Inhalation with bronchitis: how not to hurt the child?

Inhalation for bronchitis in children is an effective way to ease breathing, reduce coughing and speed up recovery. In the article, we will tell you how to correctly perform inhalation for a child, what means to choose and what to pay attention to so that the procedure is safe and effective.

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Pediatricians insist that children under the age of 7 should not take any inhalations without consulting a doctor. However, with more adults, you also need to be careful so as not to worsen the child's condition.

WHAT IS STEAM INHALATION

All of us, well, or almost all of us, in childhood, under the supervision of our mother or grandmother, inhaled the steam of boiled potatoes or decoctions of various herbs - this was how we were treated for coughs, which did not always penetrate into the ego's nature. In fact, a cough is a protective reaction of the body to the excessive production of mucus in the respiratory tract, a way of getting rid of its excess. The doctor diagnoses "bronchitis" after listening to the child's breathing, and its essence is the inflammatory process of the mucous membrane of the bronchi, most often as a result of a viral infection.
When a child breathes warm steam, mucus, which provokes a cough, is actively moistened, its physiological composition changes, and it is easier to get rid of sputum. Thus, the cough does not disappear, but becomes more productive, and sputum is coughed up more efficiently, and relief comes faster.

Caution!

Parents should remember that the process of moistening dried mucus is accompanied by an increase in its volume, so steam inhalation can cause airway obstruction in children, and the risk is higher the younger the child.

Source: Instagram @csmedica

WHEN IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO INHALATION WITH BRONCHITIS

Since the purpose of steam inhalation is to moisten sputum, to facilitate its discharge, it is possible to breathe warm moist air in the case of diseases of the upper respiratory tract, including acute respiratory infections and bronchitis, but only if the child has a normal temperature and there are no signs of bacterial infection (weakness, pallor of the skin).

HOW AND WHAT DO INHALATIONS TO A CHILD

1. The simplest, although not the most convenient, method is to heat water (or boil potatoes) in a saucepan, cool it a little. Sit the child at the table, cover his head with a thin towel and let him breathe in the warm steam.
2. The second option is to use a watering can, which is put on the spout of the kettle, and let the child breathe.
3. A more convenient and safe option is an industrial electric steam inhaler, the principle of operation of which is the same as with a pot, but there is a special limiter (mask) that helps direct the flow of steam to a sore throat.

Important! The temperature of the solution for inhalation of a sick child should not be higher than 42-45 degrees, otherwise you can damage the delicate mucous membrane of the respiratory tract.

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WHAT DO INHALATIONS DO FOR BRONCHITIS

In principle, it is quite enough to use water heated to the required temperature for steam inhalation. But it is quite possible to use a soda solution - a decoction of calendula, chamomile, eucalyptus leaves (but not essential oil) helps to soften a dry cough. Steam inhalation with saline is considered one of the safest.

The duration of steam inhalations for bronchitis should not exceed 5 minutes at a temperature of no higher than 42-450 C

Source: Fotolia

Inhalation for bronchitis with soda

Dilute 3/4 teaspoon of soda in 1 glass of water and heat to 42-45 degrees. Inhale twice a day for 2-4 minutes.

Inhalation for bronchitis with eucalyptus

Pour 1 liters of boiling water over 0,5 tablespoon of crushed eucalyptus leaves, let it brew for 30-40 minutes, strain, let it cool to a temperature of 45 degrees. Let the child breathe for 3-4 minutes 1-2 times a day.

Important: neverdo not add medicinal preparations to the solution, including expectorants, unless prescribed by a doctor.

WHAT IS A NEBULISER?

Steam inhalation for bronchitis is difficult to call a treatment, rather, this method will ease the condition of a coughing child and help the body cope with the disease. However, there are situations when it is necessary to deliver the medicine directly into the respiratory tract — this is possible, for example, with pneumonia or bronchial asthma. It is clear that in this case we are not talking about any self-medication, only the doctor makes the appointment. For treatment, not steam is used, but an aerosol of a medicinal substance, the smallest particles of which penetrate into hard-to-reach areas of the lungs and bronchi. In order to create an aerosol, the drug is not heated, but crushed with the help of special devices - nebulizers.

There are several types of nebulizers, the doctor should recommend which one is right for you.

Ultrasonic nebulizer. An aerosol from the liquid is created with the help of high-frequency vibrations of the piezoelectric crystal, which are transmitted to the liquid medicine, spraying it.

Compressor nebulizer. Creates an aerosol cloud with the help of a sufficiently powerful flow of air through a small hole in the chamber of the device containing the treatment solution.

Electronic mesh nebulizer. The device produces an aerosol by passing the drug through thousands of microscopic holes in the membrane vibrating in the ultrasonic range. The most modern device, which is most often recommended for inhalation by children.

Source: Fotolia

WHEN YOU SHOULD NOT GIVE INHALATION TO A CHILD

Most pediatricians are of the same opinion - it is impossible to do inhalations for children under one year:

• With an elevated body temperature, even if the baby has 37,5 0C.
• Without prior consultation with a doctor, especially if the child is less than 7 years old.
• If the child is prone to allergies, especially hay fever, do not use the herb for inhalation.
• Inhalations are contraindicated for children prone to nosebleeds.
• With cardiovascular insufficiency and arrhythmia

THE MAIN RULES OF INHALATION FOR BRONCHITIS

• The procedure can be done half an hour after the child's active games.
• Do inhalation 1-2 hours after eating and do not feed the child for 1 hour after the procedure.
• Do not talk during and after inhalation (at least 30 minutes).
• You can drink after inhalation no earlier than after half an hour or an hour.

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