Sometimes after an acute respiratory viral infection, a person retains signs of a cold for a long time: a runny nose, chills, muscle weakness, hoarseness, etc. When a doctor visits a doctor again, the specialist often diagnoses catarrhal bronchitis, which means that the acute respiratory viral infection provoked the development of complications. In this case, the inflammatory process does not affect the lungs, it develops only in the mucous membrane of the branches of the respiratory throat. Treatment of catarrhal bronchitis involves taking medications. It is allowed to resort to herbal medicine, homeopathy and alternative methods.
Pathogenesis
The penetration of the damaging agent into the trachea and bronchi occurs with inhalation of air. In some cases, the pathogen enters the branching pathway. Against the background of his active life, the development of the inflammatory process is launched. As a result, the mucous membrane swells, and a pathological secret begins to accumulate in the lumen of the branches.
Etiology
In most cases, catarrhal bronchitis is detected in adults, but sometimes it can be diagnosed in children. The main cause of the pathology is illiterate or untimely treatment of the common cold. Most often, acute catarrhal bronchitis appears after an acute respiratory viral infection or the flu. If the disease is not treated, it can quickly become chronic and accompany a person for the rest of his life.
The following factors are also provoking:
- Smoking
- Irregular or inadequate oral care.
- Diseases against the background of the course of which degenerative changes occur in the lungs.
- Hypothermia of the body.
- Pathologies of an infectious nature.
Doctors attribute catarrhal bronchitis to a mild form of inflammation of the branches. This is due to the fact that only the mucous membrane is affected, the deep layers of the tissue are not involved in the pathological process.
There are several types of catarrhal bronchitis: bilateral, unilateral, local and diffuse (obstructive). Pathology can occur in both acute and chronic form.
Clinical manifestations
Symptoms of the disease and their intensity directly depend on the type of disease. Acute catarrhal bronchitis occurs very quickly. At the same time, the intensity of clinical manifestations increases every day. Symptoms in this case are very similar to signs of acute bronchitis. The difference is that a large amount of sputum is separated from the patient.
Chronic catarrhal bronchitis develops with an untimely relief of the acute stage. Initially, there are no symptoms, sputum production practically does not occur. After a while, the symptoms of the disease return. The patient suffers from a painful cough, severe pain in the sternum and elevated body temperature. Sputum begins to be produced in large quantities again.
After some time, the exacerbation is replaced by a period of remission. Sputum is excreted a little, cough is still worrying, but mainly in the morning. Exacerbation of chronic catarrhal bronchitis occurs under the influence of any of the above provoking factors.
With a unilateral lesion, pain during coughing occurs only on the right or on the left, that is, in the area of localization of inflammation. Most often, bilateral catarrhal bronchitis is diagnosed.
The local form of the disease is considered the easiest. It is characterized by the defeat of only a small area of the mucosa. Catarrh-obstructive bronchitis is accompanied by a spasm of smooth muscle cells. As a result of this, respiratory failure occurs, internal organs do not receive the necessary amount of oxygen. With untimely treatment, the patient can also be diagnosed with chronic catarrhal-obstructive bronchitis.
Common symptoms of the disease:
- Cough. It is long and exhausting. The cough seems to tear the soft tissues from the inside. At the same time, it is accompanied by abundant discharge of sputum.
- Pain in the sternum.
- General malaise.
- Drowsiness.
- Elevated body temperature.
- Nasal congestion.
- Increased tearing or, conversely, dry eyes.
If you experience symptoms of catarrhal bronchitis, you should consult a physician or pulmonologist.
Diagnostics
During the appointment, the doctor must provide all the information regarding the existing alarm signs and the degree of their intensity. A specialist after collecting an anamnesis listens to the lungs with a phonendoscope. If wheezing is detected, the doctor may suspect catarrhal bronchitis.
To confirm the diagnosis, the specialist draws up a referral for a comprehensive examination, including:
- Roentgenography. It is necessary in order to exclude the presence in the lungs of neoplasms of both benign and malignant nature. In addition, with the help of radiography, tuberculosis can be detected in a timely manner, a characteristic symptom of which is also a cough.
- Bronchoscopy. The essence of the method is as follows: the doctor introduces a special tube into the patient’s airways (through the oral cavity), equipped with a miniature video camera and a lighting element. In the process of the study, the specialist gets the opportunity to assess the condition of not only the bronchi, but also the lungs and trachea. The disadvantage of this method is that it is associated with the occurrence of severe pain. In addition, it is almost impossible to breathe during bronchoscopy.
If necessary, the doctor prescribes laboratory tests, for example, blood and urine tests. To identify the causative agent, a study of sputum (micropreparation) is indicated. Catarrhal bronchitis is an ailment that requires an integrated approach. Only on the basis of the diagnostic results, the doctor can choose the further tactics of patient management.
