Modern Approaches to the Treatment of Acute Bronchitis in Children

Cough is one of the most common complaints in pediatric practice. There are many causes of children coughing, but in most cases it can be a symptom of such diseases as: laryngitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia. Acute bronchitis in children can be obstructive and non-obstructive. Effective therapy requires simultaneous usage of several medicines, considering the anatomical and physiological features of broncho-pulmonary system in children and the peculiarities of bronchitis pathogenesis. Combinations of medicines that include mucolytic, bronchodilator, mukokinetics are the best in this case. Usage of combined drugs allows minimizing the number and multiplicity of taking medicines; reducing the risk of complications; ensuring simultaneous influence on all links of the APF and the pathogenesis of cough. Ascoril is one of the combined drugs representatives (Glenmark pharmaceutical company). It acts as a bronchodilator and expectorant. Ascoril syrup includes salbutamol sulfate, bromhexine hydrochloride, guaifenesin and menthol. The purpose of the research is to study combined expectorants efficacy and safety in the treatment of acute bronchitis in children. 30 children aged from 2 to 6 years old were examined. Children were divided into 2 groups: 1st – 15 patients with acute respiratory viral infection, acute non-obstructive bronchitis, RF 0; 2nd – 15 children with acute respiratory infections, acute obstructive bronchitis, RF I. Clinical and anamnestic examination; general clinical research; instrumental methods of investigation (ECG – 1 day of treatment, Chest X-Ray); interviewing of parents (evaluation of the effectiveness of therapy and drug tolerance using Visual Analogue Scale of cough and general feeling (VAS 1-10 points)) at the 1st, 3rd and 7th day of the disease were made for patients. Ascoril expectorant 5 ml (1 teaspoon) 3 times / day were prescribed for all children in addition to standard therapy. The duration of therapy was 7-10 days, depending on the disease dynamics. Ascoril usage was effective, both in acute non-obstructive bronchitis accompanied by hypersecretion of sputum, and in obstructive ones, in the pathogenesis of which the hyperreactivity of the bronchi and bronchospasm predominate, has been established in our study. Ascoril usage reduces the disease duration, eliminates bronchial hyperreactivity, relieves bronchial obstruction, facilitates sputum evacuation, promotes faster clinical recovery – completely eliminates cough in 90% of children by the 5th-6th day of therapy. Ascoril has an anti-anxiety effect, due to the Guaifenosin that is contained in it. Guaifenosin stabilizes the vegetative function, improves the life quality of the patients, which is disturbed by persistent, prolonged coughing. Ascoril has a good safety profile and is easy to use. There was no negative effect on the cardiovascular system in the process of treatment by Ascoril.