Bronchitis – symptoms, types, treatment, complications [EXPLAINED]

Proven content

Bronchitis is a common lower respiratory tract infection that affects both children and adults. The peak of incidence occurs in the fall and winter period, when it is easiest to cool down or overheat the body, which, due to the immunity that is often lowered at this time of the year, is more susceptible to the development of the disease.

Bronchial tubes in humans – function

The bronchi in humans are part of the respiratory system and connect with the trachea and bronchioles. Thanks to them, gas exchange takes place. They are made of cartilage tissue, connective tissue and smooth muscles. The inner walls of the bronchi are covered with a mucosa with a multi-row lamellar epithelium. There are the right main bronchus and the left main bronchus.

The bronchi enable air transport to the lungs and gas exchange from the lungs – they take oxygen from the environment and remove carbon dioxide from the body. They also warm, clean and moisturize the air transported to the organs of the respiratory system. One of the most common infections affecting them is bronchitis, often resulting from colds and complications from the flu.

Bronchitis – bronchitis

The bronchi is a part of the respiratory tract that is responsible for transporting air to the alveoli, i.e. the smallest elements in which the gas exchange process takes place. The beginning of the bronchus is where the trachea ends. We distinguish main right bronchus (right lung) and main left bronchus (long life lungs).

These structures undergo another division which he distinguishes lobar bronchi (three lobes to the right lung and two lobes to the left lung). Then there is a division into even smaller ones the so-called segmental bronchi. The air that is transported through the bronchi is purified and heated in them.

The function of the respiratory system is normal when the so-called mucus-forming cells perform their functions properly. Only as a result of, for example, an infection, there are disturbances in the proper flow of air through the bronchi. One of such difficulties is bronchitis.

Koflator – the Flaem PulmoWaves cough assistant, which you can find at Medonet Market, is used as an auxiliary in the cough that expels mucus from the bronchi.

Bronchitis – characteristics

Many people confuse bronchitis with the common cold (especially in the early stages of the disease). However, it should be remembered that bronchitis is a dangerous disease of the respiratory tract that can cause complications if left untreated. Bronchitis is a viral or bacterial disease that most commonly affects children.

It is most often caused by an infection, but its formation may also be influenced by factors such as a poorly ventilated apartment or cool and humid air. The most common bronchitis viruses are adenoviruses, parainfluenza viruses, rhinoviruses and RS-viruses. Sometimes it can be Coxsackie virus and herpes virus. Microorganisms causing inflammation and damaging the epithelium (eg Bordetella pertussis, Chlamydophila pneumoniae) are responsible for many cases of the disease.

It happens that the acute form of bronchitis (caused by rhinoviruses) passes spontaneously unnoticed, unlike chronic inflammation, in which there is a bacterial superinfection. The chronic form of bronchitis is mainly caused by air pollution or tobacco smoke, but less often due to viral infection.

In chronic bronchitis, doctors often suggest additional tests to confirm or rule out asthma, sinusitis, or other respiratory diseases. Bronchitis mainly affects the autumn and winter.

Bronchitis – children

Bronchitis often develops in children. In their case, the main symptom is a persistent cough. The cause of the development of bronchitis is most often viruses. The symptoms of the disease in children depend on the age of the child and it is difficult to define them unequivocally. However, it should be remembered that the younger the child, the more severe the inflammation is. It can even be fatal in very young children.

In babies, the first symptom is rhinitis and reddening of the throat. The next stage is a cough, initially dry and tiring. Over time, this becomes a wet cough and the child coughs up large amounts of mucus. Especially small children often have a problem with expectoration.

When the secretion remains in the airways, the bronchi become less obstructive, and a distinct, characteristic wheezing is heard during auscultation. The baby becomes cranky and has a stomach ache. It should also be noted that in infants, indoor air quality is of great importance.

Symptoms of bronchitis last about a week. After this time, the disease gradually subsides, but the cough may persist for up to three weeks.

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Bronchitis – Adults

Bronchitis in adults is often underestimated. Most often, the sick person does not even go to the doctor because he confuses inflammation with a cold or the flu. However, it is worth going to the doctor and starting the appropriate treatment. In addition, remember that bronchitis is often a complication of the flu or a cold.

Find out more: How do you tell the difference between a cold and the flu?

Bronchitis – pregnancy

Bronchitis in pregnant women should always be consulted with a doctor. This is necessary for diagnosis and proper treatment to be started. Bronchitis in pregnancy can lead to various complications that, at this particular time, may threaten the normal course of pregnancy. However, the main difficulty in treating pregnant women is the limited amount of drugs that are safe for a woman and a child.

