Bronchiolitis is a very common respiratory disease in 1 and 2-month-old babies, usually caused by a virus. Find out what its symptoms are, what it consists of and what the treatment is like.
The health of our children is a subject that gives us many headaches, especially if they are growing up. And if we talk about babies, the concern is greater because we find ourselves with an extremely vulnerable being.
It is precisely this condition that puts you at risk of suffering from a myriad of diseases, so we must be alert to know how you react to certain stimuli or if you complain too much for some unknown reason.
What is bronchiolitis?
Perhaps you have never heard of bronchiolitis, a disease that causes inflammation of the small bronchi of your baby and that has negative repercussions on the intricate network of channels that holds the trachea together with the lungs.
This causes this system to divide, weakens the bronchi and turns them into fine tubes, which eventually become the so-called “bronchioles”. It is there where an exchange between clean air and polluted air is generated.
That is, there is a clash between the pure oxygen that is sucked in from the air with the carbon dioxide that should be released by the breathing process and the work that the respiratory system naturally performs.
This condition can commonly be mistaken for a simple cold due to the presence of cough and mucus. However, it is a much more complex ailment that will eventually bring complications at the respiratory level.
What are your symptoms?
The first symptoms can occur quite aggressively for two or three days, but you have to be very closely with the specialist doctor to precisely differentiate this from a simple cold, and be able to attack it.
However, we can summarize below what are its main symptoms:
- Shortness of breath, wheezing or wheezing, and rapid breathing.
- The baby’s ribs seem to sag when the child tries to inhale.
- Convulsive cough.
- Fatigue.
- Bluish skin as a result of lack of oxygen.
- Opening of the nostrils in babies.
Some scientific studies associate Bronchiolitis with breastfeeding. That is to say, babies who have not been exclusively fed with mother’s milk are at greater risk of suffering from this terrible disease.
There are times of the year when the disease occurs more easily, especially during winter and when spring is just beginning. In fact, it is believed that 70% of babies who are breastfeeding may be breastfeeding.
There are several types of Bronchiolitis…
It is common to find two types of bronchiolitis. On the one hand, we must mention viral bronchiolitis, the most common and the one that mostly appears in babies.
On the other hand, we find obliterative bronchitis, a rare and dangerous disease in adults in which scarring (and not inflammation) is the culprit of blocking the air ducts, causing the closure of the affected part of the lung.
And how is it treated?
The first thing to keep in mind is that the baby should have control with his pediatrician. The specialist is the one who will have the last word on the treatment and some additional suggestions.
The administration of drugs that dilate the bronchi is the most common, especially if it is a bacterial bronchiolitis. This drug is prescribed for seven to ten days.
When the disease is water, the intake of fluids will favor the condition impressively. This is because in this way the flow of mucus is improved, therefore its expulsion and better breathing.
Essential oils such as eucalyptus, frankincense, marjoram, sandalwood or thyme are very useful for the natural treatment of Bronchiolitis. Simply put these oils to heat in water and inhale their vapors.
Do not administer cough syrup if you are in the presence of Bronchiolitis. This is because coughing is a natural reaction of the body that seeks to expel mucus. Eliminating this symptom would result in letting the phlegm build up.
