Among the numerous forms of bronchitis, purulent is the most dangerous. The disease occurs suddenly. If you do not start treatment in a timely manner, serious complications may occur.
The mechanism of development of pathology
Purulent bronchitis is an inflammatory disease . Its course is accompanied by the release of mucus, which greatly complicates breathing.
The culprits of a dangerous pathology are bacteria. Most often, infection occurs with pneumococci, a hemophilic bacillus and streptococci. They can enter the body by airborne droplets or with lymph flow. When infected, the inner shell of the bronchi is covered with mucopurulent plaque. As a result, airway obstruction is impaired.
Weakened after the transferred flu or SARS, the body is not able to provide proper resistance to the pathogenic flora. Rapidly multiplying bacteria provoke swelling of the bronchi, shortness of breath and the release of thick sputum. Passive smoking, air pollution and allergic reactions only increase the severity of the disease. At the same time, the bronchi become even more vulnerable to bacteria.
During the pathological process, it is customary to distinguish 2 phases:
- Primary, in which the defeat of the alveoli and bronchi occurs.
- Secondary The inflammatory process extends to other organs of the respiratory system.
The development of purulent bronchitis takes a long time. If you recognize it in a timely manner and immediately begin therapy, you can hope for a favorable prognosis. Otherwise, the pathological process will become chronic.
Main reasons
The appearance of purulent discharge is usually preceded by improper treatment of acute form of bronchitis. The prescribed antibacterial agents could not clear the focus of pathogenic microorganisms due to the low sensitivity of the latter to medicines.
In addition, doctors distinguish a group of factors whose effect on the body provokes purulent inflammation :
- a sharp change in temperature;
- weakened immunity;
- chronic diseases of the paranasal sinuses;
- frequent colds.
Doctors often detect bronchitis in smokers. Over time and in the absence of therapy, the disease can transform into a purulent form.
Varieties of pathology
Purulent complication of the disease, pulmonologists are divided into 3 types:
- Catarrhal. Pathology is manifested by a painful cough and profuse expectoration. During diagnosis, leukocytes are sometimes detected in the analysis of mucus.
- Obstructive. Purulent or blood streaks are always visible in the sputum.
- Chronic. This is a sluggish form of pathology, which is characterized by periods of remission and relapse.
The greatest danger is obstructive purulent bronchitis. It develops against the background of exacerbation of infectious diseases caused by the activity of pathogenic microflora. In this case, the patient has a fever, pains in the joints and muscles. Any delay and lack of treatment can lead to irreversible changes in the pulmonary system, death.
Clinical picture
The disease usually manifests itself in the winter. Its primary symptoms may resemble acute respiratory infections or a common cold. First, a sore throat appears, which is mistaken for tonsillitis or tonsillitis. After a while, a strong dry cough joins him. Each attack can be accompanied by chest pain. Sometimes it is difficult for patients to breathe due to a large accumulation of mucus in the bronchi. A little later, the cough becomes wet, and sputum when expectorant becomes yellowish.
Among other symptoms of acute bronchitis, doctors distinguish:
- excessive sweating;
- severe weakness;
- a slight increase in temperature to subfebrile marks;
- shortness of breath.
The disease can worsen up to 2-3 times a year. Relapse is usually caused by hypothermia or a prolonged cold. In this case, the clinical picture becomes more pronounced: the cough intensifies, and the volume of secreted mucus increases sharply.
How to recognize the chronic form of the disease in a timely manner?
In chronic purulent bronchitis with cough, up to 250 ml of sputum per day is released. Its color ranges from pale yellow to green. Blood streaks can be seen in the pus.
The disease is characterized by a protracted course with a mandatory increase in bronchial obstruction. The most dangerous complication is acute respiratory failure. If the patient's breathing lengthens and becomes tense, while dry whistling sounds appear, it's time to sound the alarm. Such symptoms indicate a sharp deterioration in well-being.
Diagnostic Methods
If you experience a strong cough or shortness of breath, you need to consult a therapist. It is this specialist who will be able to correctly diagnose, and then prescribe the necessary treatment.
A standard examination of a patient with suspected purulent bronchitis includes the following measures:
- Sputum analysis.
