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Bronchitis is most often the result of a chronic, previously untreated cold. Typically, in the initial phase it manifests itself in a manner characteristic of a viral infection, and after infection for a bacterial infection. The most common and clearest symptom that means that the body is already struggling with bronchitis is shortness of breath caused by a tiring cough. How to properly recognize it and distinguish it from the usual cough that occurs with a cold? What other symptoms help diagnose bronchitis?
Symptoms of bronchitis – why are they so associated with a dry cough?
Bronchitis is one such disease that is not asymptomatic, usually accompanied by a chronic, tiring cough, associated with shortness of breath during attacks. This is conditioned by the anatomical structure of the human body, in which the bronchi are an important element of the respiratory system. They consist of numerous tubes with a diameter of about 1 mm, which are designed to bring air to the lungs. During bronchitis, these tubes become narrowed, resulting in an unpleasant cough and shortness of breath.
Cold, bronchitis or pneumonia? How to correctly recognize the symptoms and diagnose the disease?
Bronchitis in its early stages is very similar to the common cold, so it’s easy to make a mistake here and take the wrong remedies. This results in leaving traces for life. A bothersome cough that lasts disturbingly long should mobilize you to go to the doctor quickly. Inflammation occurs as a result of a viral infection – then the inflammation takes a mild course and as a result of a bacterial infection – then it will not happen without additional diagnostic tests that will precisely define the problem and call it a respiratory disease. Typically, bronchitis is caused by viruses, less often by bacteria. The disease occurs mainly in winter, infection most often occurs through droplets – during sneezing. The symptoms that appear are a chronic, dry cough with shortness of breath, headaches, back pain, fever, malaise. At first glance, these are not signals that clearly indicate bronchitis, which is why the problem of recurrent coughing fits should attract the most attention.
How to cure bronchitis?
Diagnosed in time and under the supervision of a doctor, it usually lasts about 10 days. It is not necessary to take special medications. However, it is necessary to stay at home, rest, in order to defend against complications. You can also help yourself with vitamins that will strengthen your immunity. In the fight against a tiring cough, it will be useful to drink expectorant syrups or drugs that suppress the reflex of paroxysmal cough. In the case of a mild course of the disease, when the infection is viral, antibiotic treatment is not used. It is different in a situation where the disease is caused by a bacterial infection, then symptoms such as: strong fever, cough with purulent discharge, very strong weakness and malaise appear, in the fight against which the antibiotic will be very helpful. At home, you can also use products that are at hand and which will soothe tiring bronchial cough – it can be raspberry juice, honey, ginger, garlic, lemon, onion, turnip.
When do the symptoms of bronchitis indicate a chronic disease?
Usually this disease is mild, quick and easy to treat. However, there are situations in which there is an infection every year, where the most characteristic symptom is a dry cough. In addition, secretion also appears during coughing. It is often a sign of chronic inflammation of the bronchus or other organ of the respiratory system. Underestimated symptoms can lead to impaired functioning of the bronchi – disturbances in the patency of the bronchi and lung distension.