Children's bronchitis is a common disease in pediatrics, with a incidence rate of 24.5%~55.7%. It is a major disease affecting children's health. After the occurrence of bronchitis in children, symptoms such as fever, phlegm, and cough may appear, which makes many parents very worried and do not know what to do to make their children's breathing smoother. The author will introduce what childhood bronchitis is and how to take care of it, hoping to help everyone.
First lecture: What is bronchitis in children?
Childhood bronchitis belongs to respiratory system diseases, and its pathogenesis is mainly directly related to mycoplasma, bacteria, and viral infections. A small number of children are caused by harmful substances stimulating the bronchial mucosa. Childhood bronchitis is mainly divided into two types: the first type is acute bronchitis. Mainly due to direct stimulation from infections and harmful substances. Children with acute bronchitis have a short course of illness, and after standardized treatment, their condition can be significantly improved. The second type is chronic bronchitis. There is still significant controversy regarding the classification of this disease in children, mainly related to the widespread presence of respiratory system diseases in children, which affects the bronchi and leads to its long-term existence. The criteria for determining chronic bronchitis in children can refer to the definition of chronic bronchitis in adults. If a child's illness lasts for more than 2 years and symptoms such as coughing persist for more than 3 months each year, and there is inflammation in the bronchi, it can be diagnosed as chronic childhood bronchitis.
The etiology of childhood bronchitis is not only related to pathogenic factors and harmful substances stimulation, but also to the incomplete development of children's respiratory system. The nasal mucosa of children is very soft and has short passages, which reduces their ability to autonomously clear harmful substances from the respiratory tract and makes them more susceptible to infection and pathogens. In addition, children's immunity is relatively low, and they are prone to suffer from infectious diseases when they are overtired and catch cold.
The symptoms of childhood bronchitis mainly include two aspects: (1) respiratory system symptoms: chest pain, expectoration, cough, difficulty breathing, etc. (2) Symptoms outside the respiratory system: fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, etc.
When you feel that a child's physical health is abnormal, you should immediately send them to the pediatric department of the hospital for examination, timely diagnosis, and receive professional treatment.
Lecture 2: How to carry out nursing care for children with bronchitis?
After the occurrence of bronchitis in children, many children may feel difficulty breathing, mainly because inflammation repeatedly stimulates the respiratory mucosa, thereby increasing its secretions and forming phlegm that blocks the respiratory tract, which is not conducive to the child's breathing. The nursing work for children with bronchitis mainly includes the following aspects. If effectively implemented, it can significantly alleviate the symptoms of the child.
Firstly, a good air environment. Children's respiratory tract is very sensitive, their body's resistance is weak, and they are easily affected by external air. Smoking contains a large amount of toxic and harmful substances. If family members smoke frequently, it can lead to a deterioration of the air environment at home, stimulate children's airways, and increase their infection rate. So if there are children at home, family members must quit smoking, not smoke around children, and fulfill their caregiving obligations. It should be noted that air fresheners and perfume also contain many toxic and harmful substances, which may cause adverse irritation to human airways, so they should also be avoided as far as possible.
Secondly, disease monitoring. Children with bronchitis are prone to changes in their condition, and if neglected, they may progress repeatedly. Therefore, parents must pay attention to the symptoms of their children, pay more attention to their consciousness, breathing, and temperature changes, and inform medical staff in a timely manner to ensure early detection and treatment.
Thirdly, sputum clearance. Childhood bronchitis can cause a large amount of phlegm to appear in the airway of the child, which must be cleared in a timely manner. On the one hand, it is beneficial for the child to breathe smoothly, and on the other hand, it can reduce the repeated stimulation of inflammatory tissues in the sputum on the airway, which is beneficial for drugs to directly reach the lesion and accelerate the recovery of the disease. (1) According to the doctor's instructions, it is necessary to ensure that the child takes the medication in full dosage and on time in order to improve their condition as soon as possible. (2) Cooperate with the doctor to perform nebulization treatment on the child. (3) Children with severe conditions may require the use of instruments for suctioning sputum and even lung lavage. Parents must follow the doctor's advice, agree with various treatment measures, and actively cooperate.
Fourth, dietary intervention. After the occurrence of bronchitis in children, many children experience a decrease in appetite. Family members must encourage them to drink more water, ensure adequate intake of fruits and vegetables, and consume sufficient vitamins and minerals. Attention should be paid to eating less sweet, spicy, and stimulating foods during the illness period to avoid worsening the condition of the child.
Fifth, exercise. A good body can better resist diseases, so parents should assist children in actively exercising in their daily lives and improve their immunity through moderate exercise.
Sixth, seasonal defense. The occurrence of bronchitis has obvious seasonal characteristics. It can be found that the incidence rate of children is the highest in autumn and winter. This is mainly because the cold air in autumn and winter will stimulate the airway of children, and the family ventilation frequency will also be reduced, which will easily infect various respiratory diseases and increase the incidence rate of bronchitis. So parents must take precautions in autumn and winter, ventilate frequently, keep warm, and let their children wear masks when entering and leaving public places.
If a child has bronchitis, do not panic. Proper care can make the child's breathing smoother. I believe that through my introduction, everyone now knows what childhood bronchitis is and how to properly take care of it. If you have any further questions, be sure to seek help from reputable medical institutions and have medical staff come up with solutions together.