Treatment of laryngotracheitis in children at home

Among the complications of viral infection, one of the most formidable is acute stenosing laryngotracheitis. This disease is called a false croup, because its symptoms resemble diphtheria croup. The baby also has a characteristic cough, shortness of breath. But unlike diphtheria, which develops gradually and begins with an increase in lymph nodes, an attack of false croup is always out of the blue.

And to react in this case it is necessary very quickly. The article "Treatment of laryngotracheitis in children at home" will help you cope with difficult tasks in solving this problem.

The development of acute laryngotracheitis, or false croup, is associated with the peculiarities of the structure of the larynx in children. The larynx is part of the upper respiratory tract, through which the air stream rushes into the trachea and moves further to the large and small bronchi. It is in this place, thanks to the special structures - the vocal cords - that a voice is formed. The structure of the larynx in children is such that the bottleneck lies just in the area of ​​the ligaments, more precisely, of the subglottic space. The earliest symptom of false groats is hoarseness. The mucous membrane lining the larynx in children is very friable, which predetermines the propensity to swell. The disease affects children from 6 months to 6 years, although most often the false cereal develops at the age of 2-3 years. If the baby has ever had a history of acute stenosing laryngotracheitis, you should be careful: seizures can recur!

Dangerous Symptoms

The insidiousness of false groats is that it occurs most often at night. This is due to the peculiarities of the position of the crumbs and the change in blood circulation in the throat area. The most frequent sign of impending adversity is a cough: dry, obsessive, barking or high-tone. The baby becomes restless, his voice becomes hoarse. You will understand that the child's breathing is disturbed: it can be noisy, sobbing or whistling. Do not wait! Even one or two symptoms are a reason for calling an ambulance. At some point, you may think that the baby has calmed down. But be careful! The stage of development of false croup is such that "silence and tranquility" is rather bad than good. Urgently call a doctor!

First aid

To help the baby need help as soon as possible, and you can do it! Calm it down. The more restless the child, the more intensively the phenomena of respiratory failure increase. Take a deep breath and relax: the children feel the mood of the mother and your anxiety will be reacted by the aggravation of the problem. Take the baby on your hands: this way you will improve the lymph drainage from the larynx and provide the crumb with a sense of security. Take care of the influx of fresh air. If you're afraid of drafts, open the window or window in the next room. It's good if the air is cool and moderately wet (wet sheets can be hung on batteries). The temperature in the nursery should be 18-19 degrees. Be careful with medicines! If the baby has a fever, he can take one age-related dose of febrifuge. To exclude the allergic component, you can also give him a single dose of antihistamine. Regarding the use of hormonal drugs and no-shpah consult with your doctor.

How to proceed

False groats have a certain staging and severity. The ambulance doctor's job is to determine if the child can be at home or should be taken to a hospital. Do not be surprised if you are offered hospitalization. You should understand that even a short-term violation of the breath of a crumb can lead to very tragic consequences. Think carefully before you refuse hospitalization: you must be firmly sure that you can cope with the attack yourself. As a rule, children with acute laryngotracheitis are taken to a multidisciplinary hospital, where there is an intensive care unit. If the disease does not respond to treatment, and the baby gets worse, it can be transferred to the intensive care unit. Do not worry! You should know that hormonal drugs are the most effective way to combat the false croup. Do not be scared if the doctor appoints them to the child. As a rule, babies are prescribed low doses of hormones, and a short course. Now you know how to treat laryngotracheitis in children at home.