WARNING: Every year, children threaten irreversible lung damage due to cough!

WARNING: Every year, children threaten irreversible lung damage due to cough!

slimy cough in children who lasts for more than four weeks is a frequent but serious concern. Dr. Anne Schlegendal, senior physician at the University Children's Clinic Bochum, warns that this protracted bacterial cough, also known as protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB), can lead to serious long -term damage. The risks extend to irreversible chronic lung damage, such as News Rub reports.

A recently published study in the magazine Pediatric Pulmonology showed that children with PBB need antibiotics for at least two weeks to counteract their lung function. The results of this investigation come from a follow -up examination of children who were previously treated for respiratory infections.

frequency and challenges

stubborn cough is the most common reason for visits to the doctor in outpatient practice, especially in children. According to PMC , colds are the most common trigger of cough in preschool children who experience about 6-10 cough-related episodes per year. The chalet for pediatricians is to distinguish between normal cough and chronic cough, which can last for four weeks.

Although about 50 % of children are cough -free within a week, about 10 % of children have cough episodes that last longer. This can lead to a significant burden for affected children and their families. The incorrect diagnosis of chronic cough as asthma is also worrying, since up to two thirds of the children with chronic cough have previously received asthma therapy that was often not helpful.

The meaning of the correct diagnosis

The symptoms of a permanent cough can indicate various underlying pathologies, including PBB, and missed diagnoses (such as foreign body aspiration) can lead to long -term lung problems. A clear definition for chronic cough varies between 4 and 8 weeks, with some experts prefer 8 weeks as an upper limit.

The most common respiratory pathogens associated with PBB are, among other things, h. Influenzae , streptococcus pneumoniae and staphylococcus aureus . The lack of adequate treatment can lead to serious lung diseases. Therefore, consistent therapy and long -term child pneumological support is required.