The term "acute bronchitis" refers to a pathological process of an inflammatory nature. The defeat of the bronchial tree most often occurs against the background of the active life of viruses. A regular contact of the body with toxic compounds can also act as a provoking factor. The signs of acute bronchitis are similar to the clinical manifestations of colds, in connection with which some people untimely seek medical attention. Meanwhile, ignoring the pathology leads to the transition of inflammation into a chronic form. Pulmonologists are involved in the treatment of the disease. It is to the specialists of this profile that you need to contact when there are signs of acute bronchitis.
Etiology and pathogenesis
The penetration of the damaging agent into the body occurs together with the inhaled air, less often - lymphogenous or hematogenous. As a result, the process of development of inflammation in the bronchi starts. It is accompanied by swelling of the mucous membrane, hyperemia and, accordingly, impaired patency. After a while, a mucous or purulent secret begins to form. In addition, degenerative changes in the ciliary epithelium are characteristic of acute bronchitis. In severe forms of the disease, not only the mucous membrane, but also deeply located tissues are involved in the pathological process.
Bronchitis is a disease of an infectious nature. The causative agent is transmitted by airborne droplets. The main causes of the development of the disease:
- Active vital activity of bacteria (strepto-, pneumo- and staphylococci).
- Viruses (respiratory syncytial, influenza, etc.).
- Vital functions of atypical representatives (for example, mycoplasmas and chlamydia).
- Fungus.
- The presence of pathologies of a chronic nature, especially diseases of the respiratory system.
The following factors are provoking:
- Significant weakening of the immune system.
- Professional activities associated with regular contact of the body with toxic compounds.
- Hot or, on the contrary, too cold air.
- Dust.
- Smoke.
- Chlorine.
- Vapors of alkalis and acids.
- Hydrogen sulfide.
- Smoking
- The use of alcohol-containing drinks.
- Tendency to allergic reactions.
- Genetic predisposition.
- Frequent episodes of hypothermia.
- Past severe pathologies.
- Unbalanced diet.
According to statistics, most often signs of acute bronchitis are diagnosed in children and people over 50 years old.
Classification
Pathology has several types. Acute bronchitis is classified according to the following criteria:
- According to the etiological factor. The disease can be infectious, non-infectious and mixed in nature.
- By the mechanism of development. Bronchitis can be primary or secondary. In the latter case, pathology is a consequence of other existing diseases.
- By location of the lesion (bronchiolitis, tracheobronchitis).
- By the nature of the inflammatory process. The disease can be purulent or catarrhal.
- By the nature of the violation of the ventilation process. Allocate non-obstructive and obstructive acute bronchitis. Symptoms in the first case are practically absent, since the process of ventilation of the lungs is practically not disturbed. In obstructive form, small bronchi and bronchioles are affected.
- By the nature of the course. The disease can be protracted or relapsing.
A pulmonologist should be involved in the treatment of any type of pathology. Ignoring the signs of acute bronchitis often leads to the development of complications that pose a danger not only to health, but also to the patient's life.
Clinical manifestations
Symptoms and their severity directly depend on the provoking factor and the degree of tissue damage. Pathology is characterized by an acute onset, accompanied by signs of intoxication and damage to the respiratory tract. Bronchitis is preceded by symptoms of SARS. The patient complains of nasal congestion, pain and sore throat.
The main symptom of acute bronchitis is a cough. It appears immediately and persists for a long time. As a rule, a cough is paroxysmal. He is sonorous and rude, less often barking. During a cough, the intensity of pain in the sternum increases. The result of overstrain of muscle tissue in this area is the appearance of discomfort in the abdominal wall.
The first sign of acute bronchitis in adults and children is a dry cough. After some time, separation of viscous and scanty sputum begins to occur. Then the nature of the pathological secret changes. After a few days, sputum becomes viscous. It may have a mucous or purulent character. It is separated much easier than at the initial stage of the development of pathology.
Other signs of acute bronchitis:
- Hoarseness of voice.
- An increase in body temperature, as a rule, to subfebrile indicators.
- The rapid onset of fatigue.
- Weakness.
- Headache.
- Excessive sweating.
- Pain in the back and lower limbs.
The intensity of the clinical symptoms of acute bronchitis is enhanced in the absence of timely treatment. The inflammatory process goes to the bronchioles, as a result of which the lumens of the tree narrow, a severe obstructive syndrome develops, gas exchange and blood circulation are disturbed.
Signs of the disease at this stage:
- Fever.
- Cyanosis.
- Pallor of the skin.
- Severe shortness of breath.
- A painful cough, accompanied by the passage of a mucous membrane of sputum.
- Excitement, suddenly replaced by drowsiness and lethargy.
- Decreased blood pressure.
- Tachycardia.
If bronchitis is allergic in nature, obstructive syndrome occurs, accompanied by paroxysmal cough with the release of vitreous sputum. After contact with toxic compounds, laryngospasm develops. Patients complain of chest tightness, excruciating cough and suffocation.
Symptoms of acute bronchitis in children are the same as in adults. But kids suffer the disease much harder.
Auscultatory signs of acute bronchitis
If the first alarming symptoms occur, consult a pulmonologist. The doctor must provide information on all the available symptoms, their severity and duration.
After the survey, the doctor begins to examine the patient. The specialist is required to listen to the state of the respiratory tract.
