. The child breathes directly over the pan or (better) through a paper funnel attached to the pan.

Vibrating chest massage also helps clear the throat. The child is placed on his stomach on a hard surface and with the edge of the palm light short tappings are performed along the entire back surface of the chest. After this, the child is asked to cough. It is advisable to carry out this procedure if the child coughs sluggishly, despite the presence of hoarse breathing.

Thus, prescribing symptomatic treatment for cough is a difficult task, requiring a differentiated approach. An expectorant that helped your child with one illness may be harmful if used routinely for subsequent illnesses.

When my child has a cold, he has a cough and shortness of breath. Does this mean he has asthma?

Maybe. Colds (aka upper respiratory tract infections) are the most likely cause of shortness of breath in infants and children under three years of age. Their small airways become easily inflamed and narrowed by infection. Most GPs will tell you that a child has asthma after several attacks or if the shortness of breath has been recurring for months or years. But whatever you call it, if your child is really having trouble breathing, he may need asthma medication. Bronchodilators (such as albuterol or Levalbuterol) are often taken through a nebulizer or inhaler to open the airways and make it easier for the child to breathe during an attack. You may need to take steroid tablets for a few days to relieve inflammation and dry out the mucus in your lungs. In addition, your child may need to take daily medication (tablets or inhalations) year-round, or at least during the winter months when colds are most likely, to protect the airway and prevent shortness of breath. With age, the airways will become wider and the problems may disappear. If someone in the family already suffered from asthma, allergic diseases or eczema, the child may still have symptoms of the disease and an official diagnosis of asthma will be made.

If you think your child is short of breath, tell your pediatrician. He will listen to your lungs and prescribe appropriate treatment.

What is RSV? Is it dangerous?

RSV is a respiratory syncytial virus. In older children and adults, it causes a severe runny nose, which happens almost every winter. In young children, symptoms of infection vary from mild symptoms of a cold to serious lung problems. This usually depends on age and previous health problems (prematurity, heart or lung disease). RSV is most common in winter.

In newborns and infants, RSV can travel to the lungs and cause capillary bronchitis, inflammation or infection in the tiny airways. As a result, the baby may have severe difficulty breathing, especially in premature babies or those with heart or lung disease. Such children who are at risk can be given a special vaccination with the drug "Synagis" to prevent RSV. It is done every month from October to April, when RSV is most common. Ask your pediatrician if your child needs this vaccine. There is no cure for RSV, only symptomatic treatment such as suctioning out nasal mucus. Even asthma medications, which are often used for shortness of breath, are unlikely to help relieve shortness of breath in the case of RSV. If your child has difficulty breathing, they may need to be admitted to the hospital to be given oxygen, airway treatment, or treatment for dehydration.

Call the doctor immediately if your baby has a cold and is breathing rapidly (more than 60 breaths per minute), you hear wheezing or whistling in the throat, you notice retraction (sinking of the skin above or below the ribs with each breath), if the baby cannot eat normally, drink or sleep.

Most children from one to three years old with RSV have a runny and stuffy nose. Capillary bronchitis sometimes develops (as in newborns and infants, as discussed on page 98), but after being examined by a doctor, home treatment is usually sufficient. RSV is a common virus, and if breathing is not difficult, the disease will go away on its own. RSV is extremely contagious, so it is better to keep your baby away from newborns and wash his hands often.

If your child wheezes or has difficulty breathing, call the doctor.

My child has a bad cough. Should I take him to the doctor? How do you know if it's pneumonia?

A cough is most often caused by mucus entering the nasopharynx during a runny nose, and not by pneumonia at all. How can you tell the difference? Usually, if a child has a runny nose and feels well between coughing attacks, you can simply keep him at home under your supervision. Although the cough sometimes does not go away for weeks, after 4-5 days there should be no worsening. But if the child has rapid breathing, the cough does not subside within a week or becomes stronger, or the temperature rises, it is necessary to show the child to the doctor. Sometimes a serious infection, such as pneumonia, develops this way. In this case, treatment with antibiotics may be necessary.

Call your doctor immediately if you notice signs of difficulty breathing—wheezing or wheezing, deepening of the skin above or below your ribs (retraction), a rising and falling belly with every breath, or chest pain. Also, make an appointment with your pediatrician if your child's cough keeps you up at night or if your child has a fever.

