Bronchitis

Its been two weeks already and I am still recovering. Usually the cough get worst at night when it gets cold, sometimes I even cry because I cant sleep due to the coughing. Now after a week of medication it has subsided a bit, flu is gone and I'm a sleeping beauty at night.

So what is bronchitis? Bronchitis can be defined as a respiratory condition where the lining the trachea and the bronchial tubes leading to the lungs and become inflamed, producing an abnormal amount of mucus.

What causes Bronchitis
Bronchitis often manifests itself on the tail end of a cold and therefore is most likely caused by a virus rather than bacteria. When a viral infection is the cause of bronchitis, antibiotics do not help this condition. It is common in children, symptoms of Bronchitis present themselves after a cold or even the flu.
Prolonged exposure to secondhand smoke from cigarettes and other tobacco products can lower the immune system of children, inviting more colds, thus inviting Bronchitis as well.

Symptoms of Bronchitis
Symptoms of Bronchitis in children typically start with the common cold, so sore throat, coughing, mild fever and runny nose are all signs. You will also notice that with the cough that accompanies a cold, it may start off dry but as it turns moist, it could be a sure sign of Bronchitis developing.

Other notable symptoms are shortness of breath and wheezing. Do take note however asthma also shares these symptoms, please do consult your pediatrician to make an accurate diagnosis if this occurs.

Remedies of Bronchitis
With the onset of symptoms of Bronchitis in children, you should immediately make an appointment with the doctor to determine that Bronchitis is indeed the culprit.

Fluids such as warm water, juice and warm soup are all great at soothing the cough as well as thinning the mucus secretions so that they are easier to expel.

Original article can be found here.