Bronchitis is a disease that occurs with inflammation of the bronchi and is accompanied by a cough. Bronchitis can occur both as a primary disease and as a complication after an infectious disease: flu, sore throat, and others. The disease manifests itself in acute and chronic form. But not only this different types of bronchitis.
Common symptoms of bronchitis
Bronchitis can vary in variety and prevalence of inflammation, in localization, in the duration of the disease. Different external causes cause various types of bronchitis, and their symptoms are also not the same. But there are common signs that are characteristic of all types of disease. This is weakness, severe cough, shortness of breath, sputum production, headache. The temperature does not always rise. In some cases, bronchitis can occur without fever.
Acute bronchitis
Acute types of bronchitis are always accompanied by pronounced symptoms, it is this form that occurs with an increase in temperature. The cause of acute bronchitis is bacteria or acute viral infections. Under their influence, the mucous membrane of the bronchi is disturbed, and, as a result, their conductivity is disturbed. Strong hypothermia, a prolonged stay in a zone of high humidity, an infectious disease: influenza, acute respiratory infections, or acute respiratory viral infections, and diseases of the nasopharynx can provoke the development of infectious bronchitis. The causative agents of the disease can be allergenic irritants, severe dustiness of the air, inhalation of chemical fumes.
Infectious and toxic - types of bronchitis that occur in an acute form, but pass quickly if properly treated. Inattentive attitude to malaise leads to the fact that untreated bronchitis becomes severe catarrhal form. This condition is characterized by high fever, a strong piercing cough with shortness of breath, sweating. Almost always, the catarrhal form of bronchitis translates the disease into a chronic form.
Chronic bronchitis: types
Such a definition is given by a disease when its symptoms manifest for more than three months over several years. Exacerbations occur during periods of changing weather, mainly in spring and autumn, when infections and viruses get in. The main reason for the development of a chronic form is improper or inadequate treatment of acute bronchitis.
Permanent residence in places with constant dustiness of air, contamination with its chemical harmful substances is another cause of a progressive disease, as well as a long stay in a too damp and cold climate. These factors lead to constant irritation of the mucous membranes of the bronchi, which causes their irritation. Chronic types of bronchitis can be caused by a genetic predisposition. Bronchitis caused by these causes is called obstructive.
The chronic forms include smoker's bronchitis - the disease of "experienced" smokers is manifested by a prolonged morning cough.
If chronic bronchitis is not treated, it can go into a destructive or deformed form. At this stage, chronic inflammation of the epithelium leads to its layering and deformation. It is characterized by a prolonged cough with shortness of breath.
Types of bronchitis in children
Symptoms and causes of bronchitis in babies differ slightly from the general ones. Children are more likely than adults to suffer from such a form of bronchitis as chlamydial. Its metabolic products are caused by microorganisms of the chlamydia genus. Only a laboratory blood test can identify them. This type of bronchitis differs in a dry, aggravated cough, sore throat, suffocation. In especially severe cases, such a disease can develop into infectious pneumonia.
During an infectious disease, narrower than in adults, children's bronchial lumens are quickly clogged by mucus, and the membrane begins to process it. So in babies there is spastic bronchitis, which is dangerous by pulmonary emphysema and, with insufficient treatment, threatens to develop into asthma.
At the first signs of bronchitis - dry cough, shortness of breath, baby's cyanosis - you should immediately show it to your doctor. To relieve spasm and destroy the infection, bronchodilators, antihistamines and sedatives are prescribed.
"Cardiac" bronchitis
What are the types of bronchitis that are not associated with infections and colds? Sometimes you can hear the expression "heart cough." This is nothing more than a congestive type of bronchitis that is caused by heart failure. Poor functioning of the heart and circulatory system leads to stagnation of fluid not only in the bronchi, but also in the alveoli and intermediate tissue. Patients with this form of bronchitis may have all the signs characteristic of the disease, but most often congestive bronchitis proceeds in a completely different way: dry breathing with wheezing, coughing infrequently, accompanied by large clots of sputum. Swelling of the lung tissue makes breathing difficult.
Since this bronchitis is associated with heart diseases, it is better to treat it in a hospital under the supervision of doctors in order to stop a possible heart attack in time.
Professional bronchitis
Professional or dusty - these types of bronchitis in adults are associated with specific working conditions. They are subject to miners, metallurgists. Dust mixed with particles of chemicals settles in the lungs and bronchi of hairdressers and chemists. The disease is chronic, seizures occur several times a year. At the same time, breathing becomes difficult, accompanied by a dry, prolonged cough, the temperature may be normal. The treatment of such a disease is a long process, which without eliminating the main irritants becomes very problematic.
Bronchitis caused by external stimuli can be accompanied by a number of concomitant symptoms: itching of the skin, pain in the heart, chest heaviness. Pain can be felt even in the lower back and abdomen. This form of the disease is called terry bronchitis.
Diagnosis of bronchitis
To know what types of bronchitis are, you need to understand why in different cases they prescribe a different treatment. A universal cough remedy does not exist. Assign to yourself what helped a neighbor is impossible in any case, since the causative agents of the disease are completely different. To determine the type of bronchitis, you must consult a doctor and conduct a diagnosis. The first thing the doctor will do will be a clinical examination: the specialist will listen to the patient’s complaints and will examine and listen to the chest with a stethoscope. Auscultation allows you to determine the nature of wheezing and breathing.
A complete blood count helps determine the causative agent of the disease, and X-ray diffraction will reveal an increase in the pattern of inflamed bronchi.
Examination with a special apparatus - a bronchoscope - is prescribed for chronic forms to determine the type of disease.
Bronchitis treatment
Different types of bronchitis and treatment involve different things. Therefore, with increasing cough, weakness, you need to see a doctor for diagnosis and prescriptions. Basic rules for treatment:
- Acute bronchitis with fever and headache requires bed rest. The body needs a rest.
- The abundance of drinking contributes to the separation of sputum and mucus: natural juices, herbal teas, compotes, water without gas.
- The patient needs to provide constant access to fresh air - more often ventilate the room.
- The menu should consist of light products, based on the diet - fresh fruits, vegetable dishes.
- During this period, immunostimulants recommended by the doctor should be taken, vitamins.
- To accelerate sputum production, the prescribed drugs of the pharmacological industry, folk remedies and methods are used: mustard, rubbing, inhalation.
- Antiviral drugs and antibiotics are prescribed only after determining the causative factor of bronchitis. Self-administration of these drugs can only exacerbate the disease.
- Antipyretic drugs are usually prescribed when the temperature rises above 38 about . It is not recommended to bring down a lower temperature - this can reduce immunity. You can alleviate the condition with a vinegar compress or rubdown.
Bronchitis Prevention
Preventing a disease is better than curing it. The main preventive measures are commonplace, but this is no less relevant: a healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet, activity, sports, hardening of the body. A habit like smoking should be forgotten forever. Being in a smoky environment should be minimized. Especially you need to take care of your respiratory system to people with a genetic predisposition and those whose professional activities are associated with adverse working conditions. In such cases, preventive examinations should be carried out regularly. Prevention of bronchitis is useful in areas with healing air. Inhalations with the use of herbs, coniferous extract also work well in this regard.