Laryngotracheitis in children, symptoms, causes, treatment, diet. Treatment of laryngotracheitis in children

The respiratory tract is a kind of gateway through which viruses and bacteria enter our bodies. The uppermost section, the nasopharynx, is most often affected.

However, the childhood inflammatory process tends to descend into the underlying sections - into the larynx and then into the trachea.

The characteristics of children's immunity, as well as the relatively short length of the respiratory tract, make a child more predisposed to the disease than an adult. What is laryngotracheitis in children and how to treat it? Let’s take a closer look.

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What is laryngotracheitis

Laryngotracheitis is an inflammatory process affecting both the larynx (larynx) and trachea.

The larynx begins after the pharynx and then passes into the trachea. The diseases of these parts of the upper respiratory tract are mainly to blame for viruses that enter the larynx from the pharynx and move lower into the trachea.

These can be any respiratory viruses, which are grouped under the group name ARVI, and in everyday life are called colds. The disease develops according to the following general scenario:

1. Once on the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, viruses begin to suppress local immunity.

1. Bacteria take advantage of decreased immunity and begin to intensively colonize the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract.

1. The bacterial infection ultimately leads to purulent inflammation, cough with the release of mucopurulent sputum.

The mucous membrane of the larynx and trachea swells and turns red. These symptoms of laryngotracheitis in children are not visible without a special endoscopic device. However, the disease manifests itself with other obvious signs by which parents can differentiate inflammation of the larynx and trachea from, for example,.

Why does laryngotracheitis occur?

A key factor in airway inflammation is a decrease in local immunity. As shown above, it can be caused by viruses. But often the cause of laryngotracheitis in children is non-viral.

1. Bacterial laryngotracheitis due to decreased local immunity

Various bacteria surround us everywhere: some live on the skin, others are limited in the nose, mouth, and throat. The child's immunity is undeveloped and unstable. Weakened immunity of the upper respiratory tract provides pathogenic microbes with opportunities to spread.

The main factors weakening the immunity of the larynx and trachea:

• Hypothermia;
• inhaling cold air through the mouth (for example, when children play in winter);
• passive smoking (for example, when adults smoke in a room where children are).

2. Bacterial laryngotracheitis as a result of infection with pathogenic microbes

To start the inflammatory bacterial process it is necessary:

• Imbalance of the microflora of the upper respiratory tract;
• inability of the immune system to restore the balance of “forces”.

A factor that significantly disrupts the balance of attacking microbes and protective forces is an external source of bacterial infection - a sick person. When coughing and sneezing, pathogenic microorganisms are sprayed into the surrounding space in huge quantities. The child’s body cannot cope with such a bacterial “attack” and becomes ill.

3. Bacterial laryngotracheitis due to an infectious focus in a child

The source of infection can be not only the external environment and opportunistic microbes inhabiting the upper respiratory tract, but also existing infectious foci in the body:

• In nose();
• in the paranasal sinuses ();
• inflamed tonsils ();
• sore throat ().

All of these diseases can lead to the spread of infection down the respiratory tract.

4. Allergic laryngotracheitis

Swelling of the larynx due to a non-infectious nature. Occurs as an allergic reaction to exposure to, for example, aerosol medications.

Types of childhood laryngotracheitis

The disease manifests itself in two forms:

• Acute uncomplicated;
• complicated stenosis.

Treatment of laryngotracheitis in children does not fundamentally depend on the form. However, significant stenosis of the larynx or trachea always requires more radical remedies, involving the child being in a hospital.

Symptoms of laryngotracheitis in children

Inflammation of the larynx and trachea does not appear unexpectedly. It often occurs as a continuation of the inflammatory process in the upper respiratory tract: in the throat and nose. The initial symptoms of laryngotracheitis in children are manifested by standard signs characteristic of rhinitis and pharyngitis:

• Runny nose, stuffiness;
• cough;
• sore throat, irritation, sore throat;
• elevated temperature.

Acute laryngotracheitis

The progression of infection down the respiratory tract shows additional symptoms of laryngotracheitis in children:

• The cough takes on a “dry” and harsh sound;
• change in voice, hoarseness;
• pain when coughing in the upper center of the chest;
• coughing attacks at night;
• cough when taking a deep breath;
• sputum separation;
• Over time it becomes purulent;
• elevated temperature.

Acute laryngotracheitis can be complicated by significant stenosis of the larynx.

Stenosing laryngotracheitis

Stenosis is a narrowing of the lumen of an organ, cavity, etc. To one degree or another, edema (swelling) of the mucous membrane and, therefore, slight stenosis occurs in any inflammatory process, including and. Such obvious symptoms of laryngotracheitis in children as a change in voice, hoarseness, and ringing of the sound of a cough are nothing more than the result of inflammatory swelling of the larynx and glottis.


However, in some cases the stenosis is so severe that such conditions are classified as stenotic laryngotracheitis. A strong narrowing of the lumen impedes the movement of air. General symptoms of laryngotracheitis in children are supplemented by the following:

• Noisy inhalation and exhalation;
• labored breathing;
• attacks of shortness of breath;
• increased heart rate.

