| While the most common respiratory diseases in | | | | Childhood tuberculosis is not at all contagious. In fact, |
| children and adults are colds and flu, there are other | | | | the child's body may be infected with the tuberculosis |
| lung diseases that children are also vulnerable to. | | | | germ but may heal by itself due to the action of the |
| One of these is bronchitis. The bronchial tubes | | | | immune system. No one including the child will be |
| transport the air we inhale to the air sacs in our lungs. | | | | aware of the problem. However, if this happens the |
| Here oxygen is absorbed into the bloodstreams. If | | | | child will become allergic to the tubercle bacillus and |
| these tubes become infected, we have bronchitis. | | | | test positive on a skin test. Therefore, it is very |
| Bronchitis often follows a cold and is identified by a dry, | | | | important, if a child does test positive, to follow with a |
| hacking cough. The cough usually lasts from four to six | | | | chest x ray. |
| weeks. Bronchitis is generally treated with over the | | | | In the event primary tuberculosis does require |
| counter cough medicines to control the cough and is | | | | treatment, today's medications are so effective that a |
| not contagious. | | | | child can usually return to school within two to five |
| When the air sacs in the lungs become infected, the | | | | days without endangering others. |
| result is pneumonia or pneumonitis. The illness is the | | | | Tuberculosis has been on the decrease in the United |
| same but pneumonitis refers to a small area of | | | | States for the past forty to fifty years. It is now found |
| infection with mild symptoms whereas pneumonia | | | | mostly in those regions that are near Mexico. |
| involves a large area of infection with more severe | | | | Sometimes an infection of the thin outer skin of the |
| symptoms. There are many types of pneumonias. | | | | lungs, known as pleurisy, follows as a complication of |
| One is caused by a virus and is so mild that the | | | | pneumonia or tuberculosis. However, pleurisy can also |
| person has only a mild cough and low fever. This is | | | | be caused by a virus. |
| called walking pneumonia. | | | | Symptoms of pleurisy are severe chest pain, high |
| Symptoms of pneumonia are similar to cold and flu | | | | fever and sometimes an outpouring of fluid between |
| symptoms. There is a cough accompanied by a high | | | | the lung and the chest wall. This outpouring is called |
| fever. The child generally does not feel well, is tired and | | | | pleural effusion. Intensive treatment is necessary |
| has no appetite. Pneumonia is not contagious and is | | | | whenever effusion takes place. |
| usually treated with antibiotics. | | | | However, the pleurisy that is caused by a virus is |
| A respiratory infection that invokes fear when it is | | | | hardly ever accompanied by effusion. But it can result |
| discovered in a child is tuberculosis. However, these | | | | in a severe, constricting chest pain. Because of the |
| fears are unfounded. There are two types of | | | | chest pain involved, this type of pleurisy is often |
| tuberculosis: primary and secondary. Primary | | | | referred to as the grippe or the devil's grippe. |
| tuberculosis occurs in children while adults contract | | | | While very painful, it runs it course in seven to fourteen |
| secondary tuberculosis. | | | | days. Antibiotic treatment is not necessary. |