Bronchitis and bronchiolitis in the baby: differences, symptoms, treatment and how to prevent them

Many children spend the first years of their lives with recurrent bronchiolitis or bronchitis and continuous antibiotic treatments that debilitate your still immature immune system.

This is the case of little Marc, two years old, who has already had more than eight episodes of bronchitis. The crises begin as a cold with a clear runny nose. present spasmodic cough, major obstruction, and respiratory discomfort. Antibiotic treatment leaves him despondent. He has barely recovered, a new episode begins.

It is a typical example and unfortunately quite common. A study published last March 2021 in the journal respirology shows that the recurrent bronchitis in children they end up weakening the tissues and opening the door to chronic respiratory pathologies. How can we stop this vicious circle?

follow some habits and preventive treatments can prevent crises due to bronchitis in the smallest and stop its evolution to more serious chronic pathologies such as asthma or bronchiectasis.

Bronchitis or brochiolitis: what is the difference?

It is necessary to distinguish between bronchitis and bronchiolitis, and obtain a good diagnosis, because although both pathologies lead to inflammation of the airwaysThere are important differences:

The bronchiolitisan inflammation of the bronchioles or branches of the bronchi, It usually affects infants and children under two years of age.while bronchitis, inflammation of the bronchi, can appear at any age, both in young children and in young people or adults. Both bronchitis and bronchiolitis They are mostly caused by viruses and, to a lesser extent, due to bacterial infections and are very common in winter. However, bronchitis can also have other causative agents such as smoking, exposure to air pollution and allergies.There’s also differences in symptoms. In bronchitis, cough with or without mucus, chest pain, dyspnea, and fatigue with or without fever are common. In bronchiolitis the initial signs are the same as those of a common cold, butAfter 2 or 3 days the cough increases and wheezing appears which can translate into considerable respiratory distress.

It is common for parents to focus solely on the symptoms that their child presents and seek a pharmacological remedy, without first trying natural remedies or thinking that a change in environmental conditions may be the key to avoid these respiratory infections.

Let’s see what are the best natural remedies that we can test for bronchitis and bronchiolitis, as well as what preventive treatments and measures we can adopt and keep in mind before thinking that medication is the only solution.

Bronchitis and bronchitis: natural treatment

When the first symptoms of bronchitis or bronchiolitis appear, it is necessary to adopt a series of measures to prevent the infection from progressing and require more aggressive treatments.

Make sure your child drinks plenty of fluids to promote fluidization of mucus. You can add in each glass of water a tablespoon of honey, a few drops of propolis and the juice of a lemonnatural antibiotics that reduce inflammation in the respiratory tract.Eliminate dairy, especially cow’s milk, as they generate inflammation and mucus. Replace this food with natural juices that include carrots, apricots and spinachrich in beta-carotene.Inhalations are very useful. In a saucepan of boiling water add 4 or 5 drops of one or two of the following essential oils: Canada balsam, eucalyptus, thyme either marjoram. Next, have the child inhale the vapors, after having put a towel on his head to channel the steam. Repeat the procedure 3 or 4 times a day. Do not use vapors on babies. Only from 8 months of age can you safely use these essential oils.Mustard plaster. It helps to open the bronchi, promotes the elimination of phlegm and improves congestion. To make it, mix one part mustard flour with three parts wheat or spelled flour. Then add warm water to form a consistent mass. Introduce the preparation between two cloths and apply the compress to the child’s chest, monitoring the temperature. Let her act for 20 minutes.Phytotherapy. Syrups with medicinal plants such as plantain, marshmallow, thyme, propolis and echinacea, together with the amino acid N-acetylcysteine, are frequently used as expectorants, to help expel mucus and calm the cough that causes bronchitis. They are very effective, but they are not recommended in children under 12 months.Trace elements. take a combination of manganese, copper, zinc and magnesium three times a day is also a great help in overcoming respiratory infections. There are ampoules that incorporate them in the appropriate doses. They can be taken from the first month of life.Schussler salts. Like the trace elements, they can be taken by newborns without any contraindication. To clean the mucus from the bronchi and bronchioles, the Salt No. 6: Kalium sulfuricum. They dissolve easily in water or other liquid. In acute states, 2 tablets will be administered three times a day. Older children can take them sublingually.