Many parents immediately associate this word with vomiting or diarrhea. However, regular flu, not stomach flu, is a respiratory illness. Symptoms include fever (usually above 39°C), body aches, sore throat, runny nose, cough and severe weakness. For a generally healthy person, feeling sick with the flu is perhaps the most disgusting thing he has ever experienced in his life. After about a week, symptoms usually disappear, but some children get worse (and have to be hospitalized. Unfortunately, the flu still claims thousands of lives every year. The best way to protect your family from the flu is vaccination. It is recommended for everyone starting at six months of age every year This can be a shot or a nasal spray, which is now recommended for children over 2. Don't worry, the vaccine won't give you the flu.

If you think someone in your family has the flu, contact your doctor as soon as possible. In some cases, he may prescribe an antiviral medication to reduce the symptoms of the disease and reduce the likelihood of infecting other family members.

Last night my child woke up with a terrible barking cough. What it is?

Usually a barking cough means croup. This is a viral infection that causes swelling of the upper respiratory tract, larynx, and trachea (but not the lungs). It causes a characteristic barking cough and hoarseness. Older children and adults usually have a loud cough and hoarseness or the usual cold symptoms. Since it is a virus, antibiotics will not help.

In children under three years of age, the inflammation is sometimes severe and even causes stridor, a loud whistling sound when inhaling, similar to shortness of breath. The illness usually peaks on the second or third night, so even if your child feels better the next day, take him to the doctor to see if any treatment is needed.

If your child begins to have stridor (wheezing, noisy breathing), walk him outside for 20 minutes on a cool evening or spend time with him in a steamy bathroom. A humidifier or spray bottle in the bedroom also helps.

If the stridor continues and your child's condition worsens, he has difficulty breathing, he cannot swallow, or his mouth is drooling, call the doctor or an ambulance. Your child may need steroid medications or special inhalation therapy to relieve inflammation and make breathing easier.

Does coughing at night keep you from sleeping?

If your nighttime cough is not accompanied by a fever or other symptoms, it may not be an infection at all. Coughing, especially at night, is a common symptom of asthma. Sometimes it also serves as a sign that with a runny nose or sinusitis, mucus gets into the throat when the child is lying down. This may be caused by an allergy or an infection (cold or sinusitis). A thorough examination by a pediatrician will most likely help determine the cause of the cough and prescribe the necessary treatment.

Sources: https://www.blackpantera.ru, https://www.sweli.ru/deti/zdorove/detskie-bolezni/kashel-u-rebenka-simptomy-prichiny-lechenie.html

Next articles:

  • A child has a persistent cough
  • The child has a cough forum
  • Cold cough in a child

September 10, 2020
No comments yet!

Features of treatment of tachypnea

Tachypnea, like an increase in temperature, is a sign of developing diseases, so treatment must be comprehensive. First, you need to determine the causes of rapid breathing, and for this, be sure to show your baby to the pediatrician.

Timely detection of signs such as tachypnea and increased body temperature makes it possible to prevent diseases and exclude the development of complications. Based on the symptoms that appear, the doctor will make a diagnosis and then prescribe treatment.

Before carrying out treatment, you need to make sure that it is appropriate. If the prescribed medications do not have a positive effect, you should inform your doctor. Parents often believe that nasal congestion does not pose a particular danger to their health, since all children suffer from a runny nose. Few people know that if a runny nose is not treated, it becomes chronic and also causes various complications in the form of rhinitis, laryngitis, otitis, bronchitis, etc. Providing timely assistance to a child can prevent the development of many serious types of illnesses.

Treatment of bronchitis in children according to Dr. Komarovsky – Pulmanologist

From the point of view of Dr. Komarovsky, only a doctor should treat bronchitis in children.

Main reasons

Viruses play the main role among the causes of bronchitis in children: adenovirus infection, respiratory syncytial virus infection, influenza and parainfluenza viruses. Bacteria, fungi, chlamydia and mycoplasma are of secondary importance.

Dr. Komarovsky also points out that the root cause of acute bronchitis in children in 99% of cases is viruses. The remaining one percent is shared by bacteria, fungi and allergens.

Clinical manifestations of bronchitis

Bronchitis is classified according to its course into acute, recurrent and chronic.

