Diseases of the respiratory system in humans

In the article "Diseases of the respiratory system in humans" you will find very useful information for yourself. Chronic diseases of the respiratory system can be caused by the pathology of any of its parts from the oral cavity to the smallest airways. For the appointment of adequate therapy, a thorough clinical examination of the child is necessary.

Chronic diseases of the respiratory tract can adversely affect the health of the child. Moreover, it can be both an independent disease and an integral part of chronic polysystemic pathology. These conditions should be differentiated from the common cold and cough that often occur in childhood. Symptoms of chronic respiratory disease include:

Some children are prone to respiratory illness due to the following conditions:

Neuromuscular diseases

Anyone with severe muscular dysfunction or bone deformities, especially with scoliosis (curvature of the spine), increased risk of hypo-ventilation of the lungs, a violation of the mechanism of purification from infection and progressive respiratory failure. To maintain respiratory function, adequate orthopedic care and regular physiotherapy are necessary.

Immunodeficiency

Exposure to infections can be associated with signs of chronic pulmonary pathology. When immunity weakens, severe infections are caused by atypical microbes. In such cases, an examination of the immune system is required.

If there is no response to usual medical procedures, the doctor should study the child's medical history in detail and conduct a thorough examination. Depending on the case history of a particular child, the following diagnostic procedures are prescribed:

The most common cause of symptoms on the part of the respiratory system in children is bronchial asthma. The disease affects approximately 11-15% of children and causes inflammation and spasm of the airways, which limits the flow of air into the lungs. However, not necessarily coughing or wheezing in a child means asthma. It is very important to differentiate asthma from other conditions. This will allow you to assign the right treatment. Among the causes of chronic respiratory diseases are the main three.

Gastroesophageal reflux

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is the passive throwing of gastric contents into the esophagus. Light GER is quite common - it causes symptoms of regurgitation of milk in infants. Severe GER can lead to adverse effects in the form of developmental lag, painful heartburn and respiratory tract damage due to inhalation of gastric contents. This disease is especially severe in infants and children of the first years of life. Diagnosis is based on measuring the level of acidity in the lower part of the esophagus within 24 hours. Normally, the acid content of the stomach should not enter the esophagus.

Bronchoectasia

Bronchoectasia is a pathological dilatation of the respiratory tract. This means that instead of narrowing the lumen of the bronchi as the branches branch out, their frozen enlargement is observed against a background of chronic infection and inflammation of the lung tissue. The most common cause of this condition is muco-viscidosis - a disease in which thick viscous mucus initiates the development of infection. Another reason is primary ciliary dyskinesia. As a result of dysfunction of cilia on the surface of cells lining the bronchi, a chronic infection occurs, since the lungs are not cleansed of the mucous secretions. Often the primary ciliary dyskinesia is associated with the reverse location of the internal organs, in which the liver is in the left part of the abdomen, the heart is in the right half of the thorax, etc. Criteria for diagnosis include changes in the radiograph, abnormal finger shape and developmental lag.

Inhalation of foreign body

Inhalation of foreign bodies often leads to acute respiratory failure, but sometimes the symptoms are less noticeable. Particularly at risk of foreign bodies entering the respiratory tract are children of the first years of life. Symptoms tend to develop suddenly. On the roentgenogram the most foreign body or indirect signs from the side of lung tissue are revealed. Chronic diseases of the respiratory tract are associated with the defeat of the tissues of the throat and nose.

Obstruction of the upper respiratory tract

Children often have an increase in tonsils and adenoids, which decrease with age. In severe cases, a child may suffer from a lack of oxygen at night, which leads to a change in the blood vessels of the lungs and heart failure. Symptoms of this condition can be loud snoring and breathing through the mouth.

Rhinitis and inflammation of the nasopharynx

Bronchial asthma and bronchiectasis are often accompanied by inflammation of the nasal mucous membranes and paranasal sinuses. Symptoms include discharge from the nose and sometimes a cough due to the flow of mucus down the back wall of the pharynx. There is evidence that the cure of these conditions improves lung function.