In the extreme, the stenosis can be so strong that it blocks the access of air to the lungs and causes. However, this is an extremely rare development of symptoms of laryngotracheitis in children.

Diagnostic methods

Initial diagnosis involves:

• Inspection;
• listening to the lungs;
• analysis of the patient’s condition based on complaints about well-being.

In general, diagnosis is not difficult. In cases of frequently recurrent disease, an analysis of the throat microflora (throat swab) is required to prescribe more effective antibacterial therapy.

Treatment options for children

Treatment of laryngotracheitis in children at home includes:

• Immunomodeling therapy (for children from 3 years of age);
• antibiotic therapy;
• symptomatic therapy.

At home

How to treat laryngotracheitis in a child?

1. Immunostimulating therapy

Immunomodulatory therapy for the treatment of laryngotracheitis in children may include:

• Antiviral immunomodulators;
• antibacterial immunomodulators.

Drugs of the first group are aimed at increasing the overall immune response of the body by increasing the release of interferon. Such means that can be used for children from 3 years of age include:

• Arbidol;
• Cycloferon;
• Grippferon;
• Anaferon (for children).

Preparations of the second group contain deactivated parts of bacteria, which most often cause inflammatory processes in the respiratory tract. They increase the number of immunocompetent cells and activate the process of capturing and destroying bacteria. These are topical preparations:

• Imudon;
• IRS-19.

All immunomodulators are used frequently - up to 6 times a day for a week or until significant relief occurs.

2. Antibiotics for laryngotracheitis

Local administration of an antibiotic is effective - spray spraying into the mouth. The traditional treatment for laryngotracheitis in children is Bioparox aerosol. Children from 3 years of age are inhaled 1-2 sprays into the mouth 4 times a day. For the first time you should use it with caution, because... Bioparox, like all aerosols, can cause spasms of the respiratory tract in young children.

In case of severe inflammation and for the treatment of laryngotracheitis in children, general antibiotics may be prescribed:

• Protected penicillins (Augmentin, Amoxiclav, Flemoxin, etc.);
• macrolides (Azithromycin - suspension for children from 6 months);
• cephalosporins (Suprax, Zinatsev, Fortum, etc.).

Antibiotics, as a general rule, are not used for more than 7 days. Antibiotics are taken regularly, i.e. observing equal time intervals between doses.

3. Symptomatic therapy

To eliminate the painful symptoms of laryngotracheitis in children, use:

• To combat dry cough - Tussin, Tusuprex, etc.;
• to improve sputum discharge - Mucoltin, terpopsis preparations, Ambroxol, etc.;
• to relieve swelling, irritation, itching - Erius (syrup), Zyrtec, Xizal, etc.;

special instructions

For effective treatment of laryngotracheitis in children, it is important to provide the necessary external conditions:

• Make the child talk less;
• additionally humidify the air in the room (hang wet towels, place open containers of water);
• give more warm drinks - tea, milk with honey, compotes;
• In the absence of fever and during the recovery phase, heat on the neck and chest is recommended.

Emergency care for laryngotracheitis

If a child has stenosing laryngotracheitis, it is necessary to seek emergency medical help.


The scope of assistance that parents can provide is quite limited.

1. It is necessary to take 0.3-0.5 ml (depending on the age of the child) of naphthyzine solution (0.05%).

1. Add 2-5 ml (depending on age) of water to naphthyzin.

1. The child should be in a sitting position with his head thrown back.

1. The resulting solution is quickly injected using a syringe (without a needle) into one of the nasal passages.

1. If everything went well, the child should cough.

The procedure described above is a one-time procedure. If the baby does not cough after it, and there is not at least a slight relief in breathing, the procedure can be repeated again, but in a different nasal passage.

Also, in case of acute stenosing laryngotracheitis, it is recommended to give the child an antihistamine tablet.

For allergic laryngotracheitis

Stenosis in allergic laryngotracheitis can be very strong. All of the above about the stenotic form fully applies to swelling of the larynx and trachea of ​​non-inflammatory causes.

In this case, a glucocorticosteroid drug can be used. For laryngotracheitis in children, this remedy is effective in relieving excessive swelling of the airways. Initially, it was intended to relieve attacks during and during. Method of administration: inhalation.

Pulmicort is contraindicated for viral, bacterial and fungal infections of the respiratory tract. This drug is used exclusively for allergic edema of the larynx and trachea.

ethnoscience

Folk remedies for laryngotracheitis are inhalations that have a local symptomatic effect on the respiratory tract.

You can use a nebulizer or the traditional method of inhaling warm steam.

What can be inhaled:

• Sea salt solution;
• eucalyptus;
• potato steam;
• chamomile;
• sage.

The question of choosing from the given list is not fundamental. The main thing is that the inflamed mucous membrane of the larynx and trachea receives the necessary moisture.

For the treatment of laryngotracheitis in children, a pharmaceutical homeopathic remedy, Aflubin, may be recommended. Recommended dosage for children: 5 drops three times a day.

Laryngotracheitis in children under 1 year of age

Treatment of laryngotracheitis in infants is a big responsibility. Many drugs are undesirable or contraindicated. The situation is complicated by the fact that infants are very defenseless against bacteria and viruses. Inflammation always develops rapidly. Professional medical assistance is required.

