Bronchitis is one of the most common ailments that children suffer from. Causes of the ailment in children depend on whether the case is acute or chronic. Generally, the symptoms of acute bronchitis include sore throat, low grade fever, running nose, severe coughing etc. Wheezing and shortness of breath accompanied by other symptoms indicate the presence of chronic bronchitis when the cough has lasted for more than three month in the past 12 months’ time.
Viral pediatric bronchitis is caused by viruses
The same virus that is responsible for the common cold is also the one that caused viral pediatric bronchitis. These viruses are usually transmitted from person to person; most often, the transmission occurs from sick kids to healthy kids through their hands. School going children can use hand sanitizers during high-risk seasons or wash their hands often and stay away from sick kids to avoid getting pediatric bronchitis. There is no cure for viral pediatric bronchitis but its symptoms can still be treated and eased through the use of expectorants, cough suppressants, pain relievers and other over-the-counter medications.
Chronic Pediatric Bronchitis is caused by inhalation of irritants
When a child has been suffering from chronic bronchitis and a cough has lasted for more than three months in a year’s time, it is most likely caused by exposure to outdoor air pollution, presence of irritants in central heating or central air conditioning and exposure to second-hand cigarette smoke. In fact, two most common irritants that cause chronic pediatric bronchitis are air pollution and cigarette smoke. In these kids, the inflammation in the airways is caused by common airborne irritants found in harmful fumes and dust. Apart from cough relief medication, expectorants, cough suppressants and pain relievers, chronic bronchitis patients need to be kept away from impure air for full recovery.
Pediatric bacterial bronchitis is caused by bacteria
Pediatric bronchitis is also caused when a child breaths in airborne bacteria or when an existing sinus infection spreads to the chest and turns into a bacteria bronchial infection. The child’s pediatrician will recommend antibiotics to cure pediatric bacterial bronchitis though the choice of antibiotics is likely to depend on the medical history of the child and that of his/her family.
Pediatric allergic bronchitis is caused by Allergens
Children who suffer from asthma have known allergies are also susceptible to bronchitis. Allergic bronchitis results from the child’s immune system being hypersensitive to mold spores, dust, pollen or other allergens. Allergic bronchitis is treated with expectorants and antihistamines that help ease the symptoms of the allergies as well as bronchitis.
