BRONCHITIS
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the lining of your bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from your lungs. There are two main types of bronchitis: acute and chronic. Acute bronchitis, often caused by the same viruses that cause colds, usually starts as a sore throat, runny nose or sinus infection, and then spreads to your airways. It can cause a lingering dry cough, but it usually goes away on its own. In chronic bronchitis, a type of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), the inflamed bronchi produce a lot of mucus, leading to cough and difficulty getting air in and out of the lungs.
Symptoms
- Cough
- Production of sputum, which can be clear, white, yellowish-gray or green in color — rarely, it may be streaked with blood
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Slight fever and chills
- Chest discomfort
Causes
- Acute: Viruses similar to common cold
- Chronic: Smoking, environmental pollutants
Diagnosis
- Chest x-ray
- Sputum test
- Pulmonary function test
Preventions
- Stop smoking
- Hand washing
- Influenza vaccines
- Use of face masks
Risk Factors
- Smoking
- Decreased immunity
- Dust, irritants
- Gastric reflux
Complications
- Can turn into pneumonia and if recurrent then COPD can occur.
Treatment
- Acute:
- Antibiotics: Useless unless it is whooping cough or bacterial pneumonia
- Decongestants
- Bronchodilators: to dilate the bronchial tube for wheezing
- Adequate fluid intake
- Chronic: As for COPD
- Bronchodilators
- Antibiotics for infection
Oxygen therapy for severe cases