What should not be done with laryngotracheitis

1. Hot inhalations should not be performed.

1. You should not give antibiotics without a doctor's prescription.

1. You should not go outside.

1. It is necessary to ventilate the living space.

Prevention methods

Measures to prevent laryngotracheitis involve, mainly, a natural improvement in the body’s protective functions:

• The child should spend more time outdoors;
• the child’s body should experience moderate daily physical activity;
• It’s good to go on vacation to the sea once a year;
• vegetables, fruits, and nuts should be included in the diet.

What to Avoid

• Hypothermia is a sure way to reduce immunity;
• staying in kindergarten during seasonal peaks of ARVI;
• smoking in the presence of a child.

Under what conditions is laryngotracheitis diagnosed? The answer is given by Dr. Komarovsky.

Conclusion

Laryngotracheitis is an inflammatory disease affecting two parts of the upper respiratory tract (larynx and trachea).

Pediatric laryngotracheitis has a predominantly bacterial cause.

Treatment of laryngotracheitis in children is immunomodulating, antibacterial.

Stenosing laryngotracheitis requires emergency first aid.

To prevent a child from being bothered by inflammation of the larynx and trachea, it is necessary to strengthen his immunity, organize a balanced diet, make sure that he does not get hypothermic and walks in the fresh air more often.

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Laryngotracheitis in children is an inflammatory disease of predominantly viral or bacterial etiology, in which the inflammatory process spreads to the larynx and trachea.

Source: malutka.pro

The characteristics of immunity in children, as well as the relatively short length of the respiratory tract, contribute to a greater predisposition of children to this disease. In childhood, the infectious-inflammatory process that begins in the nasopharynx especially often tends to descend lower, affecting the larynx and then the trachea. In children under six years of age, due to anatomical features against the background of laryngotracheitis, a narrowing of the lumen of the larynx may occur, which causes breathing problems - the so-called false croup develops, which carries a potential threat to life. Another name for this condition is stenosing laryngotracheitis.

Laryngotracheitis in children often develops as a complication of sinusitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, and adenoiditis.

Causes of laryngotracheitis in children and risk factors

The cause of laryngotracheitis in children is infection with viruses and/or bacteria, most often viruses act as infectious agents. Infection occurs through airborne droplets from a sick person. In most cases, laryngotracheitis develops against the background of acute respiratory diseases: adenovirus infection, parainfluenza, influenza, measles, rubella, chickenpox, scarlet fever.

Laryngotracheitis of bacterial etiology can occur due to infection with staphylococci, streptococci, pneumococci, mycobacterium tuberculosis, mycoplasma, treponema pallidum, and chlamydia.

Laryngotracheitis in children often develops as a complication of sinusitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, and adenoiditis.

Risk factors for the disease, as well as its transition to a chronic form, include:

• constant breathing through the mouth (if nasal breathing is impaired due to a deviated nasal septum, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, choanal atresia);
• chronic somatic diseases (hepatitis, gastritis, pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, etc.);
• poor nutrition;
• too hot or cold, excessively dry or humid inhaled air;
• passive smoking.

Forms of the disease

Laryngotracheitis in children can be acute (uncomplicated and stenotic) and chronic. Chronic, depending on the morphological changes in the mucous membrane, is divided into catarrhal, hypertrophic and atrophic forms. Acute laryngotracheitis in children is much more common.

Exacerbations of the chronic form of laryngotracheitis in children are most often observed in the autumn-winter period.

According to the etiological factor, viral, bacterial and mixed forms of laryngotracheitis are distinguished.

Symptoms of laryngotracheitis in children

Acute laryngotracheitis

Clinical manifestations of acute laryngotracheitis in children usually occur against the background of existing symptoms of an acute infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract (nasal discharge, nasal congestion, sore or sore throat, discomfort when swallowing, increased body temperature). At the same time, symptoms of laryngotracheitis in children appear after the patient’s body temperature has dropped to subfebrile levels - after improvement, the child’s condition worsens again.

Children with acute laryngotracheitis develop hoarseness, discomfort in the larynx (dryness, burning, tickling, foreign body sensation), dry cough, followed by chest pain. Cough is usually observed in the morning and at night, and can manifest itself in the form of an attack against the background of inhaling cold or dusty air, taking a deep breath, crying, or laughing. In this case, a small amount of mucous sputum is released, which, when a secondary bacterial infection is attached (or with bacterial laryngitis), becomes mucopurulent in nature.

Acute laryngotracheitis in children is often accompanied by enlarged cervical lymph nodes. As a rule, they enlarge on both sides and are painful on palpation.

On examination, pronounced hyperemia and thickening of the mucous membranes in the affected area are noted. Bacterial laryngotracheitis is characterized by the accumulation of purulent exudate in the lumen of the larynx and trachea. At the initial stage of the disease, the pathological discharge has a liquid consistency; as the pathological process progresses, the exudate becomes thicker, and fibrinous films appear on the mucous membranes. In the case of staphylococcal or streptococcal etiology of laryngotracheitis, yellow-green crusts form that fill the lumen of the respiratory tract.

