02 | Parental guidelines

CHILDREN WITH

asthmatic bronchitis

Koncern Kvalitet the small bronchial tubes will con- tract.

Symptoms: ●● The child has typically had a cold Children with for 1-2 days ●● The child breathes rapidly and asthmatic begins to cough bronchitis ●● Squeaky breathing and/or wheez- ing ●● Some children find it very difficult to breathe and due to the extra General information: muscular work small indenta- Asthmatic bronchitis or wheezing tions will appear on the neck respiration is common in young and between the ribs, and/or an children in connection with a cold. It increased use of the stomach is usually caused by a virus infec- muscles can be observed tion where the mucous lining of the ●● Some children become agitated small bronchial tubes in the lungs and restless when an ‘attack’ is are swollen and irritated. This leads on the way, while other children to wheezing, squeaky breathing and become unusually quiet coughing. There is little passage in ●● The first symptoms may show as the small bronchial tubes because bad mood or loss of appetite of the swelling. ●● Coughing will often be worst at night. Some children will be wheezing almost every time they have a cold. For most children, this problem Good advice: disappears by the age of 2 -4 years ●● Passive smoking is the worst that when the airways are bigger. children with asthmatic bronchitis However, a few children will develop and asthma can be exposed to asthma, where the muscles around

Bronchial tubes with muscous Normal bronchial tubes ●● Air out a couple of times a day or Contact your general practitioner as needed e.g. after cooking and first because he/she knows your after having made the beds. It is child better than the doctor on call. important for the child to be in a You can also get good advice and room where the air is fresh guidance from your health visitor. ●● It is good for the child to get outside even if wheezing a little. Avoid taking your child out in Treatment: foggy or damp weather if possible The cold that has led to asthmatic ●● The child can breathe more easily bronchitis cannot be treated. if its head is elevated. It also helps Do not give the child cough medi- the child to change position, sleep cine because it can make it harder on both sides, to sit up, move to cough up the thick mucous, which around and play as much as possi- increases the risk of pneumonia. ble. This loosens the mucous and makes it easier to cough Asthmatic bronchitis is treated with ●● Make sure the child is not too asthma medicine: warm ●● Asthma attack medicine. Relaxes ●● Offer the child something to drink. the muscles of the bronchial Liquids make the mucous thinner tubes. and easier to cough up ●● Preventive medicine. Is anti- ●● Always wash your hands after inflammatory and should be given having been in contact with the daily also when the child does not child’s snot. have any symptoms.

There are different ways of admin- When to see a doctor? istering the medicine; as a spray Contact a doctor if the child: from a “spacer” or as tablets. ●● has difficulty breathing You may give the child painkillers as ●● gets blue nails or lips, which is agreed with a doctor. a sign that there is not enough oxygen in the blood ●● runs a high fever and its breathing Childcare: is rapid and wheezing The child can go back to childcare ●● is more tired and weak than usual or school when the fever has gone, ●● refuses to drink and cannot pee when breathing is not difficult any- ●● makes you worry or feel insecure more and when the child does not Normal bronchial tubes need painkillers anymore. Parental guidelines

These guidelines have been prepared by a working group set up by the departments of paediatrics in Herning, Randers, Skejby and Viborg.

The intention with these guidelines is to provide parents with advice across the following sectors: health visitors, general prac- titioners family doctors, doctors on call, and the staff at paediatric admission wards in the Central Denmark Region.

The parental guidelines can be seen and downloaded from the internet on the web site www.fv.rm.dk

You may order additional copies from Rikke Dalsgaard, Koncern Kvalitet, Central Denmark Region, Skottenborg 26, 8800 Viborg. [email protected]

Juni 2017 Grafisk Service 3236 Grafisk Service

Koncern Kvalitet Skottenborg 26 DK-8800 Viborg www.regionmidtjylland.dk