Bronchitis and Pneumonia In Children, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

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What is bronchitis and pneumonia? What are the symptoms, causes, treatment of bronchitis and pneumonia in children?

Bronchitis; There are all degrees of bronchitis, from very mild with no fever, to severe. Bronchitis simply means that a cold has spread down to the bronchial tubes. There is usually plenty of cough. Sometimes you can hear faraway squeaky noises as the child breathes, and feel the vibration of the mucus as you touch his chest.

A very mild bronchitis, without fever, without much cough, without loss of appetite, is only a little more serious than a nose cold. However, if the child acts sick, or coughs frequently, or has a fever of 101 °F, the doctor should be reached that same day, because modern drugs are of great benefit in cases that require them.

Bronchitis and Pneumonia In Children - Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

The young infant who has a frequent cough should be examined whether he has a fever or not, because in the first month or two of life there can be serious infections without fever. In the meantime, you don’t need to worry if his appetite and general appearance are satisfactory.

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Pneumonia:

Pneumonia usually comes on after a child has had a cold for several days, but it may start without any previous warning. You suspect it when the temperature climbs up to 103 or 104 Fahrenheit (39-40 °C),the breathing becomes rapid, and there is a cough. Vomiting often occurs at the beginning, and there may even be a convulsion in a small child. Modern drugs bring about a prompt cure of the ordinary types of pneumonia if treatment is started early. Naturally, you call the doctor if your child develops a fever and cough.

There are also unusual types of pneumonia, most of which are probably caused by fUtrable viruses. In many of these “atypical” pneumonias, the child is less sick, though the disease may last a long time.

***This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a doctor warning or recommendation.

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