It mainly affects younger children and can take some time to resolve. Here’s how to behave while waiting for healing.
There is an infection, called bronchiolitis, that makes many moms worry. Younger children, up to 6 months of age, are mainly affected, and the disorder it triggers is congestion that can make breathing difficult.
Fortunately, this is a solvable problem, but to avoid complications it is good to know how to behave.
The causes
Bronchiolitis is an infection of the bronchioles, the terminal part of the airways inside the lungs.
In most cases, it is triggered by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a widespread microbe with which almost all children come into contact within the first two years of life.
Contracting the infection is very simple: as in the case of the flu or the common cold, it is sufficient to breathe contaminated droplets emitted into the air by coughing, sneezing or talking, or touching contaminated objects (for example toys) then carelessly passing your hands over eyes, mouth or nose.
In the case of the newborn, getting sick is easier due to the immaturity of both the immune system and the lungs.
However, other risk factors also make infection more likely, such as being born prematurely, suffering from heart or lung diseases, being immunosuppressed or coming into contact with other babies, who could be carriers of the virus.
Symptoms
Typically, the symptoms of bronchiolitis explode during the winter. The inflammation and swelling of the bronchioles caused by the infection are associated with mucus buildup and cold-like symptoms: stuffy or runny nose, cough, and sometimes fever.
In the 2-3 days following their onset these first symptoms may worsen until the appearance of shortness of breath and wheezing, and are sometimes associated with an ear infection (otitis media).
Generally in the presence of these problems the doctor recognizes bronchiolitis simply by auscultating the child’s lungs with the stethoscope; However, other tests may be necessary, such as blood tests, chest X-rays and nasal fluid analysis.
Therapy
In most cases it is not necessary for the newborn to be hospitalized. Mom and Dad can take care of it at home simply by attempting to relieve symptoms by following your doctor’s advice.
The antibiotic is needed only if in addition to the viral infection responsible for bronchiolitis there is also a bacterial infection.
Not even antivirals are prescribed very often: doctors, in fact, reserve them only for the most serious cases.
In all other cases, adequate hydration will probably be prescribed combined with the use of a saline solution to rid the baby’s nose of excess mucus. There are two types of salt solutions, depending on the concentration of salts. The following table shows its characteristics.
Saline concentration | Function | |
---|---|---|
Isotonic solution | 0,9% | Decongests and moistens mucous membranes and thins nasal and bronchial secretions |
Hypertonic solution | 3% | It allows to recall by osmosis the excess water contained in the edematous cells, thus helping to remove thickened mucus |
Your doctor may also prescribe the use of bronchodilators.
Useful tips
For a newborn to recover from bronchiolitis, it may take anywhere from a week to a month.
In the meantime it is good to make him drink a lot (both breast milk and artificial milk are suitable for this purpose) and adequately humidify the environments in which he stays, in order to promote the fluidification of mucus.
The child should be kept as upright as possible, perhaps sitting in his egg, so as to facilitate breathing. It is also good to avoid exposing the child to tobacco smoke and pay attention to any worsening of breathing difficulties; In case of severe breathlessness, apnea or cyanosis it is best to take it to the emergency room.
Finally, as long as the child is sick it is good to make sure that he does not transmit bronchiolitis to those around him, paying attention to even the most trivial hygiene rules, such as washing hands after taking care of him.
Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.
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