Treatment of laryngotracheitis in children is usually carried out on an outpatient basis; if false croup develops, the patient is hospitalized in a hospital.

Stenosing laryngotracheitis is characterized by swelling of the affected mucous membranes, a pronounced narrowing of the lumen of the larynx, which impedes the movement of air, noisy inhalation and exhalation (when inhaling, dry wheezing can be heard - the so-called stridor breathing), attacks of shortness of breath, tachycardia.

Chronic laryngotracheitis

In the catarrhal form of chronic laryngotracheitis in children, hyperemia of the affected mucous membranes with a cyanotic tint, dilatation of submucosal blood vessels, and petechial hemorrhages in the submucosal layer, occurring due to increased vascular permeability, are observed.

In the case of the development of a chronic hypertrophic form of the disease, hyperplasia of the epithelium of the affected mucous membranes, connective tissue elements of the mucous glands and submucosal layer, as well as infiltration of the fibers of the internal muscles of the larynx and trachea (including the muscles of the vocal cords) are noted. In this form of the disease, thickening of the vocal cords may be limited, in the form of nodules, or diffuse, and the formation of cysts, contact ulcers of the larynx, or prolapse of the laryngeal ventricle is also possible.

In chronic atrophic laryngotracheitis (the most rare form of laryngotracheitis in children), the cylindrical ciliated epithelium of the mucous membrane is replaced by keratinizing epithelium, atrophy of the intralaryngeal muscles and mucous glands, sclerosis of the connective tissue cellular elements of the submucosal layer, and thinning of the vocal cords. The walls of the larynx and trachea are often covered with crusts that form when the secretion of the mucous glands dries.

The air in the room in which the patient is located must be fresh and sufficiently humidified.

Voice disturbances in chronic laryngotracheitis vary from slight hoarseness, occurring mainly in the morning and evening, to constant hoarseness, and sometimes complete aphonia. With chronic laryngotracheitis in children, the cough is constant, which can cause the development of sleep disorders in such patients. The amount of sputum in this form of the disease usually increases.

Exacerbations of the chronic form of laryngotracheitis in children are most often observed in the autumn-winter period.

Diagnostics

To make a diagnosis of laryngotracheitis in children, a collection of complaints and anamnesis and a physical examination are carried out. If necessary, the diagnosis is confirmed by instrumental and laboratory tests.

Identification of the infectious agent in laryngotracheitis in children can be carried out by conducting a bacteriological examination of sputum and discharge from the throat and nose, microscopy of sputum, as well as enzyme immunoassay, immunofluorescence reaction, polymerase chain reaction. If Mycobacterium tuberculosis is detected, consultation with a phthisiatrician is necessary.

In complex diagnostic cases, microlaryngoscopy may be required, which makes it possible, if necessary, to collect material for a biopsy.

In case of chronic laryngotracheitis (especially when hypertrophic changes are detected), it may be necessary to use frontal computed tomography of the larynx and endoscopic biopsy. The results of these studies may require consultation with an oncologist.

In order to identify possible bronchopulmonary complications, an X-ray examination of the lungs is performed.

The cause of laryngotracheitis in children is infection with viruses and/or bacteria, most often viruses act as infectious agents.

A differential diagnosis of laryngotracheitis is required in children with foreign bodies of the larynx and trachea, diphtheria, bronchial asthma, retropharyngeal abscess, and malignant neoplasms.

Treatment of laryngotracheitis in children

Treatment of laryngotracheitis in children is usually carried out on an outpatient basis; if false croup develops, the patient is hospitalized in a hospital.

Antihistamines, antitussives, and mucolytic drugs are prescribed. When body temperature rises, antipyretic drugs are prescribed. Alkaline and/or oil inhalations, nebulizer therapy, electrophoresis in the area of ​​the larynx and trachea are indicated.

Laryngotracheitis can lead to narrowing and even complete closure of the lumen of the larynx. If children are not given first aid in time, the disease can be fatal.

Laryngotracheitis is an infectious disease of an inflammatory nature, the process of which involves two organs at once - the larynx and trachea. The causes of the disease can be viral or bacterial infections of the body:

1. Viral - influenza, scarlet fever, parainfluenza, acute respiratory infections, measles, chickenpox, rubella.
2. Bacterial - streptococci, mycobacterium tuberculosis, pneumococci, Treponema pallidum.

Also, laryngotracheitis can act as a complication of other inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract (laryngitis, tonsillitis, sinusitis).

Pathogens can be transmitted from person to person through airborne droplets. For an organism with good immunity, laryngotracheitis is practically not contagious. But there are several factors that contribute to the development of the disease:

• general or local hypothermia;
• congestion in the lungs - emphysema, bronchial asthma, pneumosclerosis;
• chronic diseases - diabetes, glomerulonephritis, tuberculosis;
• mouth breathing due to rhinitis, adenoids, sinusitis;
• negative influence of inhaled air - too dry, hot, cold. The presence of harmful chemicals and dust in it;
• constant load on the vocal apparatus.

Laryngotracheitis can be acute or chronic. In children, an acute form is more often observed, which rarely becomes chronic, but causes a complication - laryngeal stenosis.

