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Bronchitis means an inflammation of the
mucous membrane lining the bronchi and bronchial tube. It
is a breathing disorder affecting the expiratory
function. In most cases , some infection also occurs in
the nose and throat.
The bronchi are narrow tubes leading from the windpipe(
or trachea) connecting the upper respiratory tract, nose,
throat and sinuses, to the lungs. It is usually the
spread of an infection downwards from the nose and throat
to the bronchi, that causes bronchitis.
Bronchitis is the most common disease of childhood next
to indigestion and diarrhoea. It is especially prevalent
in children who are just starting to mix with other
children at playgroup or nursery school. They have no
in-built immunity till then to all the infections they
are likely to contact for the first time. And, so,
coughs, colds and bronchitis can occur with monotonous
regularity in his age group, particularly in allergic
children.Symptoms
Bronchitis may be
acurte or chornic. In chronic cases, the disease is of
long duration. It is more serious than the acute type, as
permanent changes may have occured in the lungs thereby
interfering with their normal movements.
In most cases of bronchitis , the larynx, trachea and
bronchial tubes are acutely inflammed. The tissues are
swollen due to irritation. Large quantity of mucous is
secreted and pourted into the windpipe to protect the
inflammed mucous membranes. There is usually a high
fever, some difficulty in breathing and a deep chest
cough. Other symptoms are hoarseness and pain in the
chest. The breathing trouble continues till the
inflammation subsides and mucous is removed.
Causes
The chief causes
of bronchitis in children is run-down condition of the
system due to wrong feeding habits. The consumption of
excessive quantities of starchy foods in their daily diet
in the form of refined cereals, white bread, puddings,
pies and cakes as well as sugary foods in the form of
white sugar, jams and sweets, in particular, leads to
weakening of the child’s system. The impurities
which arise in the system as a result of the daily
excessive ingestion of foods of this nature invariably
affects the mucous membranes of the upper part of the
body, especially in the bronchial tubes, throat, nose and
air passages. This gives rise to bronchitis and other
diseases of lungs and throat.
Treatment
The child-patient
should be kept in a room with warm and even temperature.
He should not be given any solid foods till the acute
symptoms are present. He may be given plenty of fruit
juices. Orange juice diluted with water will be
especially beneficial. In case of constipation, the
child-patient should be given warm- water enema to
cleanse the bowels. If he shows reluctance, a glycerine
suppository may be applied. Often this simple treatment
is all that is needed for a mild attack. Steam
inhalations will be valuable, if the wheezing is
pronounced and particularly troublesome. A kettle of
boiling water kept in the room for a while can moisten
the atmosphere sufficiently to give relief.
After the acute symptoms are over, the child may be given
milk, other liquid foods and fresh fruits for further one
or two days and thereafter he may be allowed to gradually
embark upon a well-balanced diet, according to his age.
He should avoid meats, sugar, tea, coffee, condiments,
pickles, refined and processed foods. He should also
avoid soft drinks , candies, ice-cream and all products
made from sugar and white flour.
Certain home remedies have been found useful in the
treatment of bronchitis. One of the most effective of
these is the use of the turmeric powder. A quarter
teaspoon of this powder should be administered with 30
ml. of milk two or three times daily. It acts best when
taken on an empty stomach.
Another effective remedy for bronchitis is the mixture of
dried ginger powder, pepper and long pepper taken in
equal quantities of a quarter teaspoon three times a day
with honey. The powder of these three ingredients have
anti-pyretic qualities and are effective in dealing with
fever accompanied with bronchitis. They also tone up the
metabolism of the patient.
Onion has been used as a food remedy for centuries in
bronchitis. It is said to possess expectorant properties.
It liquifies phelgm and prevents its further formation.
The intake of half a teaspoon of raw onion juice first
thing in the morning will be beneficial in such cases.
A soup prepared from drumstick leaves is also highly
beneficial in the treatment of bronchitis. This soup is
prepared by adding a handful of leaves to 150 ml. of
water which has been heated to a boiling point. The water
is allowed to boil further for five minutes. It should
then be removed from fire and allowed to cool. A little
salt, pepper and lime juice may be added to this soup.
This drink should be taken first thing every morning.
Hydrotherapy can be employed beneficially in the
treatment of bronchitis. Hot towels wrung out and applied
over the chest are helpful. After applying three hot
towels in turn for two or three minutes each , one should
always finish off with a cold towel. A wet pack or
heating compress may also be applied to the upper chest
several times daily in case of acute conditions. The
procedure for this application has been explained in
Appendix . In acute cases, full warm bath for 10 to 15
minutes will be beneficial. In irritable cough with
expectoration, sipping very hot water, and gargling with
hot water will be useful. In painful cough, hot
fomentation should be applied to the chest and throat
every two hours, followed by heating compressed. Copious
drinknig of hot water will also be beneficial in both
acute and chronic cases of bronchitis.
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