For this reason, doctors advise pregnant women to avoid infections in the first place. Prevention, while not simple, is very important. Therefore, it is worth avoiding contact with sick people or crowded places during pregnancy.

If an infection does develop, however, you should see your doctor immediately. It is necessary to rest and drink plenty of fluids. We will alleviate the cough by placing the chest higher at night and ventilating the room well.

Treatment of bronchitis in pregnant women consists mainly in rest and conservative treatment, i.e. inhalation of saline. Any other drugs are used only on the express recommendation of a doctor.

Bronchitis – types

Taking into account the duration of the disease, bronchitis can be divided into:

1. acute bronchitis;
2. Subacute bronchitis – this type of inflammation may be the result of bronchial hyperresponsiveness as a result of an infection, e.g. with whooping cough;
3. chronic bronchitis.

When should you start to worry? If you have bronchitis very frequently, for several years, and are accompanied by a persistent cough, then you should start to worry. This may indicate chronic bronchitis or other respiratory disease. Such situations require medical consultation and immediate treatment. Symptoms of chronic bronchitis include:

1. cough that occurs every day or periodically in the morning
2. cough exhausting the patient for at least 3 months.

Chronic bronchitis most often affects adults. This disease is dangerous because it leads to complications in the form of pulmonary distension (shortness of breath, poor air flow) and to a defect in the bronchial patency. The doctor should examine the patient and make an appropriate diagnosis, because the symptoms that accompany chronic pneumonia are similar to cancer, tuberculosis or whooping cough.

However, acute bronchitis is a complication of an untreated flu or a cold. The reason is the action of bacteria and viruses. In acute bronchitis, there is hyperemia and peeling of the epithelium of the respiratory tract and exudate visible in the bronchial lumen.

Bronchitis – causes

1. The first rule of thumb: don’t smoke! Chronic bronchitis is more common in people who have been addicts for a long time. Even if you smoke briefly and lightly (this is due to a genetic disposition), symptoms may occur.
2. Secondhand smoke also increases the risk of developing bronchitis. The body defends itself against pollutants contained in the smoke, bronchial reactions and a large amount of mucus produced. All this is accompanied by an unpleasant cough. Therefore, the best way is to quit smoking, although the road is arduous and long.
3. The cause of bronchitis can be work where patients are dealing with chemicals, dust and polluted air.
4. Frequent respiratory infections in childhood also increase the risk of the disease.
5. Genes are also mentioned among the causes of bronchitis.

Do you want to be healthy? Instead of curing, prevent. Avoid places full of pollution, avoid tobacco and take care of even a minor infection.

Find out more: How to fight the autumn cold?

Bronchitis can also be caused by mycoplasmosis bacteria. For this reason, it is worth conducting a professional examination, but you do not need to go to the office, because it can be done at home. The mail-order mycoplasmosis test is available on Medonet Market at an attractive price.

Bronchitis – smoking

Smoking is believed to be the main cause of bronchitis. The risk of infection in smokers is much higher. For people with genetic predisposition, it is even important to smoke a few cigarettes over a long period of time. Passive smoking also has an impact, so people around the smoker are also at risk.

The pollutants in cigarette smoke trigger an inflammatory reaction in the bronchi and increase the production of mucus. As a result, a wet and chronic cough appears. For these people, the only way to prevent them is to quit smoking completely and avoid cigarette smoke.

Bronchitis – symptoms

In most cases, bronchitis is caused by viruses circulating in the environment, which are extremely easily transmitted between people by airborne droplets. When inhaled with the air, these viruses reach the bronchi where they penetrate through the epithelium lining them, multiply and cause local and general inflammatory symptoms. The symptoms of bronchitis are mainly characterized by:

1. low-grade fever up to 38 degrees Celsius or fever;
2. malaise, breakdown, weakness;
3. cough, dry or wet, when you cough up white mucus discharge;
4. sore muscles;
5. wheezing may appear.

To facilitate expectoration and get rid of secretions from the bronchi and respiratory system, reach for the Decongestant – a mixture of herbs available at a promotional price on Medonet Market.

In other cases, it is reasonable to apply symptomatic treatment, consisting in reducing fever, suppressing cough or thinning bronchial secretions and facilitating its evacuation (depending on the nature of the cough), using inhaled bronchodilators, if necessary, which facilitate the flow of air through constricted due to the reaction. inflammatory airways.

This obstruction may persist even several weeks after the remaining symptoms of bronchitis have disappeared and is associated with bronchial hyperresponsiveness. The bronchitis described above is an acute condition that resolves either spontaneously or with treatment. There is also a chronic variant of the disease that most often affects smokers and other people who are constantly exposed to inhaling toxic substances.

