25% of pediatric emergencies in Quiron Infanta Luisa are related to bronchitis and pneumonia.

The emergency service of the Quirón Infanta Luisa Hospital in Seville has identified an increase in the number of cases of bronchitis and pneumonia being treated in pediatric emergency departments in recent weeks, with one in four children experiencing these symptoms. Similarly, among adults there is also a 20% increase in emergencies due to an increase in upper respiratory tract illnesses.

Thus, the coordinator of the general emergency service of the Quironsalud Infanta Luisa Hospital, Dr. Auxiliadora Caballero, noted in a statement that activity in the field of emergency care for adults in April 2024 increased by 20% compared to 2023. .

In his opinion, “this is largely due to the increase in observed diseases of the upper respiratory tract, probably influenced by the weather, as well as the seasonal period in which we find ourselves, when allergic processes are exacerbated, which also affect and cause symptoms associated with the upper respiratory tract .

In this regard, the pediatrician of the Quirónsalud Infanta Luisa Hospital, Juan Ramon Prieto Massoni, explained that in children, respiratory diseases are exacerbated in cases of bronchitis and pneumonia, which account for 25% of pediatric care and 40%. hospitalizations that are done in his hospital room. Pneumonia causes an infection of the alveoli in the lungs, which can fill with fluid or pus, causing symptoms such as coughing or difficulty breathing.

“Typical symptoms are fever and cough, older children may have pain on one side, since with basal pneumonia near the diaphragm, abdominal pain is often observed, while in infants more general symptoms are common – irritability, insomnia, diarrhea. refusal to eat and vomiting, among other things,” he added, while emphasizing that “pneumonia is one of the most common infections in childhood, especially under the age of five.” “Risk factors include prematurity, lack of breastfeeding, second-hand smoke exposure, malnutrition, day care attendance, recurrent respiratory infections, and a history of wheezing or otitis media.”

For his part, Andres Alberto Osuna Vera, also a pediatrician at the Quironsalud Infanta Luisa Hospital, describes bronchitis as a clinical condition caused by inflammation of the lower respiratory tract, especially the bronchi, which in 90% of cases is associated with viral infections. , and the remaining 10% are due to bacterial infections.

The predominant symptom is a cough with or without sputum, usually lasting several days and usually occurring in conjunction with other upper respiratory tract conditions such as a cold. “Vomiting caused by coughing or phlegm is common, as are other symptoms such as fever, general malaise, hoarseness and the most dangerous symptom: difficulty breathing,” he added.

“The duration of the disease is very variable, but usually it ranges from three to fourteen days depending on the age of the child, the severity of the condition and the response to treatment,” said Osuna Vera, clarifying that since it is a viral virus, it is usually spread at school or in the home of cohabitants , although, as a general rule, “exceptional isolation measures are not necessary, other than staying away from school if there is a fever, difficulty breathing or general malaise.”

In this regard, Maria del Mar Ruiz Montero, general emergency physician at the Quironsalud Infanta Luisa Hospital, noted that, as in adults, upper respiratory tract diseases can develop into lower respiratory tract infections, which also lead to episodes of bronchitis or pneumonia. The main symptoms of which are fever, cough, sputum production, pleuritic chest pain, a feeling of shortness of breath and rapid breathing and heartbeat.

“The prognosis is excellent for relatively young and healthy patients, but we must not forget that many pneumonias are severe or even fatal in older and sick patients, so to prevent pneumonia there are certain types of vaccines that are offered to vulnerable people. or a higher risk,” emphasized the doctor, who, in relation to bronchitis, identified mucus from the nose, sore throat and fatigue, cough, first dry and then productive, with mucus as signs of this condition. “Acute bronchitis itself does not cause serious complications, but the cough can last two to three weeks or even longer,” he said.