Acute Bronchitis in Childhood

Abstract

There will be a discussion of the manifestation of acute bronchitis in children and note differences with that seen in the adult population. In particular, the need for identifying the specific cause of coughing such as inhalation of a foreign body or diagnosing the newly recognized protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB) in children is emphasized. Understanding the differing pathophysiology of afferent hypersensitivity and inflammatory infiltrates in the bronchial epithelium enables for different therapeutic approaches. Therefore, the chapter concludes with a discussion on the role for anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial therapies in children, as well as possible intervention to the neuronal hypersensitivity. Anti-tussive and mucolytic modes of treatment are also reviewed.