In the past few days, the temperature in Sioux City, the nation’s hospitals have long been bursting at the seams, queuing for 4-5 hours, scaring away many parents who want to go to the children’s hospital, although, most of them may be minor, but there are some diseases that can not wait, can not afford to resist, need to see a doctor immediately, children’s acute laryngitis is one of them.
I. What is laryngitis
Acute laryngitis is an acute diffuse inflammation of the laryngeal mucosa common in infants and young children, and is a specific type of acute upper respiratory tract infection; characterized by hoarseness, coughing like a dog’s bark, accompanied by varying degrees of inspiratory stridor.
The disease is mostly seen in infants and children aged 6 months-3 years; it is particularly common in winter and spring; it is mostly caused by viruses, but can also be secondary to bacterial infections. Due to the physiological characteristics of the baby’s larynx, the baby’s larynx is prone to congestion and edema when acute inflammation occurs, and the laryngeal cavity becomes more narrow, which can easily cause breathing difficulties;.
At the same time, the baby’s coughing function is weak, it is not easy to discharge the secretions in the respiratory tract, which will aggravate the breathing difficulties; if the baby keeps crying, the larynx will be stimulated to trigger laryngospasm, which will further aggravate the breathing difficulties; when the larynx is blocked very seriously, the baby will suffocate, which can be fatal if not rescued in time. The most terrible thing about this disease is that it may bring sudden suffocation.
How do parents know that their child has laryngitis?
There are some special manifestations of acute laryngitis that parents can learn to recognize. Once they find that their baby meets these manifestations, they should immediately take their child to the doctor:.
1.Most of the babies are 6 months~3 years old.
2.In the beginning, there are mostly cold symptoms such as fever, runny nose and cough to varying degrees, but there are a few children who do not have fever or cough.
3, the disease progresses rapidly, the inflammation reaches the vocal cords, the baby soon appears hoarse and obvious, even can not make a sound.
4. There is a “different” cough that is worse at night (especially in the early morning).
The “empty” cough: it feels like a “broken cough”; the “barking” cough: it is a cough like a barking dog. These two types of coughs are very special and different from the usual coughing sound, so it is easy for parents to distinguish them.
5. If the condition worsens, the baby may have an inspiratory laryngeal cry, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing. At this time, the baby will show signs of oxygen deprivation, such as blue around the mouth, nose and nails, as well as irritability and sweating. Sudden “awakening” during sleep at night (especially in the early morning). Laryngeal obstruction is often the most severe when the baby first wakes up, and gradually decreases after waking up.
Do I need to go to the hospital?
Most acute laryngitis in children starts very quickly and progresses rapidly, usually worse at night, and if not treated effectively and promptly, serious life-threatening conditions such as asphyxia may occur, so once you suspect laryngitis and have the first signs of breathing difficulties, you should go to the nearest hospital as soon as possible, regardless of the time of day.
The doctor will administer medication (usually with fast-acting hormones) as appropriate to quickly relieve the child of the edematous laryngeal obstruction.
A few babies arrive at the hospital with very severe laryngeal obstruction or when medication is ineffective, the doctor chooses to do treatment such as transoral tracheal intubation or tracheotomy depending on the situation, which is an emergency measure taken to save lives.
Anti-infective treatment is also given; there is also some adjunctive nebulized inhalation treatment, where drugs are inhaled directly from the larynx to contact the inflammation in the larynx.
Acute laryngitis is as fierce as a sudden storm, but if the treatment is accurate and timely, it will go like a gust of wind, and the laryngeal obstruction will be quickly reduced, followed by a gradual recovery of respiratory inflammation.
What can parents do at home?
If the baby’s condition is stable after timely treatment in the hospital or if the laryngitis is not serious, parents can do the following at home.
1. Let the baby rest fully, lying flat or half-lying, in a position to keep the airway as open as possible.
2, keep the living room environment quiet, clean, not too dry.
3, light diet, drink more plain water, small babies can still drink milk, do not give children to eat stimulating or too sweet food.
4.Let the baby use his voice as little as possible and avoid crying.
5. Pay close attention to the baby’s breathing and mental condition, and send him/her to the hospital promptly if abnormalities are found.
V. What can parents do to prevent laryngitis?
Acute laryngitis is a type of upper respiratory tract infection, reduce the chances of catching a cold, which means reducing the occurrence of laryngitis.
1, usually strengthen outdoor activities, appropriate more sunshine, enhance physical fitness.
2, if the child has anemia, malnutrition, rickets and other conditions, to correct as soon as possible.
3, during the flu epidemic, try to reduce the number of outings, avoid contact with patients with respiratory infections, and take your baby to places where there are many people and no air circulation, such as crowded supermarkets, etc.
4, pay attention to climate change, add and remove clothes in a timely manner, avoid a cold and a hot wind chill.
5, maintain the appropriate room temperature and humidity, open the windows twice a day regularly to ventilate the room.
6, life should be regular, diet should not be too full, light diet, ensure sleep.
7, pay attention to oral hygiene, develop the habit of brushing teeth and rinsing mouth in the morning, after meals and before bed.
8.Avoid children shouting.
9.Eat more pears, raw radish and other foods that help to moisten the throat.
10.Treat nasal diseases promptly and keep the nasal passages clear.
11, because acute laryngitis may occur repeatedly, for acute laryngitis attacks more frequent baby, home can be prepared a little hormone drugs, such as prednisone, in the attack first oral once, and then go to the hospital to reduce the risk of choking.