Dr. Komarovsky presents acute bronchitis as inflammation of the bronchial mucosa. The disease tends to heal itself and in typical cases the child is ill for no more than three weeks.

The main clinical manifestation of any bronchitis in children is cough. It can be non-productive or dry (without sputum production) and productive or wet (with sputum production).

The mucous membrane of the respiratory system constantly produces mucus, which is called sputum. It is difficult to exaggerate its protective properties in a child, since the high concentration of protective factors (immunoglobulins, lysozyme), as well as the movement of cilia covering the bronchial mucosa are the most important factors in the fight against microorganisms.

  • for adequate functioning of the lungs, sputum must have typical physical and chemical properties (normal viscosity, fluidity);
  • the discharge of normal sputum on time is an integral part of recovery.

Other symptoms of incipient bronchitis in children, such as runny nose, fever, general weakness, are typical in the initial stages of ARVI.

All these symptoms are a consequence of the inflammatory process in the bronchi and, naturally, are accompanied by increased sputum production.

So that it does not lose its physical and chemical normal characteristics, Dr. Komarovsky indicates the cleanliness and coolness of the ambient air in the room as a necessary component.

Unauthorizedly dried and warm air provokes drying of sputum and contributes to an increase in body temperature.

In this case, Dr. Komarovsky advises a large fluid intake, drawing another important conclusion: trying to drink as much as possible thins the blood and, accordingly, facilitates the removal of liquid sputum.

If body temperature rises significantly (in children more than 38 degrees), Komarovsky considers taking antipyretics justified.

About cough

Most antitussive drugs, in fact, do not stop the cough, but change it from dry to wet. Komarovsky assigns a separate necessary and important role to this transformation.

Coughing is a way of clearing the bronchi of excess pathological sputum. The names of these products are well known to everyone and they are mostly produced from plants.

Pharmacotherapy for cough (not of herbal origin) is also very effective, but is limited to a small (up to ten) list.

Treatment with expectorants for bronchitis reduces by an order of magnitude the likelihood of complications in the form of pneumonia in a child, but with strict observance of the following conditions: you need to drink a lot and often, and breathe clean, cool air.

Well-known information about the activation of bacteria when a child often suffers from acute respiratory viral infections is a great temptation for the use of antibiotics or sulfonamides on the part of both the doctor and parents.

Dr. Komarovsky recalls the increased likelihood of complications in children in the form of pneumonia when taking prophylactic antibacterial drugs for acute respiratory viral infections.

Antibiotic treatment is prescribed only by a qualified doctor.

Treatment of bronchitis

The decision where to provide treatment, in favor of a hospital or a clinic, is determined by a combination of factors. First of all, it is necessary to take into account the patient's age, symptoms and the actual severity of bronchitis itself.

Concomitant symptoms of respiratory and heart failure, the presence of obstructive syndrome are direct indications for hospitalization.

In addition to additional methods of physical examination (listening and tapping), for reliability, they resort to a clinical blood test and x-ray examination, which allows them to take the most correct approach to hospitalization and provide optimal treatment.

Uncomplicated bronchitis can be treated at home. In the absence of high temperature, a variety of physiotherapeutic procedures and massage are used. These actions clearly improve the quality of the healing process.

Is it possible to frequently bathe a child with bronchitis and can bathing relieve the symptoms of bronchitis?

Treatment is always more difficult than prevention, and therefore it is necessary to prevent the formation of dry crusts of mucus and give the child water, humidify the air and frequently ventilate the room, and inhale children in the presence of doctors. Dr. Komarovsky suggests that you can bathe a child after an illness.

Compresses for bronchitis

Compresses are classified as distracting procedures, and before treating bronchitis in children using compresses, Dr. Komarovsky suggests learning a few simple but very important rules:

  • compresses are not an immediate and necessary measure;
  • if there is not enough information about the method of implementation, do not use compresses in treatment;
  • If the child cries and resists, you should not use a compress or force treatment.

Indeed, warming compresses are often a common and completely harmless manipulation. Theoretically, the compress has three layers: wet inner, middle insulating and outer insulating.

Today, few adhere to the rules for making a compress, but a significant part of parents are confident in the speedy recovery of their children when using the technology of applying a compress. Typically, the regimen involves 4-8 hours of compress use and 1-2 hours of rest.