Risk factors for developing stenosis:

• age up to two years;
• male gender;
• the presence of exudative-catarrhal diathesis;
• allergy;
• burdensome obstetric history;
• the effect of negative factors during the neonatal period.

Symptoms of acute laryngotracheitis

Acute laryngotracheitis develops in children of a fairly early age, mainly from 6 months to 3 years. The incidence reaches its peak in the second year of life; single cases of infection are known in the first six months. The disease attacks boys more often, while girls get sick three times less often.

Laryngotracheitis in a child is usually manifested by three symptoms:

1. Voice change depends on how badly the infection has affected the vocal folds. But complete loss of voice is not typical for this disease.
2. A rough cough, reminiscent of barking - this cough occurs when air passes through a narrowed glottis.
3. Stenotic breathing is caused by swelling and spasm of the larynx, trachea and bronchi.

Symptoms in children can develop in three scenarios:

1. The disease begins unexpectedly, most often at night, during sleep. Attacks of stenotic breathing occur, but there are no signs of acute respiratory infections.
2. The attack also begins unexpectedly, but against the background of symptoms of a respiratory disease (cough, runny nose, fever).
3. Signs of the disease develop gradually, simultaneously with the symptoms of acute respiratory infections.

After a coughing attack, chest pain may remain. Children complain of unpleasant sensations in the throat (dryness, tickling, sensation of a foreign object).

During the examination, enlarged cervical lymph nodes can be detected. Percussion does not detect any changes. And upon auscultation, you will hear noisy breathing, sometimes moist rales.

If the disease develops according to the first type, the child’s condition is determined by the degree of narrowing of the larynx. During the second and third options, the negative impact of intoxication of the body should be taken into account.

The course of the disease can be continuous - symptoms increase until a certain time, and then the condition gradually improves. Or wavy - periods of improvement and deterioration alternate with each other.

After clinical recovery, residual cough may be observed periodically for several weeks.

Chronic laryngotracheitis

Chronic laryngotracheitis rarely develops in children. The symptoms are constant, but appear less pronounced. There is a periodic, slight increase in temperature. Under the influence of unfavorable factors, the process may go out of remission, in which case the clinical picture resembles the manifestations during the acute stage of the disease.

The chronic form is not as dangerous for children as the acute form, because it does not lead to acute laryngeal stenosis and asphyxia. But it can cause serious voice disorders.

Treatment

For mild forms, you can treat at home using cough syrup and other medications prescribed by your doctor. It is important to remember that the dosage of drugs depends on the age and weight of the baby, the concentration of the active substance and many other factors, so you should not self-medicate.

Therapy will depend on how narrowed the lumen of the larynx is. At the compensation stage they write out:

• interferons – Genferon, Roferon;
• antibiotics – Erythromycin, Ampicillin;
• antihistamines – Diphenhydramine, Diazolin;
• antitussives - most often in the form of syrup.

If the disease is accompanied by severe intoxication, especially in infants, then detoxification therapy is carried out.

Distractive procedures are used - hot foot baths, mustard plasters on the chest, inhalations with antiallergic and antispasmodic drugs.

If the disease is mild, then walking during illness will only be beneficial, but you need to pay great attention to the general condition of the baby.

After laryngotracheitis, you need to carefully protect the child from hypothermia, colds and contact with sick children, as this can provoke a relapse.

To treat a small child, it is best to use cough syrup, as it has a pleasant taste and is most often drunk by the baby voluntarily.

Help during a seizure

Sometimes it happens that parents do not pay attention to the symptoms for a long time and do not treat laryngotracheitis. Or the disease develops too rapidly. In this case, an attack of suffocation due to stenosis may take you by surprise. To save a child's life, you need to know how to provide emergency care.

1. Give the patient a sitting position; he can lean back slightly on a pillow.
2. Provide access to fresh air - unbutton clothes, open a window.
3. Pressing the root of the tongue with a spoon may help.
4. Do inhalations with medications, for example, cough syrup.
5. Take a hot foot bath. If this is not possible, then you can simply rub your feet.
6. Take an antiallergic drug.

Complications

In children, the disease can go almost unnoticed, but most often causes serious complications:

• bronchitis;
• bronchiolitis;
• pneumonia;
• false croup;
• hypoxia, asphyxia;
• benign tumors;
• cancerous formations;

Establishing diagnosis

Methods used to clarify the disease:

• laryngotracheoscopy;
• microlaryngoscopy;
• radiography;
• bacteriological analysis of secretions.

Expert opinion

The well-known doctor Komarovsky tells a lot of interesting things about the symptoms and treatment of laryngotracheitis in children in his videos. A large number of positive reviews about this person give reason to trust his words.

Since the child's immune system is not yet sufficiently developed, there is a high risk of developing various diseases. First of all, inflammatory reactions occur in the organs of the nasopharynx. One of the most common diseases is laryngotracheitis, a disease that causes inflammation of the pharynx and trachea. This disease is especially dangerous for young children, since it is in childhood that there is a high risk of developing false croup. Therefore, it is very important to understand how to treat laryngotracheitis in a child in order to prevent the development of complications.

