Asthmatic bronchitis, the symptoms and treatment of which deserve special attention, is a widespread disease. Everyone is at risk, both an adult and a child. The most important sign of the disease is the accumulation of mucus in the bronchi. It is not displayed on its own. As a result, cramps occur, manifested by coughing, against which the bronchial channels narrow.
Pathology Description
The disease is characterized as an inflammatory process of the lower respiratory tract. Doctors say that it is allergic reactions to various irritants (dust, pollen, bacteria and viruses) that provoke asthmatic bronchitis. Symptoms and treatment of pathology deserve special attention.
It is very important, as soon as the diagnosis is confirmed, immediately begin therapy. Otherwise, as a result of complications, bronchitis runs the risk of developing into asthma. And this is already a rather dangerous ailment. Pulmonologists consider bronchitis a harbinger of asthma. These diseases differ only in the absence of asthma attacks in the first case.
The disease affects people of all ages. But most often it manifests itself at an early age. Permanent companions of bronchitis are rhinitis, dermatitis and other allergic reactions in a chronic form.
What triggers asthmatic bronchitis
Symptoms and treatment of pathology are determined by the sources that caused the disease.
As a rule, the causes of the development of the disease are hidden in the nature of irritants:
- Non-infectious . Various household and food irritants. These include: dust, wool, pollen, cleaning products, paint, citrus fruits, chocolate, nuts, seafood. Also, this group of allergens includes all red and orange berries, fruits and vegetables (even carrots).
- Infectious . These are viral mucosal irritants. These include staphylococcus, fungal infections, mold, and others.
At a young age, asthmatic bronchitis can occur as a result of a hereditary predisposition or allergy to a medicine, vaccination. Also the causes of the disease can be respiratory diseases: bronchitis, flu, measles, whooping cough.
Symptoms of pathology
It is important to recognize a disease such as asthmatic bronchitis in a timely manner. Symptoms and treatment can only be correctly interpreted by a specialist. Therefore, if you suspect a pathology, you should consult a competent doctor.
The disease is characterized by pronounced symptoms. Therefore, you can suspect the presence of asthmatic bronchitis yourself.
The characteristic signs of the disease are:
- Paroxysmal prolonged cough. It intensifies during small physical exertion, laughter or crying. Since this is an allergic reaction, it will be preceded by nasal congestion and sore throat. It all starts with a dry cough, and after a couple of days sputum appears.
- Difficult exhalation. This is due to narrowing of the bronchi.
- Increased sweating, lethargy and malaise.
- Wheezing in the bronchi. Characteristic wheezing will be heard even without a stethoscope.
- Perhaps a slight increase in body temperature.
If asthmatic bronchitis is caused by a reaction to a household irritant, then after excluding the allergen from the environment, the symptoms will disappear. If the cause of the disease is an infection, then the temperature will rise and a runny nose will appear.
The course of treatment for asthmatic bronchitis lasts less than a month. The disease itself does not have any effect on other internal organs. But with frequent repetition, pathology can lead to bronchial asthma.
Obstructive asthma disease
This is a complicated form of the disease.
Such asthmatic bronchitis is characterized by:
- night cough
- respiratory failure
- a little choke
- outgoing thick sputum of dark green color.
Contaminated air leads to this disease.
Therapy is based on mucolytic and moisturizing drugs. Homemade recipes will benefit. For patients diagnosed with obstructive asthmatic bronchitis, symptoms and treatment with folk remedies should first be discussed with a doctor. As a rule, soda inhalation with the addition of herbs is recommended.
It is also necessary to deal with symptoms. Temperature-lowering drugs may be used. If necessary, rinse the nose and nasopharynx.
Chronic Asthmatic Bronchitis
If the cough and other symptoms that characterize asthmatic bronchitis do not leave the patient for more than 3 months, and the disease repeats every year, then this is a chronic stage.
Most of all, workers of manufacturing enterprises suffer from this pathology. Often, the disease is detected in smokers. Tobacco, dust and fumes of harmful chemicals affect the bronchial mucosa. As a result, the infection easily enters the body.
More often, men older than 50 suffer from such an ailment as asthmatic bronchitis. Symptoms and treatment in adults should be considered exclusively by a specialist. Indeed, at this age, as a result of the disease, the functioning of the bronchi is severely impaired. The mucous membrane is simply not able to completely remove phlegm.
In the chronic stage, asthmatic bronchitis is also obstructive and non-obstructive. The course of the disease without obstruction allows the patient to live a full life and work. However, such persons are sensitive to weather changes and often suffer from colds. And people with obstructive form should strictly follow all the doctor's recommendations to prevent the development of pulmonary embolism. Treatment in this case is necessary. It will take a long time.
The first sign of chronic asthmatic bronchitis is morning cough. Then it begins to manifest itself day and night, and in the cold season intensifies. Over time, coughing becomes round-the-clock and distracting. Accompanying him is a constant discharge of sputum. During exacerbations, it becomes yellow-green in color, with the presence of pus and smells unpleasant. The disease can lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Pathology in children
For the first time, a disease can manifest itself even in preschool age.
This happens due to the structural features of the bronchial tree:
- the tendency of the mucosa to swelling,
- narrowed passage in the bronchi.
During the reaction to the stimulus, severe edema develops, the bronchi close as much as possible.
For a child, this is a severe pathology - asthmatic bronchitis. Symptoms and treatment in children must be discussed with a pulmonologist. Toddlers need proper therapy.
To remove sputum in young children, nebulizers are used - compressor inhalers containing bronchodilator drugs. A pulmonologist can be prescribed a short hormonal course in the presence of severe shortness of breath.
Adult disease
Pathology can appear at any age.
In adults, the disease develops as a result of:
- work in hazardous industries,
- long-term smoking
- polluted ecosystem
- weakened immunity.
Not every person associates morning coughing fits with bronchitis. Because of this, a late discovered disease manages to develop and go to a more serious stage.
Pathology diagnostics
Do not rush to diagnose yourself, even if symptoms indicate asthmatic bronchitis. Treatment of pathology can only be started after the doctor confirms the disease. For this, the patient will need to undergo some examinations.
In laboratory conditions, the following studies are performed to identify the ailment:
- X-ray May show emphysema.
- Blood analysis. Shows the level of immunoglobulins E and A, histamine. In case of illness, it is increased, and the level of the titer of compliment, on the contrary, is reduced.
- Scraping the skin.
- Back sowing sputum. The response to antibiotics is tested.
- Endoscopy The mucous membrane of the bronchi is examined in detail.
- Spirography. The volume of exhaled air is measured.
- Picklometry. The exhalation rate of air is measured in the morning and evening. Then there is a percentage ratio between them. For a healthy person, the norm is 20%.
- Pneumotachography. Identification of the causes of obstructed air passage through the bronchi.
Traditional treatment
In each patient, the disease proceeds depending on individual characteristics. Therefore, there is no single treatment regimen. Initially, the doctor will determine what factors provoked asthmatic bronchitis. Symptoms and treatment in adults with folk remedies and medicines are completely dependent on the sources of the pathology.
Depending on the characteristics of the disease, a pulmonologist prescribes the appropriate therapy for each patient:
- Viral bronchitis. Antiviral agents are prescribed.
- Allergic pathology. Antihistamines are recommended.
- Infectious disease. A course of antibiotics is prescribed.
In addition, bronchodilators, inhalations with alkaline and sodium chloride solutions are prescribed to everyone without exception.
Folk remedies
But remember that only a doctor should prescribe you drugs with which you will treat asthmatic bronchitis.
Treatment with folk remedies can also be carried out, but according to the purpose and under the supervision of a pulmonologist. Such activities can support the body and prevent the occurrence of asthma.
There are various recipes:
- As a mucolytic agent and antibiotics, you can take 1 tsp. turnip juice with honey (1: 1 ratio) 4 p. / Day.
- A decoction of leaves of St. John's wort, coltsfoot, nettle and motherwort (1 tbsp. L. Collection is poured into a glass of hot boiled water and infused for 30 minutes). The broth should be drunk for a month.
- To prevent coughing fits, it is recommended to drink a glass of milk with the addition of 15 drops of propolis tincture.
- Take inhalations with soda. 1 tsp dilute soda in a glass of water, boil the solution in a teapot. Steam is inhaled for 10 minutes through a paper tube put on the spout of the kettle.
- Whey also has a mucolytic effect. It must be drunk 2-3 times a day, warmed up or at room temperature.
- Infusion of clover or hypericum flowers with honey. The product is prepared and used as regular tea. Recommended to improve expectoration of sputum.
However, remember that this is a rather complicated pathology - asthmatic bronchitis. Folk remedies are effective and efficient. However, they cannot replace medications prescribed by a specialist. But at the same time they are a great addition to the main treatment.