If you are unable to apply the compress, do not give your own children any unpleasant sensations - stop the procedure!

Source:

The essence of the disease

To understand this disease, it is necessary to look inside our body and see the mechanisms of the respiratory system. It all starts with the larynx, below which is the trachea. It is from the trachea that two bronchi extend into the left and right lungs. The bronchi are shaped like two pipes with many branches. The latter are responsible for supplying the lungs with oxygen.

When viruses enter the bronchi and begin to multiply there, the body reacts to the alien attack and local swelling and inflammation occurs on the mucous membrane.

The lumen of the bronchi narrows significantly and mucus forms in it, which is also a kind of reaction to irritants. Mucus and swelling become a barrier to air reaching the lungs, causing spasm to occur inside the bronchi.

This spasm forces us to cough and get rid of the mucus that has formed.

Dr. Komarovsky notes that it is these three main points (spasm, swelling, mucus) that lead to the diagnosis of bronchitis in children. The inflammatory process in the bronchi is also accompanied by additional symptoms - difficulty breathing, fever, weakness, wheezing in the chest.

Misconceptions

Komarovsky E. O. believes that the most common misconception regarding bronchitis is that it can occur due to hypothermia of the child’s body.

In fact, even a warmly dressed and healthy baby can easily catch a harmful virus while in crowded places (kindergarten, school, transport).

Another thing is that the virus most often begins to actively develop against the background of a viral infection, which is commonly called a cold.

The next misconception concerns the origin of the disease. In the vast majority of cases, bronchitis is viral in nature. Bacterial and fungal bronchitis account for no more than 1% of cases and they have a serious and dangerous course of the disease.

In addition, Dr. E. O. Komarovsky notes that doctors often mistake the drying out of the inner lining of the bronchi for bronchitis.

When a child has a runny nose and cannot breathe through his nose, but does it through his mouth, the walls of his bronchi dry out and this causes symptoms of bronchitis - dry cough, difficulty breathing.

To exclude such a moment from the alleged causes of the child’s painful condition, it is important to adhere to the basic rules. Dr. E. O. Komarovsky says that children need to be provided with plenty of fluids and monitor the temperature and humidity in the room.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of bronchitis in children should be carried out by specialists. Drawing conclusions on your own and starting home treatment is strictly prohibited. Especially if you are planning to give your child antibiotics. You should be extremely careful with this category of drugs.

The occupational therapist should listen to the patient's breathing. If he hears characteristic wheezing in the bronchi, spasms and other irregularities and difficulties, then a diagnosis of acute viral bronchitis can be made with a high degree of probability.

To be 100% certain, you will also need to take a blood test.

Bacterial bronchitis is diagnosed in the same way, but it can be suspected by additional external symptoms. With a bacterial infection, the child becomes very ill.

The temperature remains at critical levels, the children become weak and shivering. There is serious intoxication of the body. In this case, immediate hospitalization is required.

There is no talk of curing bacterial bronchitis on your own using home or folk remedies.

Useful tips

The main advice that E. O. Komarovsky is trying to convey to parents is that do not try to heal your child with pills, but help his body cope with the current situation. If your pediatrician strongly recommends antibacterial agents, do not hesitate to clarify why and ask for direct evidence of the need for such therapy.

Herbal teas and expectorant syrups can be prescribed as treatment aids.

They will help relieve unpleasant symptoms and are especially needed for frequent night coughs. Bed rest is not necessary for children if their general condition is satisfactory.

On the contrary, the horizontal position contributes to the stagnation of mucus in the bronchi and then the treatment may be delayed.

If your child has bronchitis frequently, try to understand why this is happening, rather than running for the next dose of medications to treat the characteristic symptoms. Perhaps the cough is allergic in nature.

Pay attention to household chemicals and food. And, of course, monitor the microclimate in the apartment. Ideally, the temperature should be within +18-+22°C, and air humidity 50-60%.

This can be achieved by frequent ventilation, installing a regulator on the battery and an electric humidifier.

"Obstructive bronchitis and its treatment"

This disease is a serious reason to turn to professionals and specialists. However, the video below is also suitable for home treatment.

Source:

Bronchitis in children, treatment, Dr. Komarovsky gives advice

Bronchitis. This word scares many people, especially if it concerns a child’s body. Often this disease is surrounded by a lot of speculation and is not entirely correctly perceived by adults. For this reason, treatment is often carried out incorrectly.