These factors chronically irritate the delicate respiratory epithelium, damage it and reduce its functionality as a protective barrier. This results in the development of a chronic inflammatory reaction, causing airway obstruction, manifested by chronic productive cough (intensified mainly in the morning, after waking up) and leading to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – COPD.

Bronchitis – diagnosis

Bronchitis is usually diagnosed by a physical examination. It happens, however, that the doctor also orders other tests, such as chest X-ray. However, it is ordered more often if pneumonia is suspected.

As part of the diagnosis of bronchitis, the doctor may also order microbiological tests. This test is to find out which viruses or bacteria are responsible for the disease. However, these are exceptional situations.

Check: Diet during colds

Bronchitis – treatment

Bronchitis is a disease that lasts about 10 days. It is worth staying at home until the symptoms have disappeared, rest is recommended to recover faster. In any case, consultation with a doctor is necessary. Among the medications prescribed by a doctor, there are most often non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and nasal drops to relieve swelling and runny nose.

If a fever appears, you should take preparations to reduce it and drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. Antipyretics should be used when the temperature exceeds 39 degrees C. Usually, bronchitis does not require the introduction of other medications, and the body fights infections on its own. It is worth stocking up on vitamins – vitamin C strengthens immunity well.

During bronchitis, you can dress the baby warmly and ventilate the room in which it is located. Cool air has a great effect on swelling of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. In addition, the cool air has an additional moisturizing effect, making breathing easier. Another home-made way to humidify the air in the room is to hang wet towels on the radiator.

Vasodilators are used in patients who complain of dyspnoea and severe cough. Long-acting preparations, such as fenoterol or salmeterol, are usually prescribed. They relax the muscles of the bronchial wall and cause them to dilate. These types of drugs are only used in patients who have had bronchial obstruction (narrowing).

Bronchitis is a viral infection, so antibiotic therapy in most cases is unnecessary, the doctor will prescribe an antibiotic only when there is a bacterial superinfection (high temperature, cough with pus).

The antibiotic is also prescribed when the patient is in the so-called risk group (smoker, asthmatic or chronic bronchitis) to avoid the risk of superinfection. However, the antibiotic can be taken only after the presence of the bacteria has been confirmed by appropriate tests.

In bronchitis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and nasal drops are also used, the action of which reduces swelling and runny nose. Herbal teas also have good properties and they also hydrate the body.

It is also worth taking care of proper ventilation of the room, thanks to which we will reduce the swelling of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. At the same time, it is worth humidifying the air so that the secretion in the nose does not dry up on the dried mucous membranes, which makes breathing very difficult.

If symptoms related to bronchitis do not pass after a week, high fever after 38 degrees Celsius, wheezing, paroxysmal cough or shortness of breath appear, immediately see a doctor.

Learn more: Drug interactions – what should I know when taking medication?

Bronchitis – Home Treatments

Often the body fights off bronchitis on its own. All you need to do is rest, drink plenty of fluids, and take advantage of certain home remedies that will surely help. The biggest problem with bronchitis is the large amount of secretions in the airways. You can help with its removal by using natural remedies that are cheap and readily available. Most of the products that can help us fight bronchitis can be found in every pharmacy.

Many natural substances have expectorant properties, thanks to which it is easier to get rid of the residual secretions. These substances directly affect the bronchial glands. They are used not only during bronchitis, but also in other inflammations of the lower respiratory tract. They make the secretion thinner and detach from the walls of the bronchi much better when coughing.

Try syrups that help fight troublesome cough:

1. Pine syrup with vitamin C,
2. Thyme syrup and coltsfoot,
3. Thyme syrup with vitamin C,
4. Plantain syrup with vitamin C,
5. Echinacea syrup with vitamin C.

Natural remedies are effective due to the content of certain active substances. These are:

1. alkaloids – they can be found, for example, in medical vomiting;
2. saponins – originating, inter alia, from primrose, mullein or ivy;
3. essential oils – they are found in thyme, eucalyptus, mint, pine, etc.

These substances have an expectorant effect, and some of them are antibacterial, so the combination of these ingredients is very effective. Many natural preparations also have a protective, diastolic, antiseptic and even antifungal effect on the respiratory tract. As in any disease of this type, honey, garlic or raspberry juice also have a beneficial effect on the body.

Natural essential oils can be taken orally or in the form of inhalation, which can be done even without specialized equipment. It is enough to add a few drops of the essential oil to approx. 1 liter of hot water in a bowl and tilt the head covered with a towel over it. Thanks to the towel, more water vapor will get into the respiratory tract. Inhalation takes about 10-15 minutes. If you do not tolerate inhalation, you can also rub the chest with oil.

