Bronchitis occurs most often during the cold and flu season, usually coupled with an upper respiratory infection.

• Several viruses cause bronchitis, including influenza A and B, commonly referred to as “the flu.”

• A number of bacteria are also known to cause bronchitis, such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which causes so-called walking pneumonia.

• Bronchitis also can occur when you inhale irritating fumes or dusts. Chemical solvents and smoke, including tobacco smoke, have been linked to acute bronchitis.

• People at increased risk both of getting bronchitis and of having more severe symptoms include the elderly, those with weakened immune systems, smokers, and anyone with repeated exposure to lung irritants.

Acute bronchitis most commonly occurs after an upper respiratory infection such as the common cold or a sinus infection. You may see symptoms such as fever with chills, muscle aches, nasal congestion, and sore throat.

• Cough is a common symptom of bronchitis. The cough may be dry or may produce phlegm. Significant phlegm production suggests that the lower respiratory tract and the lung itself may be infected, and you may have pneumonia.

• The cough may last for more than two weeks. Continued forceful coughing may make your chest and abdominal muscles sore. Coughing can be severe enough at times to injure the chest wall or even cause you to pass out.

• Wheezing may occur because of the inflammation of the airways. This may leave you short of breath.

Although most cases of bronchitis clear up on their own, some people may have complications that their doctor can ease.

• Severe coughing that interferes with rest or sleep can be reduced with prescription cough medications.

• Wheezing may respond to an inhaler with albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin), which dilates the airways.

• If fever continues beyond four to five days, see the doctor for a physical examination to rule out pneumonia.

• See a doctor if the patient is coughing up blood, rust-colored sputum, or an increased amount of green phlegm.

Doctors diagnose bronchitis generally on the basis of symptoms and a physical examination.

• Usually no blood tests are necessary.

• If the doctor suspects the patient has pneumonia, a chest x-ray may be ordered.

• Doctors may measure the patient’s oxygen saturation (how well oxygen is reaching blood cells) using a sensor placed on a finger.

• Sometimes a doctor may order an examination and/or culture of a sample of phlegm coughed up to look for bacteria.

• By far, the majority of cases of bronchitis stem from viral infections. This means that most cases of bronchitis are short-term and require nothing more than treatment of symptoms to relieve discomfort.

• Antibiotics will not cure a viral illness.
  • Experts in in the field of infectious disease have been warning for years that overuse of antibiotics is allowing many bacteria to become resistant to the antibiotics available.

  • Doctors often prescribe antibiotics because they feel pressured by people’s expectations to receive them. This expectation has been fueled by both misinformation in the media and marketing by drug companies. Don’t expect to receive a prescription for an antibiotic if your infection is caused by a virus.
• Acetaminophen (Feverall, Panadol, Tylenol), aspirin, or ibuprofen (Motrin, Nuprin, Advil) will help with fever and muscle aches.
• Drinking fluids is very important because fever causes the body to lose fluid faster. Lung secretions will be thinner and easier to clear when the patient is well hydrated.
• A cool mist vaporizer or humidifier can help decrease bronchial irritation.
• An over-the-counter cough suppressant may be helpful. Preparations with guaifenesin (Robitussin, Breonesin, Mucinex) will loosen secretions; dextromethorphan-the “DM” in most over the counter medications (Benylin, Pertussin, Trocal, Vicks 44) suppresses cough.

Treatment of bronchitis can differ depending on the suspected cause.

• Medications to help suppress the cough or loosen and clear secretions may be helpful. If the patient has severe coughing spells they cannot control, see the doctor for prescription strength cough suppressants. In some cases only these stronger cough suppressants can stop a vicious cycle of coughing leading to more irritation of the bronchial tubes, which in turn causes more coughing.

• Bronchodilator inhalers will help open airways and decrease wheezing.
• Though antibiotics play a limited role in treating bronchitis, they become necessary in some situations.
  • In particular, if the doctor suspects a bacterial infection, antibiotics will be prescribed.

  • People with chronic lung problems also usually are treated with antibiotics.
• In rare cases, the patient may be hospitalized if they experience breathing difficulty that doesn’t respond to treatment. This usually occurs because of a complication of bronchitis, not bronchitis itself.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 at 17:25 and is filed under Ayam Brand. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.