How to prevent bronchitis and bronchiolitis in children and babies

On the one hand, we can adopt a series of measures to take care of the environment, since some common factors favor its appearance and aggravation.

On the other hand, we can carry out preventive treatments with natural medicine: with vitamins, minerals, immunostimulating mushrooms and trace elements.

1. Preventive measures that can be taken at home

The quality of the air we breathe at home and the levels of stress to which the child is subjected are fundamental factors. For all this it is convenient:

Reduce environmental pollution. Living in a city with a high level of pollution is already a risk factor in itself. But if, in addition, people smoke at home, the possibility of our baby suffering from recurrent bronchitis during the first years of life increases considerably, as shown by a study published in the journal Annals of pediatrics last June.
Smoke irritates and inflames the mucous membranes. and also destroys defense mechanisms. Children are often victims of this environmental aggression inside the home. You have to avoid smoke at home, as well as ensure that children play outdoors and breathe in clean environmentsbecause that helps them strengthen the defenses and prevent respiratory infections.Reduce your exposure to noise. A study published in the journal NoiseHealth points out that children subjected to high noise exposure at night (54-70 dB) have significantly increased concentrations of cortisol (the stress hormone) in morning saliva, indicating activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This situation leads, in the long term, to a aggravation of bronchitis.
The study concludes that this stressor is even more important than the effect of pollution by traffic fumes.Take care of the temperature and humidity in the home. Wet weather, cold months, and sudden temperature changes are a causative factor in seasonal viral outbreaks. It is important Avoid having very different temperatures between the different rooms of the home, as well as remove sources of moisture in the place where the child sleeps.Address family conflicts. Emotional tensions between parents, a separation, the birth of a sibling, the loss of a relative… are situations that even the youngest children perceive and suffer in silence. Many bronchitis have their origin in that emotional stress that causes an increase in cortisola factor that weakens defenses and encourages infections.

2. Natural treatment to strengthen defenses

We do not have to wait for our children to fall ill to treat them. The most suitable is start already in autumn with the taking of some natural supplements that will help them strengthen their defenses, especially if they are prone to respiratory infections.

Each child has its peculiarities, so It is advisable to consult a natural medicine professional to prescribe the most appropriate products. Among the most used for the prevention of bronchitis we highlight the following:

Minerals and vitamins. On the market there are children’s syrups that include the most effective for strengthening immunity. The usual dose for prevention is 10 ml daily during the months of October to March. There are no contraindications and it is a supplement suitable for both babies and older children. They highlight the zinc (10mg), the manganese (1 mg), the copper (0.25mg), the selenium (0.05 mg), and the group B vitaminsespecially B6 (2 mg).Probiotics. A balanced intestinal microbiota is essential to enjoy a good immune system. Children who have been born by caesarean section, premature babies and whenever breastfeeding is not maternal, it is advisable to incorporate this supplement, either in the bottle or in half a glass of water. The Lactobacillus rhamnosus GGthe Bifidobacterium infantisthe Bifidobacterium longum and the Streptococcus thermophilus They are the most recommended for children from 0 to 12 years old.Vitamin D3. It is essential both for bone development and to enjoy a competent immune system. As a preventive measure, it is recommended that children from 0 to 11 months at risk of recurrent bronchitis take 400 IU per day, while those from 12 to 18 years of age the dose is 600 IU. Although, of course, these amounts must be adapted to the personal circumstances and deficiencies of the child.medicinal mushrooms. Starting at age 2, take a combination of reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), maitake (leafy grifola) and shiitake (Lentinula edodes), at a rate of 0.5 ml per kg of body weight per day, is a very good option in children with recurrent infections.Homeopathy. Homeopathic remedies can be used in babies from the first month of life and are very effective both in treating acute bronchitis and in preventing it. Ipeca, Antimonium tartaricum, Blatta orientalis, Nightshade, Aviarie, Thuya, Silicea… are some of the most used. But in this case it is necessary to go to a homeopath to prescribe the most appropriate.

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