Auscultatory signs of acute bronchitis:
- Noises. They can be both healthy and pathological. When the alveoli expand and stretch their walls, a soft blowing sound is heard. Bronchial breathing is a little louder . These noises are considered normal. The main auscultatory sign of acute bronchitis in adults and children is wet rales. In all cases, a gurgling and wheezing sound is heard well.
- Strengthening the exhalation of alveolar breathing. It is characteristic of obstructive bronchitis. This condition is due to obstructed air passage and tension of the alveolar walls.
After auscultation, the doctor can hold a bronchophony. The essence of the method is to evaluate not the breath, but the nature of the sounds made during it. The doctor asks the patient to whisper words containing the letters “h” and “p”. A healthy person has very quiet sounds. Their patency in acute bronchitis is significantly impaired.
Laboratory diagnostics
Based on the results of the survey and examination, the doctor draws up a referral for examination. Laboratory diagnosis of acute bronchitis includes the following items:
- Conducting a general blood test. A study is prescribed to confirm or exclude the presence of an inflammatory process in the body. With bronchitis, the number of leukocytes increases and the ESR indicator slightly increases.
- Conducting a biochemical blood test. A clinically significant indicator is the amount of C-reactive protein. It is considered a kind of marker of the inflammatory process. The higher its indicator, the more severe the course of pathology. In addition, a sign of acute bronchitis is an increase in alpha-2-globulins.
- Urinalysis It is carried out in order to assess the work of the kidneys against the background of the existing inflammatory process. In addition, in the process of interpreting the results of the analysis, the doctor can identify all kinds of complications of bronchitis.
- Microscopic examination of sputum. With bronchitis, a large number of neutrophils, dead epithelial cells and macrophages are found in a pathological secret. With the obstructive form of the disease, Kurshman spirals are detected.
- Bacteriological examination of sputum. The analysis reveals the causative agent of the disease.
Based on the data obtained, the doctor can choose the most effective antibiotics for the patient.
Instrumental diagnostics
A specialist may suspect the presence of bronchitis already during auscultation. To confirm or exclude the diagnosis, the pulmonologist draws up an x-ray direction.
Symptoms of acute bronchitis:
- An accumulation of pathological fluids is clearly visible in the lungs.
- Small blood vessels in the image are not visualized.
- The root of the lung becomes blurry. In addition, it is enlarged and deformed.
In severe cases, there are no blood vessels in the x-ray, and the pulmonary pattern is very much changed.
If necessary, the doctor prescribes additional studies (pneumotachography, peak flowmetry, spirography).
Drug therapy
Regardless of the severity of signs of acute bronchitis, treatment of adults and children should not be delayed. This is fraught with the development of life-threatening complications.
The primary treatment for bronchitis is taking antibiotics. Doctors prescribe the following remedies:
- Aminopenicillins. These include: Amoxiclav, Augmentin, Amoxicillin.
- Macrolides. Examples of funds: Sumamed, Macropen.
- Fluoroquinolones. Most often, doctors prescribe Levofloxacin.
- Cephalosporins. For example, Cefazolin.
The choice of antibiotic is carried out by the doctor based on the results of the diagnosis. At the initial stages of development, their oral administration is prescribed. In severe cases, an injection of the drug is indicated.
In addition, the treatment of pathology involves the use of antiviral and expectorant drugs, as well as bronchodilators and multivitamin complexes. During therapy, bed rest is necessary.
Breathing exercises
It is prescribed to eliminate stagnation of sputum, as well as the restoration of the mucous membrane. The most widely used breathing exercises according to Strelnikova. Its essence lies in the fact that breaths must be taken through the nose, while they must be active and loud. You need to exhale passively and silently. This can be done through the nose and mouth.
Respiratory gymnastics can be practiced in any position. It is indicated from the second day of taking antibacterial agents.
Alternative methods of treatment
The use of non-traditional methods significantly increases the effectiveness of drug therapy. But it is important to remember that it is impossible to consider alternative methods as the main treatment for acute bronchitis.
The most effective recipes:
- Steam inhalation. Cook a few potato tubers. Remove them from the container. Allow fluid to cool slightly. For several minutes, breathe over the water in which the tubers were cooked. If you do not let the liquid cool slightly, you can significantly worsen the course of the disease.
- Take in equal proportions oregano, thyme, linden, coltsfoot, licorice and plantain. Thoroughly mix pre-dried and ground ingredients. Take 1 tbsp. l Collect and pour 500 ml of boiling water over it. Let it brew for 2 hours. Drink in small sips throughout the day.
- Finely chop one medium onion. Mix it with honey in a ratio of 3: 1. Let it brew for 3-4 hours. Take 1 tsp. twice a day. Onions can be replaced with garlic. It is not recommended to take this tool to people suffering from chronic pathologies of the digestive system.
Any folk remedy is a potential allergen. If there are signs of an undesirable reaction, treatment of the disease with non-traditional methods must be stopped.
Finally
The term "acute bronchitis" refers to the inflammatory process that affects the bronchial tree. At the initial stage of development, the clinical manifestations of the pathology are similar to the symptoms of colds. In this regard, most people go to the doctor at the stage of development of complications. A pulmonologist can make a preliminary diagnosis during the initial appointment. He collects an anamnesis and conducts auscultation. To confirm his suspicions, the doctor directs the patient to a comprehensive examination. It includes both laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods.