Bronchitis is a relatively common illness among babies because they still have weak lungs. You’ll know that your baby has respiratory problems if he or she has a dry cough that doesn’t go away, has difficulty breathing, wheezes or makes an airy or squealing when they breathe. A mild fever, a stuffed nose and loss of appetite are also some of the symptoms. According to studies, male babies are more prone to bronchitis, along with babies who drink formula as opposed to those who breastfeed.
If you think that your baby has bronchitis, bring him to the doctor immediately. Bronchitis is not something you should just ignore because it can lead to far more serious complications that can be fatal to a baby. But there are also some things you can do to help manage his condition.
First of all make sure that your baby’s head is elevated. This position will make it easier for him to breathe. To help make breathing easier, keep your baby in a clean room and control the humidity. You can get a humidifier or vaporizer so that the air inside the room won’t be dry. Moist air is helpful in dislodging mucus from the chest and his airways. Thus, when he coughs any mucus will be expelled. Make sure that you always clean the humidifier or vaporizer so that molds won’t grow on it. Also make sure that the person who takes care of your baby does not have any colds or flu as well so that any cross-contamination is prevented.
Keep feeding your baby whether he drinks formula or he breastfeeds. This is to make sure that he is properly hydrated. Dehydration is not a good thing at all especially for a baby who has bronchitis because it will definitely aggravate his condition.
When your baby is prescribed with medication, make sure that he gets the medicine in the scheduled times and at the right dosage. If the doctor says that the regimen is going to be for two weeks, for example, stick to that schedule even if you notice that your baby has gotten well.
Lastly, always be alert and aware of what’s happening to your baby. Always look out for signs if he is getting well or getting worse. If your baby develops a high fever or his temperature keeps increasing, if he is exhibiting visible signs of difficult breathing, or if he starts vomiting bring him immediately to the doctor so that he can assess the situation. If your baby’s lips or fingernails start showing a blue discoloration, rush him to the hospital.
Image from health-writings.com