With the arrival of winter, respiratory infections increase, especially in the little ones. Catarrhs, colds or flu become regular visitors, especially in nurseries and children’s classrooms. As parents, we must be aware of when the symptoms of these infections can lead to problems such as bronchospasm, which, in turn, can continue to affect them after the infection is over.
Bronchospasm occurs when the muscles of the bronchi contract, causing them to narrow and make it difficult for air to pass through. This causes coughing and the famous wheezing when breathing, because the capacity of these has been reduced, and the air has less space to circulate.
In the case of babies, bronchiolitis is one of the main causes of bronchospasm. This disease always arises as a result of a viral infection. Its symptoms are similar to those of a common cold, with runny nose, cough and general malaise, but bronchiolitis differs precisely in the appearance of wheezing and bronchospasms.
The main characteristic of bronchospasm is the sound that is made when breathing, and that resembles a slight whistling. The lack of air in infantile bronchospasm also causes them to breathe rapidly, and in the case of babies, it can be identified because the ribs go inward in the abdomen when breathing. It may sound complex to identify, but when you have it in front of you it is very obvious.
If you think your baby or child is suffering from bronchospasm, the best thing you can do is go to the emergency room at your health center. Some autonomous communities offer telephone numbers for pediatric emergencies, and they can be useful in this case, if you have doubts about the symptoms.
In general, bronchospasm can be prevented if we prevent the infections that cause it. To do this, we can implement some basic measures:
