Bronchitis is a disease characterized by an inflammatory process in the bronchial mucosa. In addition to debilitating cough, weakness, and other symptoms, doctors often hear complaints of fever in bronchitis in adults.
Varieties of ailment
The mechanism of development of this disease is that the mucus produced by the bronchi to get rid of foreign particles that got into the respiratory tract begins to be produced in excessive volumes due to inflammation. The body tries to remove its excess by coughing.
Depending on the course of the disease and its duration, 2 forms of bronchitis are distinguished:
- Acute is a temporary, relatively short (less than a month) inflammation of the bronchi, which occurs mainly in the cold season and is often a complication of inflammatory processes in the upper respiratory tract. The temperature in acute bronchitis can rise to the level of 38 ° C and above.
- Chronic - diagnosed with a protracted nature of a productive cough (more than 3 months a year for several years in a row). The temperature in chronic bronchitis in adults may either not rise at all, or stay at subfebrile, no higher than 37.5 ° C.
According to statistics, acute illness can overtake people of different ages, while chronic bronchitis is diagnosed more often in patients older than 40-45 years.
Causes of the disease
Nowadays, the onset of bronchitis is facilitated, firstly, by the influence of negative environmental factors, and secondly, people themselves are not ready to give up harmful habits leading to the disease.
What can lead to inflammation of the bronchi:
- Viral and bacterial infections. Unfortunately, no one is safe from this route of infection with bronchitis, since particles of viruses and bacteria, falling into the air with a cough of a sick person, are able to remain viable for about 2 days. Other people in contact with these microparticles can become ill or simply become their carriers in the event of strong immunity.
- Constant irritation of the bronchi and lungs. Irritants include cigarette smoke, household or industrial chemicals, dust, and other similar substances.
- Polluted environment. Living in conditions of constant gas or smog provokes chronic diseases of the respiratory tract.
- Weak immunity. The immune system, weakened by the fight against other diseases, can not resist the viruses or bacteria that cause bronchitis. Also, with low immune protection, the likelihood increases that another ailment, for example, angina, will develop into bronchitis.
- Reflux disease (the release of gastric contents into the esophagus, which causes heartburn). Such regular throat irritation can cause a person to be prone to inflammatory processes of the respiratory tract, including bronchitis.
If it is impossible to influence environmental factors and working conditions in most cases, then smoking, concomitant diseases and weak immunity can easily be adjusted if the patient so wishes.
Symptoms of the disease
In order not to start the disease and consult a doctor in time, you need to know the signs of bronchitis in adults without temperature and with hyperthermia.
Signs of bronchial inflammation:
- frequent coughing attacks with sputum discharge from white to greenish, sometimes with an admixture of blood;
- secretion of mucus from the nasopharynx;
- a sore throat;
- pain in the chest.
Depending on the type of fever inherent in the acute form of the disease, additional symptoms of bronchitis with temperature in an adult may join.
Symptoms of red fever:
- lack of chills;
- redness of the skin;
- the skin is hot and moist;
- acceleration of heart rate and respiration;
- there is a good effect of antipyretic drugs.
Symptoms of white fever with bronchitis:
- the skin is dry, cold, pale;
- the patient feels chills;
- increased heart rate;
- shortness of breath may be observed;
- decreased excretory functions of the body (sweating, diuresis).
In an adult, the symptoms of bronchitis with and without temperature will always be different. Red fever is more easily tolerated by patients, a person can be active even at high temperature.
Hyperthermia with bronchitis
Given the large selection of antipyretic drugs, the temperature in bronchitis in adults should not cause much anxiety. But the whole point is that it is not recommended to bring down the heat below 38.5 ° C, because in this way the body fights the infection that has penetrated. Of course, it is worth considering how many days the temperature with bronchitis remains high.
Types of elevated temperature:
- low-grade (below 38 ° C);
- moderate hyperthermia (up to 39 ° C);
- high (up to 41 ° C);
- excessive (above 41 ° C).
The effect of temperature on infection:
- there is an active struggle of the liver with harmful substances;
- more antibodies are produced;
- resistance of microorganisms decreases;
- the activity of the organs of the excretory system increases, and weakened viruses and bacteria leave the body faster.
The temperature is usually considered normal for adults with bronchitis within 38.5 ° C for a duration of no more than 72 hours. The presence of concomitant diseases should be considered - for patients with pathologies of the cardiovascular system, it is advisable not to allow an increase in indicators to 38 ° C.
Hyperthermia Duration
How long does the temperature hold in bronchitis in adults? It depends on several factors.
What affects the duration of hyperthermia:
- type of pathogen;
- the strength of the patient's immunity;
- degree of illness.