Causes and symptoms

Often, laryngotracheitis is caused by a viral infection (parainfluenza, influenza, herpes). Among the main reasons contributing to the occurrence and development of the disease are:

• features of the anatomical and physiological structure of the nasopharynx organs under the age of five years (narrow larynx);
• colds; weakened immune system;
• hypothermia, often a small draft is enough;
• contact with a carrier of infection;
• loud and prolonged scream, overstrain of the vocal cords, mechanical damage to the larynx;
• inhalation of various substances that cause allergies (varnish, paint, wool, dust);
• high temperature (above 22 degrees), low humidity (less than 50%) and dusty air in the room where the patient is.

The likelihood of laryngotracheitis increases in the presence of chronic diseases of the nasopharynx, frequent nasal congestion, diseases of the teeth and gums.

Also, under the age of five years, the disease is often accompanied by signs of false croup, which is dangerous due to severe swelling of the pharynx and can cause suffocation. Therefore, in order to prevent a threat to the child’s life, you should know what symptoms appear with laryngotracheitis, and what treatment is required at different stages of the development of the disease.

There are several forms of the disease, each of which is characterized by certain symptoms and requires an individual approach:

• Catarrhal form- the safest type of laryngotracheitis. It is this form that most often occurs under the age of fourteen. The main symptoms of laryngotracheitis in this case are similar to the signs of most viral infections: sore throat, hoarseness, dry annoying cough, hyperthermia. However, if treated incorrectly or untimely, there is a high probability of developing stenosis, which is life-threatening.
• Hyperplastic form- a type of laryngotracheitis, which also often develops in children. The main difference between this form is the severe swelling of the pharyngeal mucosa, which can cause difficulty breathing.
• Hemorrhagic form is accompanied by hemorrhage in the laryngeal mucosa and often occurs due to the presence of certain provoking factors (disorders of the hematopoietic process, liver disease). The main signs in this case: dry mouth, attacks of suffocating cough, viscous secretion mixed with blood, sensation of a foreign object in the throat.

Laryngotracheitis is diagnosed in 30% of children under three years of age who first encountered a common respiratory viral infection. The risk of developing the disease is higher in those who suffer from allergies.

The main symptoms and signs of laryngotracheitis, which appear at any stage of the disease:

• runny nose, hyperthermia, general weakness - the main signs of acute respiratory disease;
• change in voice timbre, hoarseness;
• sore throat when swallowing;
• decreased appetite;
• dry, paroxysmal, barking cough;
• rapid or, on the contrary, difficulty breathing; dyspnea;
• in later stages of the disease, against the background of difficulty breathing, paleness of the skin and cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle may appear.

Important! If an infant falls ill with laryngotracheitis, the following signs will help diagnose the disease: lethargy, increased anxiety, moodiness, runny nose, loud, barking cough.

Treatment

It is necessary to treat laryngotracheitis in children comprehensively, carrying out procedures aimed at combating the cause of the disease, as well as eliminating and alleviating the main symptoms.

When treating laryngotracheitis in patients predisposed to allergies, it is necessary to limit the use of essential oils, carefully use infusions of medicinal herbs, and use only proven medications.

• Use of antiallergic drugs. The action of this class of drugs is aimed at reducing edema and preventing the development of stenosis. Also, most antihistamines have a sedative effect, which will help the child calm down and reduce muscle spasms. The choice and form of the drug depend on the age of the child. For example, you can use Fenistil, Zodak, Loratadine.
• Antitussive drugs for laryngotracheitis are used only when the disease is accompanied by a dry cough without sputum production. In order for the child to sleep peacefully at night and not wake up from attacks of suffocating cough, they use Stoptusin, Herbion with plantain.
• Mucolytic and expectorant drugs for productive cough to thin and improve mucus removal. In this case, breastfeeding, medications based on ambroxol (Ambroxol, Lazolvan), acetylcesteine ​​(ACC) are recommended.
• Using lozenges, lozenges based on medicinal herbs, antiseptic and analgesic sprays for laryngotracheitis will help reduce sore throat, moisturize the pharyngeal mucosa, and eliminate soreness.

Important! In children, medications in the form of sprays should be used with caution to avoid the development of bronchospasm.

• If the disease is accompanied by a significant increase in temperature (above 38 degrees), antipyretic drugs should be used in the form of suppositories or syrups based on paracetamol (Cefekon suppositories, Efferalgan syrup) or ibuprofen (Nurofen syrup, Ibufen).
• If laryngotracheitis is caused by a viral infection, then antiviral drugs are used, for example, Groprinosin, Amizon, interferon-based drugs (Laferobion).
• Antibiotics for laryngotracheitis in children are used in the following situations: when the disease is caused by a bacterial infection; with high intoxication of the body; to prevent complications due to the viral nature of the disease. Given the fact that laryngotracheitis is most often caused by viruses, the use of antibacterial drugs is usually not necessary. If there is a need to use antibiotics, then preference is given to penicillin drugs (Augmentin). Cephalosporins (Cefadox) and, in particularly severe cases, macrolides (Sumamed) are also used.