Therefore, first you need to understand what bronchitis in children is; Dr. Komarovsky advises treatment only after this! What else does the famous children's doctor recommend? Safe, non-drug treatment! What does it consist of?

Bronchitis or acute bronchitis in children: how does it appear?

Bronchitis or acute bronchitis in children can take hold of even the youngest organism. Doctors note that cases of illness in infants are not uncommon. The appearance of bronchitis occurs according to a rather complex pattern. But the famous children's doctor Komarovsky managed to talk about bronchitis in simple and understandable language.

Source: https://xn--2-gtbru.xn--p1ai/diagnostika/lechenie-bronhita-u-detej-po-doktoru-komarovskomu.html

Causes of dry cough

A dry cough and fever in a child are the very first and main symptoms of a developing disease. Before understanding the question of what the treatment of dry cough is, it is necessary to find out the reasons for its occurrence, as well as the main signs of the concomitant disease. A child may develop a dry cough due to the following diseases:

  1. Cold. With a cold, a runny nose most often occurs, and a dry cough occurs when signs of sore throat develop. A dry type of cough is formed due to the detection of signs of a sore throat.
  2. Flu and its complications. If a child gets sick with the flu, the first symptoms are a high fever and the development of signs of a dry cough. After some time, the cough reflex turns into a wet form, and a runny nose occurs.
  3. Reflux disease. This type of disease develops through the entry of gastric juice into the esophagus. In the esophagus, gastric juice irritates the mucous membrane, resulting in symptoms of a dry cough.
  4. Whooping cough. A disease that occurs in children and is accompanied by fever and cough. The disease is quite serious and contagious. The main symptom of whooping cough is the symptoms of a dry and spasmodic cough.
  5. Penetration of foreign objects into the area of ​​the larynx and respiratory tract. In this case, the child develops a dry cough, but the temperature remains normal. Only when inflammatory processes occur does the child’s temperature increase.
  6. Tracheitis. Symptoms of the disease are caused by the development of a strong and dry cough.
  7. Laryngitis. Laryngitis causes symptoms such as hoarseness and sore throat. The child’s temperature rises to 37.5-38 degrees, but not higher.

Only after determining the cause of the disease, which must be confirmed by the treating doctor, can one think about how to treat the disease. The diagnosis is made by the attending physician, and on its basis, appropriate treatment is prescribed. But first, you should understand in detail what constitutes a dry cough with fever in a child.

Cough with shortness of breath

Dyspnea refers to breathing difficulties that manifest as attacks. Often the patient's shortness of breath is accompanied by a cough. The situation is fraught with oxygen starvation, which can cause great harm to the body and cause the death of its tissues. The combination of cough and shortness of breath is accompanied by chest pain, pressing sensations in it, as well as bluish skin on the chest.

The following possible causes of cough in combination with shortness of breath:

  • acute and chronic forms of diseases of human organs and respiratory systems, these include bronchial asthma, pneumonia, chronic forms of bronchitis, as well as other diseases;
  • heart and vascular diseases;
  • often the reasons for what is happening are hidden in mental illnesses, which include a reactive form of psychosis, sepsis, claustrophobia, as well as other conditions observed in both a child and an adult;
  • exposure to external factors, such as allergic diseases, smoking, drug use;
  • advanced age of a person, due to which shortness of breath combined with cough is a natural reaction of the body.

Very often, drug use and smoking cause shortness of breath in young people. Unfortunately, even children are susceptible to this. When treating in this case, attention should be paid to eliminating the cause of what is happening. Only a competent doctor can fully understand such a situation.

Shortness of breath, cough with sputum

The combination of shortness of breath and cough with sputum is typical for people over 50 years of age who have previously smoked or are currently smoking. Very often, shortness of breath progresses; a cough may appear at the same time as it, or may occur after some time. The color of the sputum is pale gray, it appears in the morning or comes out throughout the day.

Shortness of breath combined with cough can also occur in a child. In most cases, the cause of this combination is the occurrence of a serious illness. This is exactly what happens in children; shortness of breath in a child is a sign of a chronic illness. The combination of shortness of breath and cough with sputum in a child should not be ignored.

