-
Overview
Bronchitis is a serious upper respiratory infection that affects the lungs, throat and other areas of the body. While it's easily treatable, it does present in a number of children every year. Those infected children can pass it along to dozens of others in their classrooms. Identifying the symptoms of bronchitis in kids is the first step towards stopping it.
Cough
A cough is the most common symptom reported by children with bronchitis. The cough typically begins as a dry cough that irritates the throat, though it doesn't produce any mucus. The cough usually lasts for several days before turning worse. Once the cough worsens, the child coughs up mucus. The mucus is usually yellow, green or dark brown in color. This cough lasts for several days but may last several weeks if untreated.
Flu Symptoms
Many children suffering from bronchitis often complain of problems associated with the flu. A child may feel feverish and run a high fever. Children also have runny noses that last for several days until they develop the mucus-ridden cough. They may also have chills (usually at night) and experience back or muscle pain, which may need to be treated with over-the-counter pain medication. These symptoms persist once the cough begins and often last until the bronchitis is cured.
Chest Pain
The constant coughing associated with bronchitis leads many children to suffer symptoms related to chest pain. They may claim that their chest hurts or feel like someone is sitting on their chest. In a small number of cases, the pain is quite bad, but in most cases, it feels like a dull ache. As the cough continues, children may have problems breathing, especially if they're attempting to move around. Some children also begin wheezing because of the cough.
Chronic Bronchitis Symptoms
Chronic bronchitis is a type of bronchitis that continues to come back even after the child has healed. This condition causes children to experience regular bronchitis symptoms but also some different ones. Children are typically more prone to respiratory infections including cold and flu viruses. They also have swelling of their lower bodies, particularly in the ankles and legs. Children may also have blue areas around their mouths or lips, which indicates they aren't getting as much oxygen as they need.
The Throat
Children with bronchitis occasionally exhibit symptoms connected to their throat due to excessive amounts of coughing. They usually suffer from a sore throat that gets worse the longer the cough lasts. Coughing also causes a backup of mucus in their chest and throat, which sometimes causes children to gag when they attempt to take a deep breath. In some extreme cases, the throat swells due to the coughing, making it difficult for the child to swallow food, which can result in vomiting.
