If a person has a strong and persistent cough, then this may be a sign of hypersensitivity of the body. This feature manifests itself in the form of allergic bronchitis. It can occur when exposed to a wide variety of stimuli.
Once in the body, allergens cause a strong reaction, due to which there is an expansion of blood vessels, the muscles of the respiratory system contract. As a result, characteristic symptoms appear in the form of a cough. According to experts, it is impossible to completely get rid of allergic bronchitis. However, there are treatment options during which the protective functions of the body are improved, so that he gradually gets used to the allergen and stops responding too aggressively.
A kind of pathology
There are several forms of this pathology. Bronchitis happens:
- Atopic. In this case, the most pronounced symptoms are observed. This indicates that the human immune system works well and repels the allergen.
- Tracheobronchitis. In this case, the trachea is also affected in the development of pathology.
- Obstructive. With the development of this type of disease, a narrowing of the lumen in the bronchi occurs. In most cases, this leads to hypoxia (lack of oxygen).
Causes of occurrence
If we talk about factors that affect the development of allergic bronchitis, then most often they include irritants that enter the human body with air. They settle on the mucous membranes of the respiratory organs and cause severe inflammation.
It is impossible to list all allergens. However, most often people suffer from reactions to plant pollen, pet hair, bird feathers, household chemicals, dust, certain foods and medications.
It should be borne in mind that pathology does not always develop exclusively in contact with an irritant. This happens only in those people who are characterized by increased sensitivity to provocateurs. It is also worth considering that other factors can affect the development of the disease.
For example, symptoms of allergic bronchitis in adults and children may appear if:
- A person lives in an area with poor ecology.
- Acute bacterial or viral infections have entered the airways.
- During pregnancy, the woman had severe toxicosis attacks. In this case, we are talking about the development of allergic bronchitis in children (obstructive or non-obstructive type).
- A person lives in a too humid climate.
- Near the patient is constantly a smoker.
- Previously, the patient has already suffered bronchitis, or he suffers from poor heredity.
Speaking of allergic bronchitis, symptoms and treatment of the disease, it is worth noting that the first signs of pathology can be determined in a person in early childhood. Most often this is due to the fact that during this period of life the protective functions of the body are only just beginning to take shape. Sometimes some of them are not activated. In this case, the baby’s body can begin to react even to the most harmless substances.
Features of the course of the disease
As a rule, allergic bronchitis is characterized by several important factors that help diagnose this ailment. First of all, you should pay attention to when exactly the coughing attacks stop. If this happens as soon as a person ceases to contact the stimulus, then this is a clear symptom of this particular pathology.
Also, this type of bronchitis differs from the standard one in that in this case the patient does not have an increase in body temperature. It is also worth paying attention to other symptoms.
Symptoms of pathology
If we are talking about the symptoms and treatment of allergic bronchitis in adults or children, then it is worth paying attention to the fact that in young patients the disease manifests itself more actively. The main sign of a developing pathology is cough. To distinguish it from viral diseases, it is necessary to pay attention to its features.
First of all, a person has an attack, which is a reflex spasm of the respiratory tract. As a rule, patients suffer most from coughing at night, but seizures can occur in the daytime. At the very beginning of the development of pathology during coughing, expectoration of mucus does not occur. At a later stage in the development of bronchitis, a person develops sputum.
Another distinguishing feature of this pathology is that seizures can easily be triggered by stress, physical exertion, or overexcitation.
Additional symptoms
In addition to the characteristic symptom of allergic bronchitis in children and adults (cough), patients also complain of shortness of breath, shortness of breath and dry rales. In addition, it is worth paying attention to the fact that one of the distinguishing features of this pathology is that coughing attacks occur and stop unexpectedly.
After an attack of severe coughing, the patient experiences great relief, and it seems to him that he is recovering. However, without the qualified help of specialists, it is impossible to alleviate the patient's condition.
Clinical picture
According to statistics, allergic type bronchitis can occur in children and adults at any age. Relapse is characteristic of this disease. As a rule, exacerbation occurs several times a month (lasting 1-2 days).
In addition to the typical symptoms of allergic bronchitis in adults and children, patients often complain of sore throat. Sometimes pathology is preceded by rhinitis or nasal congestion. If we are talking about children, then sometimes this pathology occurs in conjunction with other allergic diseases (for example, skin diathesis or neurodermatitis). If we are talking about babies, then very often the symptomatology of the pathology is supplemented by increased lethargy, severe sweating and irritability.
Diagnostics
Before treating allergic bronchitis in adults or children, it is necessary to accurately establish the presence of this particular disease. To do this, you must visit an allergist, immunologist and pulmonologist.
