Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in Children - Best Treatment

Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in Children are a serious cause of death. The World Health Organization reports that approximately 20% of children under five die of ARTI every year.

Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in children (ARTI) cause extreme breathlessness. If not treated in time, it can lead to death. Learn about Acute Respiratory Tract Infections' symptoms, types, causes, diagnosis, prevention, medicine, treatment, and other important details.

Acute Respiratory Tract Infection (ARTI) is a respiratory infection that starts in the throat and might reach the lungs after passing through the vocal cords. It also affects the nose and ears. The infection is prevalent in developing countries, such as India. 

There are two types of Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in Children:

Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI)

1. It is an infection caused by different types of viruses. It stays only in the upper air passageway of the body, including the nose, ear, larynx, pharynx, and so on. However, Upper Respiratory Tract Infection does not affect the lungs. Moreover, they are easily treatable. 

Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (LRTI)

1. Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (LRTI) are the 4th most common reason for death among people after Ischemic heart disease, Cerbovacularic disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
2. Diseases such as Bronchitis and Pneumonia come under LRTI. As the infection affects the lungs, immediate treatment must be given to the patient to prevent any life-threatening situation.

Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in Children symptoms depend on the type of ARTI, i.e., Upper Respiratory Tract Infections and Lower Respiratory Tract Infections. In the case of LRTI, the child is more likely to experience coughing as the chief symptom. 

Meanwhile, the prime symptoms of URTI include sore throat, sneezing, and headaches. Regardless, parents must seek urgent medical care if their child experiences symptoms like high fever (around 104 F/ 39 C), chills, breathlessness, and unconsciousness. 

The major symptoms of Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in children are as follows: 

1. Fatigue
2. Nasal congestion (stuffy nose)
3. Cough
4. Body pain
5. Runny nose
6. Sore throat
7. Faintness

Acute respiratory infection includes all the diseases related to the respiratory tract. It's an umbrella term for every type of respiratory disorder.

The following are the major cause of  forming Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI):

1. Sinusitis
2. Epiglottis
3. Common cold
4. Laryngitis 
5. Acute pharyngitis (leads to acute rheumatic fever)
6. Ear infections (lead to deafness)

The following are the major cause of forming Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (LRTI):

1. Acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECB)
2. Pneumonia
3. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
4. Bronchitis 

There are various risk factors for Acute respiratory infection, such as passive smoking, exposure to wood smoke, and close contact with an ARI infected. However, children are likely to develop Acute respiratory infection due to the following major ways:

1. Eating without washing hands
2. Touching contaminated objects
3. Playing outside, hence contracting the virus
4. Having close contact with ARI-infected children
5. Coughing/sneezing and then not washing hands
6. Rubbing their eyes, nose, and ears with unwashed hands

There's no particular way to prevent Acute respiratory infection in Children. Because children are more careless than adults, they forget to wash their hands after returning home. Moreover, they also sometimes eat food with the same dirty hands. Hence, these practices must be stopped to prevent infection. 

These are the following ways to prevent Acute respiratory infection in children:

1. Never eat food/ drinks without washing the hands
2. Always sanitise/ wash hands on returning home
3. Avoid contact with people who are ARI-infected
4. Change clothes more often
5. Maintain strict hygiene
6. Do not go to ARI-endemic areas
7. Avoid shaking hands at school/coaching
8. Do not share food items
9. Avoid sharing personal care items and stationery
10. Seek medical care even on the slightest ARI symptoms 

As the cause of infection could be different in every person, there's no specific diagnosis for acute respiratory infection. However, doctors could conduct a few medical examinations based on factors like patient history. Below is the complete diagnosis for acute respiratory infection in detail:

Patient History

First and foremost, the doctor will ask about the child's medical history. He would want to know if the child had any respiratory disease in the past as well.

This information will help the doctor to guess the exact disease and cause of acute respiratory infection. For instance, if the child had pneumonia in the past, the doctor can prescribe a pneumonia test. This could help the doctor in two ways:

1. If the child gets pneumonia again, treatment can immediately be started because of the child's earlier medical reports and the new ones combined.
2. The test will remove its possibility if it's not pneumonia.

Clinical Examination

1. The doctor could perform several clinical examinations. First and foremost, the doctor would check the pattern and sound of the child's breath. If the doctor experiences any abnormal sound while breathing, it would further help to detect if there is a type of fluid leakage in the lungs. 
2. The doctor could also ask for a sputum test to detect the presence and type of bacteria/ virus causing acute respiratory infection. 
3. A pulse oximeter could also be conducted to determine the oxygen level in the patient's body. 
4. Further, a swab test could be performed too. 

Additionally, most physical examinations are conducted for upper acute respiratory infection. Meanwhile, lab tests are extensively performed for lower acute respiratory infections.