Physiotherapeutic treatment

Along with general recommendations for treatment and the use of standard medications, physiotherapeutic procedures are used in the complex therapy of laryngotracheitis to speed up the recovery process and alleviate the symptoms of the disease:

• warm compresses on the pharynx and trachea (heating pad with warm water), mustard plasters;
• inhalation over steam and using a nebulizer;
• electrophoresis, UHF, microwave therapy;
• massage;
• hot baths for lower and upper extremities.

Important! Foot baths and warm compresses should only be used at normal body temperature.

If steam inhalations are used in the treatment of laryngotracheitis, then the following basic recommendations must be followed:

For the convenience and safety of the inhalation procedure, as well as more effective delivery of drugs to the area of ​​inflammation, it is better to use a special device - a nebulizer. However, it should be remembered that most nebulizers cannot use herbal infusions and essential oils. Nebulizers use alkaline inhalations with mineral water (Borjomi, Polyana Kvasova), medications indicated to eliminate the symptoms of the disease in inhalation form (Lazolvan, Sinupret, Nebutamol).

Gargling with infusions and decoctions of various herbs, for the preparation of which chamomile and calendula flowers, and sage are most often used. This procedure reduces inflammation and pain. Rinsing is carried out three times a day until the symptoms of the disease completely disappear.

Most often, treatment of laryngotracheitis in children is carried out on an outpatient basis. However, you should know the situations when you need to seek urgent medical help. Most often, danger is caused by conditions complicated by severe swelling of the larynx. In this case, the disease is accompanied by:

• intermittent, uneven breathing;
• shortness of breath;
• difficulty breathing, noisy breathing;
• excessive excitability or, on the contrary, drowsiness;
• pallor and cyanosis of the skin.

In this case, there is a stenosing form of laryngotracheitis (false croup), which is dangerous due to the development of asphyxia. First aid for false croup:

• alkaline inhalations;
• hot baths for the upper and lower extremities;
• Humidify the air using a humidifier and frequent wet cleaning.

If you are faced with a disease such as laryngotracheitis in an infant, then first you should understand what this disease is. Laryngotracheitis in a child or false croup is an infectious disease that affects the respiratory tract.

The inflammatory process usually affects the throat and trachea, but it can also be non-inflammatory. The disease often develops as a consequence of a cold. Typically, false croup develops in this way:

1. Viruses that enter the mucous surface of the nasopharynx begin to “suppress” the immune system;
2. Taking advantage of the fact that immunity is deteriorating, dangerous bacteria begin to multiply;
3. A developing infection directly leads to the formation of pus, coughing with sputum;
4. The development of laryngotracheitis as a complication after the disease is possible.

Where does laryngotracheitis come from?

As already mentioned, laryngotracheitis manifests itself due to a decrease in the child’s immunity. The disease often occurs in children under 3 years of age. But the nature of the disease can be varied.

Bacterial laryngotracheitis

Bacterial laryngotracheitis provokes a decrease in immunity. The immunity of a small child is quite unstable; it is still developing. And its reduction is influenced by the following factors:

• hypothermia of the body;
• entry of cold air through the mouth;
• passive smoking.

Bacterial laryngotracheitis can occur due to infection by microbes. A similar disease manifests itself when the microflora of the respiratory tract is disrupted. That is, the child simply becomes infected from a nearby sick person.

Bacterial laryngotracheitis, caused by an infectious focus of the infant, is a complication, a consequence of another respiratory tract disease. The cause of the disease is microbes common in the respiratory tract and infections in the body. For example, a runny nose, inflammation of the tonsils, a cold throat.

Allergic laryngotracheitis

Allergic laryngotracheitis. The child’s larynx swells due to an allergic reaction to various medications, most often in aerosol form.

Symptoms of the disease

Most often, laryngotracheitis occurs in young children. This is due to the structural features of their larynx. The structure of the tissues of the larynx, due to its looseness, has a greater tendency to edema.

The danger of the disease for newborn children is that the airways swell and a large amount of mucus forms in them. Therefore, the child cannot breathe normally. In the most advanced cases, laryngotracheitis leads to asphyxia. When the disease is diagnosed, treatment must begin immediately. The following symptoms indicate that the baby has laryngotracheitis:

• Severe attacks of barking cough, most often occurring at night when the newborn is sleeping;
• Hard breath;
• Hoarse voice or no voice at all;
• Sore red throat;
• Increased body temperature;
• Lack of appetite, nausea;
• The skin has a bluish tint in the nasolabial area.

It is impossible not to notice the onset of laryngotracheitis. As a rule, or disappears completely, the baby becomes difficult to breathe and he is afraid of this. From the very beginning of the disease there are attacks of severe coughing.

When identifying signs of illness, the first thing you need to do is calm the child down. Then you need to call a doctor, preferably an ambulance. Treatment should be prescribed exclusively by a specialist. The severity of the disease will determine what treatment he will prescribe: at home or in an inpatient setting.

To diagnose false croup, it is necessary to undergo a thorough examination by a specialist. A pediatrician or otolaryngologist examines the child's throat and listens to the airway. To accurately determine the diagnosis, microlaryngoscopy, otoscopy, fluorography or x-ray of the lungs, blood tests and culture of material from the throat are performed.