How many days the temperature keeps with bronchitis in each case is difficult to answer. As for the acute form of the disease, with strong immunity, hyperthermia lasts no more than 5 days, if the cause of the disease is a virus. With the bacterial form of bronchitis, the fever usually lasts longer - up to 10 days. To a neglected degree or with a weakened immune system, the temperature can remain elevated for up to 2 weeks.
If we are talking about the chronic course of bronchitis, then the temperature rises rarely, almost not exceeding 37.5 ° C, while the maximum period of hyperthermia is about 10 days.
After the treatment of bronchitis, when the condition has already almost normalized, the patient may be concerned about the question of how much the temperature is kept during bronchitis in adults, which is called subfebrile. Indicators of 37-37.5 ° C are considered normal for 5-7 days after recovery. If after this period the temperature still has not stabilized, you should consult a doctor.
First Aid
Inflammation of the bronchi, regardless of the temperature with bronchitis, requires a doctor to prescribe a competent treatment. But if the patient has symptoms of bronchitis with fever, he needs to be given first aid.
What will help the sick:
- heavy drinking;
- maximum rest;
- painkillers and antipyretic drugs;
- air humidification (using special devices, wet cleaning);
- medicines for thinning and eliminating sputum;
- with fever rubbing water with vinegar in a ratio of 50/50;
- a compress of towels dipped in water on the forehead.
If it is not possible to bring down the heat on your own or if the cough after home treatment only intensifies, it is recommended to consult a specialist immediately.
Diagnosis of the disease
After seeking help from a medical institution to prescribe subsequent therapy, the doctor must confirm or refute the diagnosis.
The following methods are used to diagnose bronchitis:
- general analysis of blood and urine to confirm the inflammatory process;
- blood biochemistry analysis;
- bronchoscopy (examination with an endoscope);
- bronchography (x-ray method);
- chest x-ray;
- spirography (measurement of lung volume);
- pneumotachometry (study of the air velocity during inhalation and exhalation);
- electrocardiogram;
- sputum analysis.
After the exclusion of more serious pathologies, the patient will be prescribed treatment.
What does therapy include?
The main purpose of the visit to the doctor is to find out what is the causative agent of bronchitis. If it turns out to be a virus, the doctor will prescribe all of the above measures and will monitor the development of the disease in order to prevent negative consequences.
Drugs used for the viral nature of the disease:
- bronchodilator drugs;
- antiviral agents;
- sputum-releasing drugs.
Massage, breathing practices, inhalations also have proven effectiveness.
If bacteria are recognized as the cause of inflammation, antibiotics can not be dispensed with. Also, antibiotics can be prescribed regardless of the nature of the origin of the disease, but in case of danger of complications.
When antibiotics are prescribed for bronchitis:
- the patient is 80 years old or more;
- history of liver, kidney, heart, lung disease;
- the patient has weak immunity.
Possible complications
The main negative consequence of bronchitis is pneumonia (pneumonia). This disease is much worse treatable, prescription of antibiotics will probably be required. Complications can also cause high uncontrolled temperature in bronchitis in adults.
The consequences of excessive hyperthermia are as follows:
- cramps
- blurred consciousness;
- problems in the work of the heart until it stops.
When treating this disease, it is important how high the temperature for bronchitis in an adult is, and how long it lasts is a less serious indicator. Excessively high marks on the thermometer can be incompatible with life.
Risk group
Given the possible ways of transmitting bronchitis, it becomes clear that everyone can become infected with this disease. But there are people who are especially prone to it.
Risk groups for bronchitis:
- smokers
- people with a genetic addiction;
- pregnant women;
- allergies
- people working in hazardous industries or living in a particularly polluted area;
- people with weakened immunity, chronic diseases (caries, tonsillitis and others).
Significantly reduce the risk of bronchitis and the development of complications can change the lifestyle and living conditions, increase immunity, timely treatment of concomitant chronic diseases.
Preventive measures
The risk of getting bronchial inflammation increases significantly in the autumn-winter period, when the frequency of acute respiratory viral infections increases. Pathogens ARVI can also cause the development of acute bronchitis.
For the prevention of this disease is:
- avoid close contact with coughing people;
- humidify indoor air;
- carry out wet cleaning in the apartment, office;
- strengthen immunity;
- it is important for people who are sick to cover their mouth during coughing.
To avoid chronic bronchitis it is recommended:
- get rid of bad habits, in particular smoking;
- in case of hazardous working conditions, use a mask;
- wash hands after visiting public places;
- go in for sports, perform water procedures;
- if possible heal in the sanatorium;
- get the flu vaccine.
Following these recommendations will help protect yourself from the disease. But already the first signs of bronchitis in an adult without temperature or with its increase are an indication for a visit to the doctor.