The University Of Maryland Medical Center (UMM) defines bronchitis as an inflammation of the principal air passages to the lungs. The principle passages to the lungs are called the bronchi, hence the name bronchitis. There are two types of bronchitis: one that is short lived known as acute bronchitis and one that lasts a long time or is always recurring called chronic bronchitis. Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (LPCH) at Stanford University states that the causes of bronchitis in children are external physical or chemical agents, viruses or bacteria and gastro-esophageal reflux disease.
External Physical or Chemical Agents
According to Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University, one of the most common causes of bronchitis in children is external or physical agents getting into the air passages. Some of these external agents are dusts, allergens and strong fumes. Children, Youth and Women's health service enumerates that many children get bronchitis due to being exposed to a lot of tobacco smoke. The chemicals in the tobacco smoke tend to irritate the eyes, nose and air passages thus easily leading to an infection. Cleaning compounds may also cause bronchitis in children if their fumes are inhaled.
Viruses or Bacteria
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University reports that one of the main causes of bronchitis in children is viruses or bacteria. It usually begins as a sore throat or a runny nose that thereafter spreads into the main airways. A common cold or many other viral infections of the upper respiratory tract will more often than not lead to bronchitis in children if not treated in time. Children who have cases of chronic sinusitis, allergies or those with enlarged tonsils and adenoids are also very susceptible to bronchitis. A lot of patients who get bronchitis virally or from bacteria will normally have pneumonia as a complication.
Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease
According to Mayoclinic.com, one of the causes of bronchitis in children is GERD, also known as gastro-esophageal disease. Medline Plus defines GERD as a condition that occurs when a muscle at the end of the esophagus cannot close properly enough to keep the contents of the stomach in the stomach. When the food is constantly backing up the esophagus, a few drops of the stomach acids may go into the upper airway. This may cause the inflammation of the bronchi.
