Warning! Symptoms of acute inflammation in young children can be life-threatening!
Laryngitis in young children does not need to precede any discomfort. Suddenly, most often at night, the child gets a coughing-barking attack, barely catching the air. The cause of the symptoms may be both epiglottitis (part of the larynx) caused in 90% of cases by bacteria, as well as so-called subglottic laryngitis (most often caused by viruses), which are typical inflammatory conditions of this organ, in children between 1 and 8 years of age. Fast-growing breathlessness, "barking" cough, high fever, inhalation of the air, accompanied by the sounds of "rooster crowing" - require immediate intensive medical help and call an ambulance.
Before the ambulance arrives
You can also unscrew the taps with hot water in the basin or pour it into the basin and place the child - ideally under the towel to inhale the warm and humid air.If the attack passes we put the child in a warm, well-moistened room (wet towels on radiators!). When the ambulance arrives, the child will probably receive a steroid drug that will reduce the swelling of the larynx.
Acute epiglottis in a child (epiglottitis acuta)
This is a serious disease caused mainly by Haemophilus influenzae in children between 2 and 7 years of age. As we have already mentioned - the construction of the larynx of the child, the ease of swelling and laryngeal spasm, cause that the symptoms may appear suddenly and rapidly, leading to inspiratory-exhalation dyspnoea. Sore throat, fever, hoarseness or noiselessness, difficulty in swallowing, salivation, fluids are the first symptoms of this infection. The child requires prompt medical intervention and should always be hospitalized, preferably in the children's ENT.
Acute subglottic laryngitis in a child (laryngitis subglottica acuta)
This type of inflammation is most often caused by parainfluenza, influenza, adenovirus, ECHO virus, etc. The cause of the inflammation may also be allergy, emotional excitement of the child, changes in temperature, humidity, and air pollution. Subulbral laryngitis may be present in infants, but most often affects children up to 3 years old (it also happens to older children). Typical symptoms are nocturnal symptoms of the disease: exacerbation, barking coughing, hoarseness, roasting of the cock. The child requires prompt hospitalization, including intravenous glucocorticoid administration, 2nd generation antihistamines, hydration, providing NaCl inhalation for hydration of the airways, the right temperature and humidity of the room in which he is staying.
Acute laryngotracheitis in a child (laryngotracheitis)
This type of inflammation occurs in young children between 2-4 years of age. Inflammation is also caused by viruses, but may be subject to secondary bacterial infection. The main symptoms are: pain behind the breastbone, persistent, dry cough, thick mucus, which is difficult to get rid of. In the case of crusted tracheitis secretions dry up in scabs, there is increasing breathlessness, the cough reflex is getting weaker. Such a child requires quick hospitalization, hydration, thinning drug for mucorrhagic and expectorant mucus, phlegm, and airway clearance using a special microsurgical technique.
Ed. Edward Ozga Michalski, MA
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Table of contents:
Sore throat - diagnosis and treatment
Throat viral inflammation
Angina virina and bacterin
Treatment of strep throat
Laryngitis
Treatment of laryngitis