- Roentgenography. It makes it possible to assess the degree of damage to the bronchi, to identify pathological foci.
- Bronchoscopy Allows to distinguish the purulent form of the disease from the secondary, caused by tuberculosis or pneumonia.
- Blood analysis. It is necessary to assess the overall health of the patient.
Without fail, the doctor must examine the patient, examine his anamnesis and features of the clinical picture. Direct attention is paid to the symptoms accompanying purulent bronchitis.
The treatment of the disease is always carried out comprehensively. First you need to remove the exudate from the bronchi. For this purpose, expectorant drugs and mucolytics are prescribed. In advanced cases, bronchoscopy may be required. In more detail about each method of therapeutic effect will be described below.
The use of antibacterial drugs
The acute period of purulent bronchitis always requires compliance with bed rest, quitting smoking and limiting the negative impact on the respiratory system. Hospitalization of the patient is indicated only in emergency cases, when the underlying disease is supplemented by severe intoxication or heart failure.
The main method of therapeutic effect is the use of antibiotics. Commonly used medications in the following groups:
- Macrolides (Sumamed, Azitroks). They have a destructive effect on the process of protein synthesis in cells of pathogenic flora, which reduces their ability to further divide.
- Aminopenicillins (Amoxiclav). Such drugs have a detrimental effect only on the tissue of bacteria, without causing harm to the human body. However, their use is often accompanied by allergic reactions.
- Cephalosporins (Ceftriaxone, Cefazolin). Antibiotics from this group provoke inhibition of the synthesis of substances that are the basis of the membrane of bacterial cells.
- Fluoroquinolones (Ofloxacin, Ciprofloxacin). They have a destructive effect on the DNA of bacteria, which contributes to their death. Long-term use is often the cause of severe dysbiosis.
It is advisable to prescribe antibiotics for purulent bronchitis after analyzing sputum for sensitivity of pathogenic microorganisms. Otherwise, their use will be ineffective.
Complex treatment
In addition to antibiotics, mucolytic agents are always prescribed to eliminate the pathological process . They help to accelerate the discharge of sputum. Antihistamines can be used to relieve tissue swelling and eliminate allergic manifestations.
The complex treatment also includes various physiotherapeutic procedures, spa and spa vacations. Positively affect the patient's condition:
- inhalation with Mukaltin and Hydrocortisone;
- electrophoresis with potassium iodide;
- deep heating procedures.
After improving the condition, it is useful to attend sessions of wellness massage, breathing exercises.
Bronchoscopy
Bronchoscopy is an endoscopic procedure that is used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. With its help, the doctor cleans the airways of accumulated sputum. With purulent bronchitis, 2-4 procedures are prescribed, and between them there may be a gap from 3 days to a week.
The course of bronchoscopy is always completed with endobronchial debridement. Through a special syringe and a flexible catheter, the doctor introduces the medicine. It can be "Furatsilin", "Dimexidum" or "Rivanol". The entire procedure is performed under local anesthesia.
Possible consequences
Acute purulent bronchitis, according to reviews of doctors and patients, requires competent and timely treatment. Otherwise, the disease can transform into a chronic form or pneumonia.
During the development of the pathological process, pus forms on the walls of the bronchi. The mucous layer begins to swell. As it progresses, the inflammation deepens more and more into the tissue of the walls. The disease takes a severe form, which is characterized by a violation of the bronchi, drainage function, atrophy of the walls of the mucous membranes.
Mucopurulent chronic bronchitis is dangerous because it is often accompanied by the following disorders:
- bronchiectasis and asthmatic syndromes;
- hemoptysis;
- emphysema;
- diffuse pneumosclerosis;
- insufficiency of the right ventricle of the heart.
However, compliance with all the doctor's recommendations avoids the listed consequences.
Patient Reviews
Purulent form of bronchitis is a serious and at the same time widespread disease. According to patients' reviews, it is possible to avoid its development if all catarrhal diseases are treated in a timely manner and the state of health is monitored.
When it was not possible to prevent the onset of the disease, it is necessary to strictly follow the doctor's recommendations for treatment. According to patients, the standard complex of therapy implies the use of antibiotics and mucolytic drugs. In rare cases, bronchoscopy is required.