What is bronchitis? An inflammation of the bronchi that is usually caused by an infection. Learn all about it!
An inflammation of the bronchi that is usually caused by an infection is called bronchitis. In most cases this is a mild condition that will heal completely over time. But in cases where a person is chronically ill, has heart or lung disease or is elderly this condition can be quite serious. The common symptoms of infectious bronchitis are much like those of the common cold. They will often begin with tiredness, chills, aches, a low fever, runny nose and a sore throat. When a cough begins this will usually signal that the bronchitis is beginning. In most cases the cough is dry in the beginning with the person beginning to cough up small amounts of white or yellow sputum after a couple of days. As the infection progresses it is not uncommon to begin coughing up yellow or green sputum in larger amounts. The fever will rise and last for approximately three to five days. After this time the symptoms will usually begin to improve but the cough will remain for several weeks before subsiding.
In some cases the cough may remain dry and if the airway is blocked the person may feel short of breath. There may also be wheezing after the bouts of coughing and if not properly treated pneumonia may develop. Another type of bronchitis, irritative bronchitis, is known to be caused by different types of dust, fumes for caustic materials such as strong acids, chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, bromine, tobacco smoke or other smoke, ammonia, sulphur dioxide, various organic solvents and nitrogen dioxide. A doctor will make a diagnosis of bronchitis on the basis of a persons symptoms and the appearance of the materials being coughed up. If the symptoms are severe or they persist a doctor may take a chest x-ray to be sure the patient does not have pneumonia.
Acute bronchitis which comes on suddenly and is of short duration, as well as, chronic bronchitis which persist over a long period and tends to reoccur for several years, are common in people who smoke and in areas where atmospheric pollution is high. The bronchi are the airways that connect the trachea or windpipe to the lungs. In cases of acute bronchitis the condition is usually a complication of a viral infection such as the flu or a cold. Most often attacks of acute bronchitis will occur during the winter months. People with lung disease, babies and the elderly are most susceptible to this type of bronchitis. This condition is considered to be chronic bronchitis when sputum has been coughed up almost daily for three consecutive months in a two year period. In most cases this is the result of a wide spread narrowing and obstruction of the air ways in the lungs.
Chronic bronchitis may be one of the contributing factors to a lung disease known as emphysema. When a patient is diagnosed with both chronic bronchitis and emphysema this is called chronic obstructive lung disease. When this disease progresses the lungs will become more resistant to the blood flow which will result in pulmonary hypertension. Chronic bronchitis sufferers will usually have two or more episodes of bacterial or viral infection of the lungs every winter. Treatment of bronchitis would include taking aspirin or acetaminophen to reduce the fever, plenty of rest, lots of fluids and using a humidifier or the inhalation of steam. If a bacterial infection exist, antibiotics may be prescribed.
