Focus pneumonia, or bronchopneumonia, is an inflammatory disease that affects small areas of the lung. Most often, bronchopneumonia develops in young children (up to 2-3 years). In today's article, we will talk in more detail about this ailment, consider the symptoms, causes and methods of treating pathology. Recommendations for the treatment of bronchopneumonia by such a well-known pediatrician and TV presenter as Evgeny Olegovich Komarovsky will also be given.
Broncho-pneumonia in children requires adequate and timely treatment, otherwise the outcome of the disease can be sad. Therefore, parents should take this disease seriously and take action at the first symptoms of the disease.
Causes of pathology
Bronchopneumonia, or focal pneumonia, develops in children when exposed to various bacteria and viruses. Most often, such an illness is preceded by infections of the upper respiratory tract. For example, it can cause diseasebronchitis or SARS. The most common pathogens are streptococci, pneumococci and many viruses.
Pneumonia can also develop when food enters the respiratory tract, squeezing the lungs with a tumor, inhaling toxic gases, and also as a result of surgery.
Broncho-pneumonia symptoms
In children, this pathology is manifested by the following symptoms:
- pale skin;
- weakness;
- fatigue;
- headache;
- cough (both wet and dry) with sputum;
- short of breath;
- palpitations up to 110 beats per minute;
- wheezing when listening with a stethoscope;
- leukocytosis (an increase in white blood cells);
- increased ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate);
- an increase in body temperature to 39 ºС.
Inflammation tends to be concentrated in the bronchioles and is present in either both lungs (most often) or one of them. Based on this, the child is diagnosed with right-sided bronchopneumonia, left-sided or bilateral. It is possible to detect foci of inflammation only with the help of x-rays. Most often in pediatrics, bilateral bronchopneumonia occurs in a child. With timely treatment, such a pathology is successfully treated.
The most dangerous bronchopneumonia in children without fever, although this condition is quite rare. The fact is that it is this form of the disease that most often remains withoutattention of parents. Due to the lack of adequate treatment, the process is delayed and aggravated. Parents should be alert to any deviations in the behavior and well-being of the child. This is the only way to detect the disease and start treatment on time, thus protecting the baby from serious consequences.
Possible Complications
With timely and high-quality therapy, the child will recover after 2-3 weeks. If the treatment is delayed or carried out incorrectly, bronchopneumonia can provoke serious complications, namely:
- purulent otitis media;
- serous, or purulent, pleurisy;
- pericarditis;
- myocardial dystrophy;
- jade.
Broncho-pneumonia in children: treatment
In such a difficult period, the baby needs special attention and proper care. This disease is very serious, so parents should definitely know how to treat bronchopneumonia in children.
Based on the results of blood tests and x-rays, the doctor will be able to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment. Therapy is aimed primarily at resorption of inflammatory foci. Antibiotics should be prescribed only in severe cases - this is exactly what the well-known pediatrician E. O. Komarovsky insists on. Bronchopneumonia in children, if provoked by viral diseases, should be treated with antiviral drugs. Antibiotics in this case will not only be ineffective, but can also provoke serious complications. Butin some situations, one cannot do without such potent medicines. If the temperature of the child is very high, there are signs of intoxication of the body, the child is weakened, the use of antibiotics is justified. However, only a specialist should prescribe the required dose of the drug. Self-medication can threaten not only the he alth, but also the life of the child. Dr. Komarovsky also points out the expediency of physiotherapeutic procedures and adherence to a diet. Regardless of whether the child has right-sided bronchopneumonia, left-sided or bilateral - treatment should be comprehensive and symptomatic, depending on the cause of the disease.
Home Therapy
Treatment of a typical form of bronchopneumonia can be carried out at home, treatment of more complex cases should be carried out in a hospital. This is due to the fact that the outcome of some forms of the disease can be fatal, so the constant monitoring of a specialist is very important. If bronchopneumonia is diagnosed in children, treatment should begin with a visit to a pulmonologist (a specialist in lung diseases). After consulting with a doctor, folk remedies can also be used to treat the disease.
Alternative medicine
To improve the well-being of the child and speed up the recovery process, traditional medicine recipes will help.
Honey and birch buds
750 g of buckwheat honey (if there is none - you can use regular honey) heat over low heat, bring itto a boil. Add 100 g of birch buds to honey. Stir the mixture thoroughly and hold for 7-8 minutes on low heat. After the mass, strain and cool. In a glass of boiled water, dilute a teaspoon of the resulting composition and give the child 30 minutes before bedtime.
Plantain
Collect plantain leaves, wash them thoroughly, wring out and dry for some time. Then spread a large towel or sheet on the bed and spread plantain leaves in an even layer on top. Put the baby on top of them with the back, attach the remaining leaves to his chest. Then wrap the child well with a woolen blanket and leave it like that all night. This procedure should be carried out as many times as necessary.
Tar water
Pour 500 ml of medical tar into a sterile 3-liter jar, top up with boiling water, close tightly and leave for 9 days in a warm place. Give a teaspoon of the resulting composition to the child at bedtime. The taste of the product is not very pleasant, so the baby can eat something sweet after it, the main thing is not to drink the medicine with water.
Garlic
In a clean plastic cup, make a few holes with an awl. Peel the head of garlic and finely chop. Put the mass in a glass and let the child breathe over it for 15 minutes. It is recommended to carry out such a procedure as often as possible.
Honey compress
The skin of the child in the area of the lungs should be well smeared with honey. In a solution of water and vodka (in a ratio of 1: 3), soak cleanfabric and attach on top. Then wrap the treated area with cling film and wrap with a woolen cloth. Twice a day, the compress should be changed to a new one.
Regimen and diet
At the initial stage of the disease, bed rest is recommended. Be sure to ventilate and do wet cleaning daily in the room where the child is. After the body temperature returns to normal, it is allowed to walk in the fresh air. However, it is important to be careful and prevent hypothermia of the baby. After 2-3 weeks after recovery, hardening procedures can be resumed, physical activity - not earlier than after 5-6 weeks.
There are no food restrictions. It is important that the diet is balanced, with a high content of vitamins and proteins. It is necessary to ensure that meals are frequent and fractional. You should know that babies are more prone to dehydration than adults. This threat is especially high against the background of elevated body temperature. Therefore, it is necessary to provide the child with a sufficient amount of fortified liquid, it can be warm fruit drinks, compotes, herbal teas, non-cold mineral water.
Physiotherapy treatment is recommended to start after the body temperature is normalized. Inhalations with medicines that facilitate breathing and promote sputum discharge, as well as chest massages, will be useful.
Preventive measures
To prevent a disease like bronchopneumonia in children,it is important to follow the rules of personal hygiene and lead a he althy lifestyle from early childhood:
- wash hands regularly with soap;
- keep a balanced diet;
- get enough time for physical activity;
- observe sleep and rest.
Conclusion
Broncho-pneumonia in children is, of course, a serious disease, but it can be successfully treated if all the recommendations of a specialist are followed. Parents always need to be on the alert and pay attention to the slightest changes in the child's condition. Take care of your children and be he althy!