Dietary supplements can be used to support the treatment of infections. We recommend Herbapol brand preparations, e.g .:

1. Echinacea elixir,
2. Licorice potion,
3. Garlic syrup with vitamin C,
4. Drops with propolis,
5. Drops with propolis and bee pollen.

In order to fight the infection faster, it is worth putting a cupping cup on the sick person. To do this, obtain a set of glass Chinese fire bubbles. Discover the full range of Chinese bubbles available on Medonet Market at attractive prices.

Bronchitis – complications

Bronchitis most often requires a visit to the doctor. In the office, we will be examined and we will find out how to proceed. Most often, bronchitis has a viral origin, so treatment is based on combating troublesome ailments and symptoms.

Treatment usually requires antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and cough-fighting drugs. If there is bacterial bronchitis then an antibiotic is needed, especially in the case of whooping cough. Also, be aware that coughing and wheezing may persist for several weeks after recovery.

If the patient’s condition worsens, see a doctor. There may be tachycardia, shortness of breath, or a high fever may persist. In this case, the doctor may order a chest X-ray to rule out pneumonia. In order to avoid further complications, in the case of persistent fever, it is necessary to ensure adequate hydration and alleviate the tiring cough.

Check: When is it worth reaching for Berodual N?

Bronchitis – prophylaxis

Bronchitis is very tiring because of the troublesome chronic cough. The simplest element of prophylaxis is taking care of immunity. The prerequisite is a diet rich in vitamins and minerals as well as clothing suited to the weather, so it is best to wear onions in spring.

You should also remember to properly treat colds and flu. Bronchitis is a common complication of these infections. It is also worth considering a flu vaccination or whooping cough.

Prevention of chronic bronchitis it is primarily about quitting smoking if it is the main cause of the disease development. If the cause of the disease is the working conditions, it is worth considering a change of job.

In the case of children, it is necessary to strengthen immunity and toughen children. Children should not be overheated and should spend a lot of time outdoors. In the case of children, diet is also very important. Parents should take care of its diversity. They should also not stay in crowded and smoky rooms. Climate change or parental quitting smoking can also help.

Natural dietary supplements from Invent Farm also support the respiratory tract. On Medonet Market you can buy at favorable prices, including:

1. Fungo Farm – liquid supplement,
2. Fungo Farm in capsules,
3. Lungs – liquid supplement,
4. Sinuses – liquid supplement,
5. Vir Farm – liquid supplement.

Bronchitis – contagious

Bronchitis is a disease caused by microorganisms that enter the human body through droplets. Inflammation can be caught easily by being around a sick person who sneezes and coughs. Therefore, it is very important to isolate yourself from healthy people until you heal. Bronchitis is most often caused by:

1. influenza A and B viruses;
2. parainfluenza viruses;
3. RSV;
4. coronavirus;
5. adenoviruses;
6. rhinoviruses;
7. atypical bacteria (about 10% of all cases).

Bronchitis – asthma

Bronchial asthma, unlike bronchitis, is more common in children and adolescents. It is a chronic inflammatory ailment, otherwise known as ‘asthma’. Most often, bronchial asthma is caused by bacterial and viral infections, and sometimes even stress is enough. Affliction causes respiratory failure in patients and, unfortunately, it begins to affect more and more people. Over 3 million people suffer from bronchial asthma in Poland.

The causes of bronchial asthma

Rather, when talking about the causes of the disease, one has to think about a number of certain factors that can cause the disease. We divide the factors into:

1. genetic – some people have a genetic predisposition to bronchial asthma, which is activated by certain allergens in the patient’s environment. Such people have chronic respiratory infections,
2. environmental – these include all mites, dust, air pollution and cigarette smoke. Coughing attacks can occur at different times and circumstances because the presence of an allergen in the environment can vary. Asthma can be caused by medications, pet hair, pollen, and certain foods.

Asthma is accompanied by coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, most often it attacks during sleep or after greater physical activity and is very tiring. People who are allergic to the allergen may also have an asthma attack. It is commonly said that frequent bronchitis in childhood leads to asthma in adulthood.

Treatment of bronchial asthma is symptomatic. In short, you need to identify the allergenic factor and then avoid contact with it. Reliever preparations can be given, especially to reduce breathlessness. An indication for a medical visit is the patient’s deteriorating condition, especially heart pain and cyanosis, which occur despite the use of medications.

It is important to identify asthma early and initiate appropriate treatment to allow it to function normally.