A dry cough with shortness of breath is characteristic of acute bronchitis. It manifests itself in viral diseases such as whooping cough, influenza, measles. A dry cough with shortness of breath is accompanied by a burning, scratching sensation in the chest area.

Some sticky sputum appears three days after these symptoms appear. A sick person feels general malaise, weakness, severe chills, increased body temperature, as well as migraines and muscle pain.

Examination of the lung cavity shows the presence of scattered dry wheezing and harsh breathing.

If a dry cough continues for several days, while it occurs in attacks and is accompanied by sputum with mucus and pus, an increase in body temperature, rapid breathing and an increase in pulse, the acute form of bronchitis should be distinguished from bronchial pneumonia. It is characterized by dry wheezing, combined with moist, fine-bubble wheezing. In this case, cases of bronchial obstruction are common.

A dry cough with shortness of breath in a child indicates the need for urgent medical care. It is characteristic of many painful conditions, such as common diseases of the respiratory systems: asthma, pneumonia.

This can also happen with congenital heart defects, deficiencies, lung function, or poor airway patency.

If a child suddenly develops shortness of breath with a dry cough for no apparent reason, emergency medical care is necessary.

Paroxysmal cough with shortness of breath

Paroxysmal cough combined with shortness of breath in most cases is caused by inflammatory reactions, as well as chemical, mechanical and thermal factors. It can be caused by pneumonia, tracheitis, bronchitis, pleurisy, as well as the presence of foreign bodies in the trachea and bronchi. Various forms of pneumonia require separate consideration.

With lobar pneumonia, a paroxysmal cough during the first three days is painful and dry, then sputum with a rusty tint may be produced. At the same time, the body temperature increases, and the person suffers from severe chills.

Rashes are possible on the skin, sharp pain occurs in the chest when breathing, breathing becomes rapid and the person’s heartbeat quickens. A laboratory examination reveals a dullness of percussion sounds and increased trembling of the voice.

At the same time, breathing acquires rigidity, which was absent before.

With influenza pneumonia, a paroxysmal cough in combination with shortness of breath may first be dry, then it is accompanied by the release of mucopurulent sputum. From time to time there are inclusions of blood in it.

Influenza pneumonia is characterized by intoxication, which causes an increase in body temperature. The patient's general condition deteriorates sharply, and he experiences severe pain in the chest area.

In clinical cases, leukocytosis is observed, pulmonary edema develops, hemoptysis begins, and the patient’s breathing becomes heavy.

How to treat cough with shortness of breath

To carry out high-quality treatment of cough accompanied by shortness of breath, it is necessary to accurately determine the cause of the combination of these two factors.

It is imperative to find out exactly what caused these symptoms.

Full treatment without this is impossible; moreover, rash actions will only harm the patient and aggravate his already difficult condition.

It is also not advisable to take traditional medicine for treatment at your own peril and risk without the approval of such a measure with your doctor. They will not show proper effectiveness; at best, the effect of their use will be minimal.

If the cause of cough with shortness of breath is bronchial asthma, to correct the general situation, the inflammatory process in the bronchi should be eliminated. This can be done through regular use of anti-inflammatory drugs, inhalants, and cromoglycic acids.

If a child has a cough with shortness of breath, this is often due to the immaturity of the child’s respiratory system. The cause may also be asthma and respiratory diseases. Successful treatment involves identifying the exact cause of the disease.

Eliminating the disease itself, which caused the cough with shortness of breath, will relieve the child of unpleasant sensations. General relief of the sick child’s condition is also important. Cough with shortness of breath during bronchitis can be effectively eliminated by using means to dilate the bronchi.

These include Bronholitin. If difficulties arise with the removal of sputum from the respiratory system, it is recommended to take mucolytic drugs, which include Mucaltin.

If a child’s breathing is difficult due to asthma, it can be alleviated by taking Eufillin.

If a child’s cough with shortness of breath appears suddenly and its course is quite intense, it is advisable to call an ambulance for the child. Before her arrival, the child must be calmed down, placed on a flat surface, and the room ventilated. You should also empty his stomach and chest.