Types of laryngotracheitis

Most often, the disease can manifest itself in two forms: acute without complications and complicated. Treatment methods practically do not depend on the form of the disease. But the second form always requires more radical measures and, most likely, the pediatrician will recommend hospital treatment.

Symptoms of acute laryngotracheitis:

• dry, barking cough;
• hoarse voice;
• pain in the chest when coughing;
• the cough has a paroxysmal character;
• sputum production when coughing;
• sputum may become purulent;
• high body temperature.

Symptoms of a complicated disease:

• noisy, difficult breathing;
• severe shortness of breath;
• cardiopalmus.

The main task in the fight against laryngotracheitis is to alleviate the child’s condition. While waiting for the pediatrician, you can give your baby a warm drink, such as milk. You can also warm your feet in a warm bath.

And the treatment of the disease itself consists of a set of procedures to combat the inflammatory process and restore the mucous surfaces of the larynx.

If there are no complications of laryngotracheitis, then it can be cured in 2-3 weeks. The set of measures includes the following procedures:

1. Taking medications prescribed by your pediatrician. These include antiviral drugs, expectorant cough syrups, drugs to restore immunity;
2. Nasal drops. Since breathing is often difficult during illness, vasoconstrictor nasal drops are prescribed;
3. Temperature drop. This is the most important point, since it is the increased body temperature that provokes swelling of the larynx;
4. Voice mode. It is necessary to reduce the load on the vocal apparatus as much as possible and protect the vocal cords. It is not recommended to speak even in a whisper;
5. Warm foot baths. Up to 3 times a day it is necessary to organize warm baths for the baby’s feet. The duration of each procedure is no more than 20 minutes. You can warm your feet in warm water while in a steamy bathroom;
6. . To carry out these procedures it is better to use. The basis for inhalation procedures is determined by the pediatrician.

The use of an antibiotic throat spray is quite effective for laryngotracheitis. Aerosols should be used with caution and only as prescribed by a specialist, as they can cause spasms of the respiratory tract.

If the child has a severe inflammatory process, the pediatrician may prescribe external agents, for example, penicillins or cephalosporins.

What can't you do?

• Of particular concern is laryngotracheitis in infants. When treating a child under one year old, you need to carefully select medications and their dosages. A large number of drugs may be contraindicated. Infants are practically defenseless against various types of viruses and any inflammatory processes develop very quickly in them. If a baby is diagnosed with laryngotracheitis, then under no circumstances should you:
• do hot inhalations;
• independently, without doctor’s recommendations, prescribe antibiotics;
• take the baby for walks;

keep the child in an unventilated area.

Self-treatment When treating this disease, the parents' ability to help their child is very limited.

The main treatment should be prescribed and supervised by a doctor.

1. To make breathing easier for your child, you can do the following procedure:
2. Add 3-4 ml of water to 0.4 ml of naphthyzine (take a 0.05% solution);
3. Sit the child down and tilt his head back slightly;

Inject the solution into the nostril with a syringe without a needle. The fluid must be administered quickly.

If after these actions the baby coughs, then everything has been done correctly and breathing will become easier. The procedure can only be performed once.

In the acute form of the disease, you can give the child an antihistamine, this also helps improve breathing.

While waiting for qualified specialists, parents can alleviate the child’s condition. First, you need to lay it on a bed or sofa with a pillow under the backrest. If possible, you should try to humidify the air in the room and free the baby from tight clothes. Difficulty breathing with laryngotracheitis is caused by the accumulation of sputum in the larynx. To make this phlegm thinner, you can give your child a warm drink with soda or Borjomi.

If your child has a high temperature or a fever, an antipyretic drug will help.

The correct regimen for treating the disease

Completing treatment procedures and taking all prescribed medications is not enough. First of all, it is necessary to reduce the baby’s physical activity. The nutrition of a sick child also requires special attention:

• exclude hot and cold foods from the diet, food should be warm;
• Crispy foods, as well as salty and spicy foods are not recommended for consumption;
• meals should be frequent and portions small;
• regular warm drinks: fruit drinks, compotes, milk.

The house needs to be wet cleaned every day and the rooms ventilated to prevent the accumulation and proliferation of dangerous microbes. It is better to humidify the air in the rooms. To do this, you can use special devices or traditional methods.

And one of the most important conditions for a speedy recovery is a good mood and a calm, friendly environment in the house.

Disease prevention

Any disease is more difficult to treat than to prevent. Of course, more often the tendency to false croup largely depends on the individual characteristics of the body. And if a child has a cold or is suffering from a viral disease, special attention must be paid to the larynx and respiratory tract.

For prevention, you can periodically ventilate the room and maintain air humidity. And the most important thing is to harden your throat. Rinsing is suitable for this. Initially, you need to use warm water and gradually lower its temperature. There should not be a sharp change in temperature (it is better to maintain it at the same level every 3 days), this will only harm the child’s body.

During walks, make sure that the baby is comfortable, especially for babies in the first month of life. If it’s summer, then you don’t need to wrap the baby in clothes, he shouldn’t be hot, and in winter he should definitely avoid hypothermia. Disease prevention requires special attention in the autumn and spring seasons.