Index
The bronchi are tubes that carry air to the lungs.
An infection in the bronchi causes the bronchi to become inflamed and cause bronchitis. Usually this disease can be caused by viruses, bacteria or any irritant.
Bronchitis is a common respiratory condition that can occur at any age. When left untreated and complicated, it can cause pneumonia .
Bronchitis attacks the immune system of a vulnerable person, in its chronic form, it especially affects smokers .
Inflammation causes thick mucus to form in the bronchial tubes and rise with a cough.
Types of bronchitis
There are two types of bronchitis:
Acute bronchitis
This type of bronchitis is short-lived. They are caused by infections due to viruses, sometimes they are caused by bacteria or lung irritants.
Viruses are the same viruses that cause colds and the common flu.
Viruses are spread by coughing, sneezing, and through physical contact.
Acute bronchitis lasts from a few days to 10 days. But the cough can persist for several more weeks until the infection clears. Several factors increase your risk for acute bronchitis.
Examples include exposure to tobacco smoke, dust, fumes, fumes, and air pollution.
Avoiding these lung irritants as much as possible can help reduce the risk of acute bronchitis.
Chronic bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis is a serious and ongoing disease.
It occurs when the lining of the bronchial tubes remains continuously irritated and inflamed and causes long-term coughing with mucus.
The main cause of chronic bronchitis is smoking.
Infection with viruses or bacteria in irritated bronchial tubes can worsen the condition and symptoms worsen and prolong chronic bronchitis.
Early diagnosis and treatment, along with quitting smoking and avoiding passive smoking, can improve quality of life.
A full recovery has very little chance in cases of severe chronic bronchitis.
Causes of bronchitis
The causes of bronchitis are lung infections or irritants. Sometimes bacteria can cause the condition.
Inhaling certain substances can irritate the respiratory tract. What increases the risk of the appearance of an acute bronchitis.
Lung irritants generally make symptoms worse.
Repeatedly inhaling fumes and dust irritate and damage the tissues of the respiratory tract causing chronic bronchitis.
The main risk factors for suffering from bronchitis are:
- Tobacco smoke: Both a smoker and people who inhale secondhand smoke are at greater risk of bronchitis than those who do not. Many adults who develop chronic bronchitis are smokers.
- Lung irritants: textiles, chemical fumes. Being frequently exposed to polluted air or air laden with harmful or irritating gases. Examples include jobs in coal mining, textile manufacturing, grain handling, and ranching.
- Gastroesophageal Reflux: Frequent incidents of heartburn can irritate the throat and cause inflammation.
- Weakened immune system: People whose immune system is weakened are at risk of developing bronchitis, and a simple illness like the common cold may have less resistance from the immune system to avoid illness.
- Age: People over 45, infants, and young children are at higher risk for bronchitis than people in other age groups.
- Sex: women are more likely to be diagnosed with chronic bronchitis than men.
- Lung diseases: Having an existing lung disease greatly increases the risk of bronchitis.
- Allergies: People with allergies may have symptoms of chronic bronchitis more often.
Symptoms of bronchitis
It is accompanied by symptoms such as the flu, persistent cough, shortness of breath, congestion, and wheezing. Whistling is common in people with acute bronchitis.
This happens when air circulation in the bronchial tubes is hampered by inflammation. Bronchitis prevents the proper functioning of the respiratory system.
However, acute bronchitis usually clears up in less than a fortnight. With appropriate medications and treatments, the patient with acute bronchitis can be cured.
On the other hand, chronic bronchitis is the presence of long-term symptoms: months or even years. Chronic bronchitis also requires intense treatment.
If this condition is not treated properly, symptoms can recur and even get worse to some degree of complication.
Treatment of chronic bronchitis depends on the trigger.
Signs and symptoms of chronic bronchitis include coughing, wheezing, and chest discomfort. There are a large number of expectorations.
This type of cough is often called a smoker’s cough.
Diagnosis
In fact, it is important to know the cause of bronchitis. Knowing the cause will help establish an appropriate treatment for the disease.
While some medications can be given to the patient as a first aid measure, the doctor should always be consulted.
It is also good to notify about these medications that were administered to the patient.
The doctor will usually diagnose bronchitis based on its signs and symptoms, how long the patient has been coughing, and when the cough occurs. It is necessary for the doctor to know:
- If you have recently had a cold or flu.
- If the patient is a smoker, or has been exposed as a passive smoker to cigarette smoke.
- If the patient has been exposed to dust, smoke, irritants, or air pollutants.
- The color of the mucus, to see if you have a bacterial infection.
The doctor will use a stethoscope to listen for wheezing or some other abnormal sounds in your lungs.
It will test the oxygen levels in your blood using a sensor attached to the tip of your toe.
And may recommend a chest x-ray, pulmonary function tests, or blood tests
Treatment of bronchitis
Treatment for both types of bronchitis is intended to relieve symptoms and make breathing easier.
Treatment of acute bronchitis is:
- Much rest.
- Consume plenty of fluids.
- Medications such as aspirin and acetaminophen.
- Antibiotics in cases where the cause is a bacterial infection.
- Inhaled medications, if there is wheezing with the disease.
A nebulizer is recommended to treat bronchitis in older people, infants, and young children, as its age-related weakness can cause difficulties when using an inhaler.
Treatment of acute bronchitis is:
- The administration of oxygen therapy. This treatment can help you breathe easier and provide your body with needed oxygen.
- Combining medications such as bronchodilators and inhaled steroids with the use of nebulizers.
- Acetaminophen to treat fever.
- Use of humidifiers or steam to help expectoration, relieve wheezing and shortness of breath.
- Medicines for the relief or reduction of coughs and for the treatment of inflammation of the airways.
Prevention
Acute or chronic bronchitis cannot always be prevented. However, steps can be taken to reduce the risk of both conditions.
- Do not smoke and try to avoid other lung irritants, dust, fumes, vapors, and air pollution.
- A mask should be worn over the mouth and nose when using paint, strippers, varnish, or other substances that give off strong fumes, in order to protect the lungs.
- Wash your hands frequently to limit exposure to germs and bacteria. Administration of flu vaccines annually and a pneumonia vaccine.
- Visit the doctor regularly and take all medications as prescribed.
- If you have chronic bronchitis, you can benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation.
Complications of bronchitis
People with underlying lung or heart problems can develop complications, such as pneumonia and asthma, due to bronchitis.
Repeated episodes of severe bronchitis can also be a complication.
Children and the elderly are often more vulnerable to complications related to bronchitis, such as pneumonia and, in severe cases, respiratory failure.
Pneumonia
If bronchitis persists with a severe cough lasting more than three weeks, along with fever or chest or shoulder pain, you may have pneumonia.
Pneumonia occurs when the infection spreads beyond the bronchial tubes and into the lung tissue.
This causes the small air sacs in the lungs to fill with fluid.
A fast heartbeat, rapid breathing, and fluid in the lungs, usually diagnosed with a chest X-ray, can confirm pneumonia.
Bacterial pneumonia usually appears more quickly than viral pneumonia and will require taking antibiotics.
A less symptomatic and less severe bacterial pneumonia is also called walking pneumonia.
Asthma
If you have asthma and acute bronchitis develops, an asthma attack is likely to be triggered.
Depending on the severity of the asthma attack, the doctor may recommend a bronchodilator, particularly an inhaled corticosteroid along with a bronchodilator and oral corticosteroids such as prednisone, to calm the inflammation of the airways and provide relief.