Specialists quickly determine the presence of pathology and prescribe the appropriate treatment. However, in order to diagnose this type of bronchitis, it is necessary to carefully study laboratory tests, as well as conduct instrumental and physical examination.
In the presence of pathology, some characteristic indicators are observed in patients. First of all, the doctor pays attention to the chest. If allergic reactions occur, it should not be deformed or resized. The patient's breathing can be hard and with characteristic whistles or wheezing. On the x-ray, the specialist discovers a pulmonary pattern and excludes the fact that in the almond region thickened.
As a rule, with a bronchial form of allergy, lateral irritation is characteristic. No symptoms may appear on the mucous membranes, however, in some cases, the doctor will find pus there.
First aid
If a person has an attack of allergic bronchitis, then in this case it is necessary to eliminate the allergen as soon as possible. If it is not possible to call a doctor or if you need to stabilize the patient before the ambulance arrives, it is recommended that inhalations be performed that will help temporarily reduce the exacerbation.
To do this, send the patient to the bathroom, turn on hot water and close the door of the room. As the bathtub fills with steam, the person will begin to feel relief. Due to increased humidity and high temperature, allergic symptoms subside.
Features of the treatment of allergic bronchitis in children and adults
First of all, the doctor determines the allergen, which causes unpleasant attacks. To get rid of acute reactions, it is necessary to completely exclude contact with the stimulus. Most often, conservative therapy is prescribed. For this, drugs, traditional medicine, and physiotherapy are used.
Medicines
A similar treatment for allergic bronchitis is aimed at reducing the intensity of the reaction and facilitating breathing during coughing attacks. In order for a person to feel relief, the doctor prescribes antihistamines for him. This helps to cope with allergies. To reduce the strength of the cough, it is necessary to undergo treatment with bronchodilators and expectorants.
Medications to help reduce the intensity of the attack
Such drugs include Suprastin, Tavegil and other drugs that help get rid of allergic reactions. As a rule, they cope with the most common irritants and help a person during an exacerbation of pathology. However, before treating allergic bronchitis with these drugs, it is necessary to consult a specialist and clarify whether the patient has intolerance to one or another component that is part of the drug.
Medications to reduce symptoms
To get rid of a strong cough and the appearance of sputum, it is necessary to take "Broncholitin", "Mukaltin", "Pectusin" and other drugs. However, some of these remedies are considered quite strong, so they are not recommended for young children.
It is impossible to prescribe a course of treatment with such medications on your own in any case. You must first consult with a specialist or consider more gentle treatment options.
Physiotherapy
Physical procedures help get rid of pathologies not only for children, but also for adults. Thanks to this, it is possible to reduce the inflammatory process, prevent the occurrence of obstruction and improve the general condition of the bronchi.
There are several procedures recommended by specialists. First of all, ventilation of the respiratory organs with the help of salt air is most effective. Thanks to it the passability of ways improves.
Also, rarefied mountain air is used to treat attacks. Thanks to him, it is possible to get rid of the symptoms of the disease and increase the general resistance of the body to various stimuli.
Also, for the treatment of allergic bronchitis, experts recommend therapeutic exercises. Thanks to it, you can get rid of shortness of breath and significantly reduce the intensity of asthma attacks. It is also recommended to perform exercises aimed at strengthening the sternum muscles.
Folk remedies
This type of treatment is allowed to be used only after consultation with your doctor. At the same time, herbs that are highly allergenic cannot be used. Also, do not use the same tool for a long time. About the specific dosage of folk remedies it is necessary to consult with your doctor.
There are several remedies that help get rid of unpleasant symptoms. For example, you can prepare a tincture of the marshmallow root. To do this, the plant must be filled with water and wait until the mucus forms in the liquid, which must be mixed with vodka. This tool can only be used to treat adults.
If a person suffers from increased sputum formation, then he should know that violet, chamomile, viburnum and linden have effective properties. Cough can be reduced with calendula, plantain, or a mixture of onions and honey. With a dry cough, it is recommended to use honey and cahors, as well as aloe.
Honey and milk effectively fight laryngitis (you need to drink the drink at night). Carrot juice is used to treat children. Inhalation on boiled potatoes will also help.
Prevention
In order not to encounter attacks of allergic bronchitis, it is recommended to follow a few tips. First of all, it is periodically necessary to perform wet cleaning in the apartment.
In the room where the patient lives, it is not recommended to start indoor plants, install upholstered furniture or use soft toys. It is necessary to exclude contacts with pets. The menu should not contain products that can cause an allergic reaction. In the flowering season, it is not recommended to go outside (subject to intense heat or windy weather). It is also necessary to timely treat rhinitis and other viral diseases. The patient needs rest and fresh air.