Acute bronchitis , also known as cold chest , is a short-term inflammation of the bronchi (large and medium airways) in the lungs. The most common symptom is coughing. Other symptoms include coughing slime, wheezing, shortness of breath, fever, and chest discomfort. Infection may last from a few to ten days. The cough may persist for several weeks afterward with a total duration of symptoms usually around three weeks. Some have symptoms up to six weeks.
In over 90% of cases the cause is a viral infection. This virus can spread through the air when people cough or with direct contact. Risk factors include exposure to tobacco smoke, dust, and other air pollution. A small number of cases are caused by high levels of air or bacterial pollution such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae or Bordetella pertussis . Diagnosis is usually based on signs and symptoms of a person. Sputum color does not indicate whether a viral or bacterial infection. Determining the underlying organism is usually unnecessary. Other causes of similar symptoms include asthma, pneumonia, bronchiolitis, bronchiectasis, and COPD. Chest radiographs may be useful for detecting pneumonia.
Prevention is by not smoking and avoid other lung irritation. Frequent hand washing can also be protective. Treatment of acute bronchitis usually involves rest, paracetamol (acetaminophen), and NSAIDs to help fever. Cough medicine has little support for its use and is not recommended in children younger than six years. Salbutamol is not effective in children with acute cough that has no limited airways. There is weak evidence that salbutamol may be useful in adults with wheezing because of limited airways; however, can cause nervousness, trembling or tremors. Antibiotics generally should not be used. The exception is when acute bronchitis is caused by pertussis. Temporary evidence supports honey and pelargonium to aid the symptoms.
Acute bronchitis is one of the most common diseases. About 5% of adults are affected and about 6% of children have at least one episode a year. It happens more often in winter. More than 10 million people in the United States visit the doctor every year for this condition with about 70% receiving antibiotics, most of which are not needed. There is an attempt to reduce the use of antibiotics in acute bronchitis.
Video Acute bronchitis
Signs and symptoms
Bronchitis may be indicated by expectorant cough, shortness of breath (dyspnea), and wheezing. Occasionally, chest pain, fever, and fatigue or malaise can also occur. In addition, bronchitis caused by Adenoviridae can cause systemic and gastrointestinal symptoms as well. However, cough due to bronchitis can continue for up to three weeks or more even after all other symptoms subside.
Maps Acute bronchitis
Cause
Acute bronchitis can be caused by infectious pathogens, most commonly viruses. Typical viruses include respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, influenza, and others. Bacteria are unusual pathogens but may include Myocoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Bordetella pertussis Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae .
- Damage caused by irritation of the airways leads to inflammation and causes neutrophils to infiltrate the lung tissue.
- Mucosal hypersecretion is promoted by substances released by neutrophils.
- Further obstruction to the airways is caused by more goblet cells in the small airways. This is typical of chronic bronchitis.
- Although infection is not a reason or a cause of chronic bronchitis, it is seen to help maintain bronchitis.
Diagnosis
Physical examination will often show a decrease in the intensity of breath sounds, wheezing, ronchi, and prolonged expiration. Most doctors rely on the presence of a dry or wet cough that persists as evidence of bronchitis.
Tests can be performed on patients with cough and shortness of breath:
- Chest X-rays are useful for getting rid of pneumonia more common in those with fever, rapid heart rate, rapid breathing rate, or aging.
- Sputum samples show neutrophil granulocytes (inflammatory white blood cells) and exhibit cultures that have pathogenic microorganisms such as Streptococcus species .
- Blood tests will show inflammation (as shown by increased white blood cell counts and increased C-reactive protein).
Prevention
Haemophilus influenzae vaccine that is nontypeable as a whole can protect against disease, but "the evidence varies".
Treatment
Most cases are limited and self-limiting within a few weeks.
Antibiotics
The evidence does not support the general use of antibiotics in acute bronchitis. While some evidence suggests antibiotics speed up a cough resolution of about 12 hours there is a greater risk of digestive problems and no change in long-term outcomes. The use of antibiotics also leads to the promotion of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which increases morbidity and mortality.
Smoking cess
To help the bronchial tree heal faster and not make the bronchitis worse, smokers should quit smoking completely.
Prognosis
Acute bronchitis usually lasts several days or weeks. It may accompany or follow a cold or flu, or it can happen by itself. Bronchitis usually begins with a dry cough, including waking the sufferer at night. After a few days, it develops into a more wet or productive cough, which can be accompanied by fever, fatigue, and headaches. Fever, fatigue, and malaise can last only a few days, but a wet cough can last for several weeks.
If the cough lasts more than a month, some doctors may refer to an authorinolaryngology specialist (ear, nose and throat) to see if a condition other than bronchitis causes irritation. It is possible that having an irritated bronchial tube for several months may inspire asmatic conditions in some patients.
In addition, if a person starts coughing mucus stained with blood, a person should see a doctor. In rare cases, doctors may test to see if the cause of bloody sputum is a serious condition such as tuberculosis or lung cancer.
Epidemiology
Acute bronchitis is one of the most common diseases. About 5% of adults are affected and about 6% of children have at least one episode a year. It happens more often in winter.
In infants under one year of age, acute bronchitis is the most common reason for admission to hospital after an emergency department visit in the US in 2011.
References
External links
- Acute Bronchitis FamilyDoctor.org (American Family Physician Academy)
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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