For URTI, the doctor will conduct physical exams to check for symptoms, such as: 

1. Redness of eyes and throat
2. Enlargement of tonsils
3. Redness inside the nasal cavity wall
4. Facial tenderness
5. White secretions on the tonsils

In the case of LRTI, the doctor will conduct several other tests, including:

1. Blood report
2. X-ray
3. CT Scan

Sometimes the  symptoms of Acute Respiratory Tract Infection in Children symptoms match those of heart disease symptoms. Therefore, a heart test could also be performed to rule out any possible heart disease. The doctors could ask for the following heart tests:

1. Echocardiogram
2. Electrocardiogram 

How to prepare for Doctor's Consultation?

What can you do?

1. If one sees any symptoms of acute respiratory infections in their child, they should first make an appointment with their doctor as quickly as possible. 
2. Following that, read and complete all the registration formalities correctly to receive the best medical care at the earliest. 

What to expect from the doctor? 

The doctor would ask for the child's medical history to detect what's really going on. Therefore, it's best to bring the child's medical reports, if any. There could be a variety of physical and laboratory examinations to diagnose the disease, such as:

1. Swab test
2. CT scan
3. X-ray
4. Pulse oximetry
5. Breathing test 

The child might receive mechanical ventilation (to push oxygen into the lungs with a machine) and other relevant treatments based on the diagnosis.

What questions should you ask the doctor? 

When visiting a hospital, ask the doctor appropriate questions, including:

1. What's the prevention for acute respiratory infection?
2. How long should the child take bed rest?
3. What will be the recovery periods?
4. Is there any need for surgery?
5. How long will the medication be continued? 
6. Is the infection serious?
7. Will the infection easily be managed? 
8. Are there any side effects of the medicines? 

The treatment of acute respiratory infection varies from person to person. Regardless, these are a few treatments the patient might receive: 

Home Remedies

Children affected with acute respiratory infection should be given home-based treatment, such as:

1. Chicken soup: To help loosen congestion
2. Water, warm lemonade, clear broth
3. Saline nasal drops: To weaken congestion
4. Saline water: Gargling with it can relieve throat pain

Medicines

The child could be given medicines, such as:

1. Ibuprofen
2. Acetaminophen 

The medicine must be given under medical guidance. Please do not give your child medicines carrying high doses or those for adults. 

Lifestyle Changes 

Lifestyle changes could also help in acute respiratory infections. Some lifestyle changes to consider include: 

Foods and drinks

1. Avoid giving foods that might cause cough buildup, including Cold drinks and caffeine.  
2. Adopt healthy veggies and fruits. Drinks such as hot soup, water, and lemonade should be given. 
3. If the child can do light exercises, it would help treat congestion. 

Alternative Options

Homoeopathic Treatment: Homoeopathy is an effective way to treat acute respiratory infections. A few of the best homoeopathic acute respiratory infection medicines include: 

1. Belladonna
2. Adrenaline 
3. Eriodictyon californicum
4. Phosphorus
5. Aconitum napellus

Ayurvedic Treatment: Ayurvedic treatment is also ideal for treating acute respiratory infections in children. There are many herbs to treat acute respiratory infections, which include:

1. Kalmegh leaf
2. Garlic
3. Ginger
4. Vasaka leaf
5. Astragalus

Support

1. Parents must indulge with their children to help them feel better. 
2. Also, they must ensure the child isn't experiencing any mental trauma.
3. Doctors and parents must boost the child mentally as much as they can. 

Other treatments

Apart from all this, the child might be given a few treatments to bring the oxygen level in the bloodstream to normal. These treatments include:

1. Mechanical Ventilation: This machine helps push oxygen into the lungs and remove some extra fluid from the air sacs. 
2. Supplemental Oxygen: A tight mask is used to supply oxygen to the body. 
3. Intravenous fluid is an essential factor in the proper functioning of the body. Too much fluid or too less fluid, both conditions can cause severe problems like strain in the heart and shock. Therefore, managing intravenous fluid is a critical criterion. 

Note: The treatment for acute respiratory infection in children entirely depends on the child's medical history, current health condition, and doctor's opinion. 

There are several complications of acute respiratory infection in children. Out of these, some can even be life-threatening. Acute respiratory infection complications include:

1. Deafness
2. Pneumonia
3. Inflammation in the lungs
4. Pus buildup in the lungs 

If not treated timely, the infection may cause a low level of oxygen in the blood and, ultimately, death of the patient. 

When to see a doctor? 

If left untreated, acute respiratory tract infections in children can take a toll on their life. Hence, visit a doctor in case the child experiences the following symptoms:

1. Excessive cough
2. Unable to take liquid for 4-5 hours
3. Wheezing
4. High fever 

Parents should call emergency if the child:

1. Appears pale 
2. Feels difficulty breathing 
3. Grunts or wheezes