How to diagnose acute bronchitis in children

Acute bronchitis in children is a common type of bronchitis. No matter what type of bronchitis it is, it will affect our normal life. Only by finding out its cause can we better treat this type of disease. For those who don’t know, this is how to diagnose whether a child has acute bronchitis. Parents need to note that if you find that your child is in a different state than normal, you need to go to the hospital for examination.

Only by clearly knowing how to know if you have such a disease can you discover and treat it in time, so this is very critical for the treatment of the disease. Generally speaking, when you are suffering from a disease, you need to pay extra attention to your diet and lifestyle. So how do you diagnose acute bronchitis in children?

Acute laryngitis, trachea, and bronchitis are caused by viral or bacterial infection. Acute diffuse inflammation of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi. It is characterized by edema of the larynx and below the vocal cords, thick tracheal and bronchial exudates, and systemic poisoning symptoms. It mainly occurs in infants and young children, with the highest incidence in children around 2 years old. The incidence rate is higher in men than in women. It is more common in cold seasons. Bacterial infection often occurs on the basis of viral infection. The children present with fever, hoarseness, a cough with a characteristic sound called a barking cough, and difficulty breathing. Auscultation of the lungs revealed dry and moist rales. The onset is acute and the condition is serious. If not treated in time, serious consequences will occur.

Differential Diagnosis

1. Acute epiglottitis

The disease mainly affects the epiglottis, and the lesions progress rapidly. Severe laryngeal obstruction may occur within minutes to hours of onset, mostly due to infection with Haemophilus influenzae. During the examination, an enlarged cherry-like epiglottis was seen below the child's pharynx. Laryngoscopy and lateral laryngeal radiographs can assist in the diagnosis.

2. Laryngeal diphtheria

Diphtheria is an acute infectious disease caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Generally, a thin film-like white exudate or pseudomembrane can be seen in the tissues around the tonsils and pharynx, which is not easy to wipe off and can easily cause bleeding after scraping off the white film. The symptoms of laryngeal diphtheria generally develop slowly, and dyspnea and systemic poisoning symptoms become more obvious 2 to 3 days after the onset of hoarseness.

3. Foreign bodies in the respiratory tract

Most patients have a history of foreign body inhalation, and after inhaling the foreign body, they will have symptoms such as choking, coughing, and difficulty breathing. X-ray examination may show unilateral atelectasis or emphysema and mediastinal shift. If necessary, laryngeal or bronchoscopy is needed to assist in diagnosis.

The above introduces several methods for diagnosing acute bronchitis in children. Only by correctly understanding the diagnostic methods can we better confirm the diagnosis so that we can get treatment methods. Only when the disease is discovered in time and the treatment plan is implemented can it be cured faster. Recovery is what patients with childhood acute bronchitis hope for, and having a healthy body is very important.