:

Bronchospasm

Asthmatic cough due to bronchitis

Tracheobronchitis

Severe pain when coughing

Cough due to pneumonia

Source: https://kashelb.com/lechenie-kashlya/437-kashel-s-odyshkoj

Symptoms of the disease

What to do if symptoms of dry cough occur in a child? Initially, you need to make sure that the cough is really dry, since the type of disease depends on its form. The following symptoms occur with a dry cough:

  • signs of a barking cough, the development of which is often caused by the penetration of a foreign body into the larynx area;
  • coughing occurs regularly, and does not depend on whether the child is resting or actively playing;
  • when coughing, there is no release of phlegm from the throat;
  • when coughing, there is a feeling as if something has gotten into the baby’s throat and he is trying to cough it up;
  • severe dry cough worsens, mainly at night;
  • symptoms become so severe that signs of nausea and vomiting may occur;
  • increase in body temperature, while the thermometer can show a value of 39 degrees and above.

Regardless of what caused the child to develop a dry cough and a temperature above 38 degrees, parents should take the child to the hospital or call an ambulance. What to do if signs of a dry cough develop in a child should be considered in more detail.

Features of treatment

Before carrying out treatment, you should definitely make sure that it is rational. To do this, you need to visit a doctor who will make the correct diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment. Treatment of a cold, the main symptoms of which are a temperature of 39, runny nose and cough, consists of the following measures:

  1. First of all, the doctor prescribes mucolytic drugs. The main advantage of these drugs is to combat dryness in the respiratory organs, as well as dilute mucus to remove it. After mucolytic therapy, the sign of the disease changes from dry to wet, that is, expectoration of sputum occurs.
  2. Use of expectorants. Such medications are due to their thinning properties, as a result of which there is an improvement in the removal of mucus from the respiratory system.
  3. Expectorant drugs that have a reflex property. With the help of such medications, the cough reflex is strengthened, whereby sputum is eliminated much faster, and the child recovers.
  4. At high temperatures, if the thermometer value exceeds 38-38.5 degrees, antipyretic drugs should be used. It is important to know that their use below 38 degrees is strictly contraindicated, since the immune system copes with the disease on its own.

If a frequent runny nose and cough continue to torment the child, and the temperature subsides only after the use of antipyretics, then it will be necessary to resort to antibiotic therapy. Children often suffer from colds, which are complicated by bacterial diseases.

It is important to know! Parents are strictly prohibited from using antibiotics on their own. After examining the small patient, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate antibiotic, which should be used strictly according to the prescription or instructions.

Parents treat a runny nose and dry cough at home using methods such as compresses, heating and mustard plasters. All these methods are quite popular and effective, but their use at fever is strictly contraindicated. Even minor symptoms of fever are a reason to exclude the use of traditional methods.

It is important to know! One of the popular methods of treating dry cough is the use of a nebulizer. It can be used at elevated and high temperatures, and also as the main drug for therapeutic therapy and prevention.

If parents independently treat their child, then at least they should imagine the danger of these actions. Treatment of a child using traditional methods is permitted in combination with drug therapy. If the disease goes from acute to chronic, it will be almost impossible to get rid of the cough. In addition, the development of complications such as bronchitis, pneumonia or a chronic form cannot be ruled out.

Treatment

A pediatrician must determine the cause of difficulty breathing in a child, and it is good if this is a pediatric otolaryngologist who diagnoses the disease based on taking an anamnesis, examining the young patient and ordering tests.

After making a diagnosis, the doctor prescribes treatment that will be aimed at eliminating the specific disease. Everything should take place only under the supervision of a specialist.

In this case, it is advisable to use general strengthening agents that help boost the child’s immunity.

Get rid of cough

Treatment of breathing problems begins with medications that reduce spasms and prevent the mucus from drying out in the larynx. This can be achieved by inhaling warm and humidified air, as well as additional portions of oxygen.

Inhalations containing mineral waters with alkalis or baking soda can help eliminate a severe cough. The solution can be prepared based on a decoction of medicinal herbs or add a few drops of aromatic oil to it: fir, eucalyptus or a ready-made collection.

Carrying out inhalations, as well as other thermal procedures, at elevated temperatures is unacceptable!

Distraction therapy is used, including:

  • use of mustard plasters (if the child is not allergic to them);
  • hot baths for feet or hands (you can also add essential oils to them);
  • general hot baths, including with various additives (for example, mustard).

