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In general, asthmatic bronchitis or wheezing is common in small children who have a cold. It is usually caused by a virus infection where the mucous lining of the small bronchial tubes in the lungs is irritated or swollen. As a result, this leads to wheezing, squeaky breathing and coughing. Some children, if not almost, are wheezing every time they have a cold. Although this problem disappears by the age of 2 – 4 years old when the airways are bigger for most children, however, a few of them tend to develop asthma where the muscles around their small bronchial tubes contract.

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SYMPTOMS OF ASTHMATIC BRONCHITIS IN CHILDREN

Often, the symptoms of asthmatic bronchitis in children include coughing (often with mucus), wheezing (a whistling sound when breathing out), shortness of breath, chest tightness or pain, and difficulty feeding. In more severe cases, you may see retractions where the skin between their ribs or neck sinks in with breathing, or signs of increased heart rate and sweating. In childhood asthma, the lungs and airways become easily inflamed when they are exposed to certain triggers. Such triggers, in addition, include inhaling pollen or catching a cold or other respiratory infection.

Bronchitis and asthma are two inflammatory airway conditions. Acute bronchitis is an inflammation of the lining of the airways that usually resolves itself after running its course, which is caused by viral or bacterial infections. Chronic bronchitis, which is longer lasting, can be triggered by long-term exposure to environmental irritants such as tobacco smoke, dust, or chemicals. Simply put, when asthma and acute bronchitis occur together, the condition is called asthmatic bronchitis.

Moreover, the symptoms of asthmatic bronchitis are a combination of the symptoms of bronchitis and asthma. The child who suffers from asthmatic bronchitis typically has a cold for 1 – 2 days where rapid breathing, coughing, and wheezing begin to occur. Perhaps, some children find it very hard to breath due to the extra muscular work and small dimples appear on their neck or between their ribs. However, there are others who become agitated and restless when an ‘attack’ is on the way. Whatever it is, the first symptoms of asthmatic bronchitis in children can be manifested through a bad mood or having a loss of appetite, and their degree of persistent coughing will often be worst at night.

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TYPES OF TREATMENT FOR ASTHMATIC BRONCHITIS IN CHILDREN

Asthmatic bronchitis treatments are essentially the same as those used to treat asthma and bronchitis. In the case of children’s asthmatic bronchitis, it is recommended that they should not be given the kind of cough medicines because the side effect can make it harder for them to cough up the thick mucus, which increases the risk of pneumonia.

Asthmatic bronchitis is treated with asthma medicines. There are different ways of administering the medicines as a spray from a “spacer” or as tablets. Bottom line, you should contact a doctor or your general practitioner immediately if your child:

● Has difficulty in breathing.

● Gets blue nails or lips, which is often a sign that there is not enough oxygen in the blood.

● Has a high fever and their breathing is rapid and wheezing.

● Is more tired and weak than usual.

● Refuses to drink and cannot pee.

● Makes you worried and you feel insecure.