Drug treatment
The goal of therapy is to relieve the acute phase and rid the patient of unpleasant symptoms. The classical regimen for the treatment of catarrhal bronchitis includes the following items:
- Reception of mucolytics. These are drugs whose active components help to reduce the viscosity of sputum and facilitate its excretion from the body. As a rule, doctors prescribe the following drugs: “ACC”, “Lazolvan”, “Bromhexine”, “Flavamed”, “Mukaltin”.
- Taking antitussive drugs. Their appointment is advisable only at the initial stage of the development of the disease, for which the release of a large amount of sputum is not characteristic. It is recommended to take drugs in the evening to improve the quality of night sleep. Examples of antitussive drugs: Broncholitin, Glycodinum, Tussin Plus, Bronchitusen Vramed.
- Taking antiviral drugs. Appointed upon detection of the corresponding pathogen. Examples of funds: “Remantadin”, “Ingavirin”, “Isoprinosine”, “Kagocel”, “Viferon”, “Amiksin”.
- Taking antibiotics. These are quite aggressive drugs, which are prescribed only if catarrhal bronchitis is accompanied by purulent complication. The main sign of exudate accumulation is green or yellow sputum. As a rule, doctors prescribe Levofloxacin, Amoxiclav, Azithromycin, or Macropen.
- Taking antipyretics, such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen.
In the chronic form of the disease, bronchodilator drugs are additionally prescribed. These include: “Salbutamol”, “Atrovent”, “Troventol”.
Physiotherapy
To increase the effectiveness of drug treatment, the doctor may prescribe a course of UHF, electrophoresis, or inductothermy. In addition, it is recommended that all patients regularly engage in breathing exercises.
After a course of physiotherapeutic procedures, recovery occurs much faster. In addition, such treatment stimulates the immune system, so it quickly destroys the pathogens that enter the body.
Homeopathy
Initial consultation with a specialist can last about three hours. This is due to the fact that the homeopath needs to prescribe only one drug, the active components of which could cope with all the symptoms at the same time, and with the root cause of the disease.
Most often, specialists in this field prescribe the following funds:
- Beladonna. It is indicated in the presence of a pronounced inflammatory process.
- "Kalium Bichromicum." It is prescribed in the presence of viscous sputum, which is separated with great difficulty.
- Phosphorus-containing preparations. They are indicated in serious cases when blood impurities are found in sputum.
- "Arsenicum Iodatum." It is prescribed for mainly night cough.
- "Bryony." The drug is indicated for exacerbation of chronic catarrhal bronchitis.
- Oscillococcinum. It is prescribed for the viral nature of the disease.
- "Antimonium." It is indicated for cough, accompanied by the discharge of a large amount of sputum.
- "Laurokerasus." It is prescribed for the development of complications of catarrhal bronchitis.
- Seneg. The drug is prescribed mainly to the elderly.
Phytotherapy
In the chronic form of the disease, doctors allow taking infusions and decoctions based on medicinal plants.
The most effective recipes:
- Take in equal amounts the roots of the bastard, St. John's wort, chandra leaves and coltsfoot. Grind and mix the components thoroughly. Take 1 tbsp. l Collect and pour 200 ml of boiling water over it. Let it brew for half an hour. Strain. Take 200 ml three times a day.
- Take in equal amounts the roots of elecampane and marshmallow, oregano leaves and birch buds. Grind and mix the components. Take 1 tbsp. l mixture and pour 200 ml of boiling water. Put the container on fire. Stew for 15 minutes. Cool, strain. Take up to 8 times a day for 1 tbsp. l
It is important to remember that any plant is a potential allergen. If there are signs of an undesirable reaction, herbal treatment should be discontinued.
Folk methods
You can speed up recovery with the help of warming compresses. The most effective is recognized as potato. Algorithm of action: boil several tubers, mash them in mashed potatoes, add 40 g of baking soda to the resulting mass. Form two cakes from the resulting mixture and place them between the patient’s shoulder blades. Keep to cool completely.
Effects
With untimely treatment, most patients develop all kinds of complications. The following consequences are most often diagnosed:
- Frequent episodes of exacerbation.
- High susceptibility to cold.
- Endobronchitis. This is a condition in which purulent masses are formed, spreading subsequently throughout the body and clogging blood vessels.
- Heart failure.
In addition, in all patients, the protective system is significantly weakened. Its recovery takes a very long time.
Finally
The term "catarrhal bronchitis" refers to a pathological condition in which the mucous membrane of the branches becomes inflamed. The disease is quite easily treatable, however, with untimely visits to the doctor, various complications often develop.