Bronchitis takes one of the leading positions among the illnesses of the respiratory tract. This diagnosis is made if the mucous membrane on the bronchi is inflamed, and the patient shows signs such as sputum formation and coughing. Quite often, bronchitis is sick in regions with a humid and cold climate, where there are sharp changes in air temperature and atmospheric pressure. But how to determine viral or bacterial bronchitis? Will there be any differences in symptoms? We will talk about this below.
Viral or bacterial bronchitis?
The bacterial form of this disease is much less common than the viral one. Infectious damage to the bronchi can be caused by exposure to the following types of bacteria:
- Haemophilus influenzae.
- Corynebacterium.
- Moraxella.
- Pneumococci.
- Meningococci.
- Chlamydia
- Streptococcus
- Mycoplasma.
The vital activity of the above organisms causes significant disturbances in the work of the respiratory organs, which is why it is necessary to begin treatment with antibacterial drugs, that is, antibiotics, as soon as possible.
Differences
We continue to consider how to determine viral or bacterial bronchitis in humans. First of all, it is necessary to understand whether the viral form of the disease occurs in general in practice. The answer will be positive. But how do you know if a patient has bacterial or viral bronchitis?
The bacterial form of bronchitis can be distinguished from the viral by the longest incubation period, which takes from 2 days to 2 weeks. To identify the moment of infection, it is necessary to take into account not only the last contact with sick people, but also the recent state of excessive fatigue, hypothermia and nervous strain.
The main part of harmful microorganisms lives in the patient’s body for months and years, without causing any discomfort. A sharp weakening of the immune system due to a nervous shock or hypothermia becomes the cause of the awakening and activity of these microbes. In addition, a bacterial infection tends to attach to a viral one.
Experts prefer not to waste time figuring out whether this form of bronchitis is viral or bacterial. This is because the side effect of using antibiotics is much easier to eliminate than complications such as meningitis or pneumonia. And yet it will just be useful to find out which bronchitis is viral or bacterial. After all, with the viral form of the disease, antibacterial drugs are useless.
It is important to note that the medication should be selected only by the attending physician, especially when it comes to antibiotics.
How to understand bacterial or viral bronchitis
At the initial stage of its development, the disease almost never proceeds in a bacterial form. The viral form of bronchitis begins with a high body temperature, runny nose, cough, and only then, in case of improper therapy or its absence, does the bacterial form of bronchitis occur. Thus, we can say that this will be a complication of viral bronchitis.
As a rule, the immune system to the virus is formed within 3-5 days. If the patient does not feel improvement by 5 days of illness, this indicates that bacteria are involved in the inflammatory process. In the case of bacterial bronchitis, the patient suffers from a very strong cough, with sputum discharge. Runny nose and inflammation of the eyes in this case will be absent. The temperature lasts quite a long time, about 5 days. However, it is no more than 37.5 degrees.
Symptoms of viral bronchitis
So, we continue to consider the difference between bacterial bronchitis and viral. The spectrum of viruses that cause bronchitis includes about 2 thousand species. In most cases, these are influenza viruses, adenoviruses, respiratory syncytial viruses, coronaviruses, rhinoviruses, rotaviruses and many others.
Speaking about the differences between viral bronchitis and bacterial, one should pay attention to the fact that the viral form begins with a general deterioration in well-being, fever, decreased appetite, and muscle pain. The main symptom of bronchitis is the appearance of a cough. It appears due to irritation of the receptors of the bronchial mucosa due to the inflammatory process. The type of cough will depend on the specific causative agent of the disease, as well as the degree of organ damage.
In most cases, the disease begins with a dry paroxysmal cough, and then sputum forms. Breathing after this becomes gurgling and wheezing.
If the disease covers not only the bronchi, but also the larynx, then a barking cough is observed. Initially, sputum is secreted in a small amount or absent altogether. However, every day its amount increases, and in the second week of the disease, it can change in color to greenish. The appearance of mucopurulent or purulent sputum is an alarming symptom that indicates the addition of a bacterial infection.
In the case of simple bronchitis, wheezing from the respiratory tract can be heard, it can be dry or wet. Character may vary. The disease is usually not very severe. In a few days, the temperature returns to normal, symptoms of intoxication disappear, swelling of the nasopharynx disappears.
It takes about 3 weeks for the sputum to completely disappear, but cough may be observed during this time. In some cases, bronchitis can drag on for one month, due to the addition of a secondary infection.
Symptoms of bacterial bronchitis
This form of the disease proceeds with the localization of infection directly in the lower regions of the respiratory tract. As a rule, it develops only after inflammatory viral diseases. The immune system is weakened by the infectious primary agent, then the secondary bacterial flora joins.
Microorganisms that provoke the development of this pathology are called cocci in the field of medicine. Among them, staphylococci, streptococci, pneumococci are distinguished. In addition, the disease is formed due to the effects of legionella, chlamydia. Legionella live, and also reproduce in the filters of the air conditioner, especially if the prevention of this device is ignored.
The main symptoms of bacterial bronchitis are:
- Intoxication - drowsiness, weakness, headache, lethargy.
- Pain in the sternum. At the same time, the patient complains of an internal burning sensation, especially during coughing.
- Cough with sputum. In some cases, its amount is quite large.
Analyzes
The question of whether bronchitis is a viral or bacterial disease can be answered by your doctor. To identify the disease, the following types of diagnosis are used: sputum culture, general blood test.
Using a blood test, you can detect a high white blood cell count in it. This will talk about the development of the inflammatory process. ESR also increases due to inflammation. C-reactive protein, which performs a protective function, also increases with the development of bronchitis.
Sputum analysis is necessary for specialists in order to determine the feasibility of antibiotic therapy. To do this, a small amount of sputum is placed in a special environment where intensive growth and development of microorganisms begins. After that, the reaction to the effect of antibacterial drugs is checked. The analysis helps to determine if bronchitis is a bacterial or viral infection in a particular case.
Now you know how to determine the type of bronchitis. However, you should pay attention to the fact that in no case should you self-medicate. All antibiotics should be prescribed only by the attending physician after carrying out diagnostic measures.
Treatment features
Therapies for different types of bronchitis will be different. Let's consider them separately.
Viral form treatment
The viral form of the disease does not pose a particular danger to the patient. However, the patient should be alert for complications of the main pathology. To minimize such complications, it is necessary to adhere to the recommendations of the doctor. To do this, observe strict bed rest, ventilate the room, drink plenty of fluids, take antiviral drugs, mucolytics, vitamin complexes, as well as drugs that strengthen the immune system. In parallel with this, experts recommend inhalation procedures and breathing exercises. Rubbing at home, as well as the use of cans and mustard plasters, will also not be superfluous in the treatment of the viral form of bronchitis.
During therapy, it is necessary to adhere to fractional nutrition, in the diet of which foods with a high protein content should prevail.
The described tips are relevant for all age categories of patients, but there are several features of drug treatment. Instead of antiviral medications, extended-spectrum antibiotics can be used that have an increased effect on lung tissue. Expectorants and probiotics can also be included in the course of therapy to restore the intestinal microflora.
Bacterial treatment
As for the treatment of the bacterial form of bronchitis, it can be cured only with the help of antibacterial agents. For each patient, medications are prescribed individually. Most often, for this, the specialist writes out "Augmentin", "Ceftriaxone", "Azitrox", "Sumamed".
Finally
Regular hardening, a healthy lifestyle, the right mode of work and rest, as well as the right diet are the best preventive measures to prevent this disease. In this case, a person has every chance to stay healthy even during SARS epidemics.