To prepare a bath, hot water is used, the temperature of which is about 37 degrees, and the child is placed in it. Hot water is slowly added to the foot area (until the overall temperature in the bath rises to 39 degrees). Take such a bath for no more than 7 minutes, while the area of ​​the heart should be above the water level.

Eliminating allergies

If the cause of a heavy cough and heavy breathing is an allergy, you need to identify what is causing it and eliminate this substance. The source of allergies can be:

room dust;

  • mold;
  • down and feathers from pillows;
  • pungent odor in the room;
  • animal hair;
  • food products;
  • medications.

Allergies are difficult to treat, and absolute results are rarely achieved, although some types may subside with age. More often it is necessary to limit the child’s contact with the allergen, and if a reaction occurs, give him an antihistamine intended for children, or acceptable for use from an early age:

  • Cetirizine;
  • Claritin;
  • Cetrin;
  • Loratadine;
  • Allergodil and others.

Children's forms are most often produced in the form of syrups.

We fight bacteria and viruses

Man, woman, microbes. Immunity against viral microorganisms

When hard breathing is caused by bacteria and viruses, it is eliminated by combating the corresponding disease. For sore throat, otitis media and other infections, antibiotic therapy is prescribed in pediatric dosages. They eliminate the infection, thereby reducing symptoms and improving the condition of the respiratory system.

Viral diseases (such as influenza) must be treated with antiviral drugs:

  • Remantadine;
  • Orvirem;
  • Tamiflu;
  • Relenza;
  • Amiksin;
  • Cycloferon and others.

For children, antiviral drugs are most often used in the form of drops or syrup. At the same time, antihistamines are prescribed to help reduce swelling and mucus production.

Antitussive drugs must be prescribed:

  • Sinecode;
  • Panatus;
  • Stoptussin;
  • Glycodin;
  • Alex Plus;
  • Bronholitin and so on.

Depending on the type of cough, they help remove mucus or increase its expectoration. Drugs with a mucolytic effect are also used, which suppress cough centers in the brain, stopping spasmodic coughing (for example, Codelac Neo). However, their use is only permissible from 3 years of age.

In order for the treatment to be comprehensive, it is recommended to use vitamins that strengthen the immune system, a properly formulated diet with a sufficient amount of easily digestible proteins and a lot of light food with a small amount of hard fiber and sugars.

If croup is detected, treatment is carried out in a hospital setting.

Physiotherapy

Such methods are used more often at the recovery stage, when the main symptoms have already been eliminated. Physiotherapeutic methods include the following:

  1. Chest massage. It can be done by the mother, stroking the baby's chest and back with soft massage movements. Upward movements help improve mucus removal and ease the child's condition.
  2. UHF therapy. It has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic effects. Apply to the chest and upper back. Can be used from 5 years of age.
  3. Magnetotherapy. It allows you to reduce the inflammatory process, improve metabolism in tissues and enhance their renewal. It does not cause any sensations during the session and can be used even for small children.
  4. Electrophoresis. Often used for bronchitis, it greatly increases the effectiveness of treatment, helps to thin and remove mucus.
  5. Ultrasound. Enhances metabolism in tissues.
  6. Ultraviolet radiation. Helps quickly restore tissue structure and destroy painful microflora.

Preventive measures

Prevention methods are quite important when treating a sick baby. The basis of preventive measures is to ensure comfortable conditions in the room where the baby is located. To do this, it is necessary to increase the air humidity and also warm the room to 18-20 degrees. It is imperative to ensure that the room is regularly ventilated, which will speed up the healing process and reduce the number of pathogenic microorganisms in the air.

It is important to know! Fever is a sign of a developing disease, but it also has its negative sides. As the temperature rises, the amount of water in the body decreases, so it must be replenished.

It is recommended to drink the baby with juices, compotes, jelly, and milk. All types of liquids should be at room temperature, but not cold. Giving your baby soda, cola, or coffee is strictly prohibited. The baby should drink regularly in small sips. Regular dehydration will prevent the development of dehydration, accelerate the elimination of pathogenic microorganisms, and also improve the liquefaction of sputum for faster coughing. In addition, frequent drinking can speed up the healing of a runny nose.

It is important to emphasize that proper treatment at the initial stage of the disease can prevent the development of complications, as well as strengthen the immune system of a small patient.

Rating
( 1 rating, average 5 out of 5 )
Did you like the article? Share with friends: