| Definition: Bronchitis is the inflammation | | | | it means that the lung are inflammated and |
| (acute or cronic )of the trachea, bronchi. | | | | the airway is narrowing. Moist rales are |
| Acute bronchitis is caused by viral or | | | | caused by the fluid secretions in the |
| bacterial infection and heal without | | | | bronchial tubes. |
| complications. Adults that smoke develop | | | | |
| chronic bronchitis that cannot be cured. | | | | Sputum culture is indicated to be performed |
| | | | to put a correct diagnosis of the infection |
| Description | | | | and to identify the most appropriate |
| | | | antibiotic. The patient is asked to spit in a |
| Acute bronchitis appears mostly in the | | | | cup and than the sample is grown in the |
| winter, more often caused by viral infection. | | | | laboratory to see which organisms are |
| Although the cough may persist longer acute | | | | present. Sometimes the sputum may be |
| bronchitis is solved in two weeks, acute | | | | collected using bronchoscopy, the patient is |
| bronchitis complication is pneumonia in | | | | given a local anesthetic and the tube is |
| children. | | | | passed through the airways to collect a |
| | | | sputum sample. Blood tests and x-rays are |
| Demographics | | | | also recommended, the measuring of the oxygen |
| | | | and carbon dioxide are also important. |
| Bronchitis affects predominantly pre-school | | | | |
| and school age children, especially during | | | | Treatment |
| winter time. | | | | |
| | | | Bronchitis may be treated by home care if |
| Cause and symptoms | | | | it's not complicated, resting, not smocking |
| | | | and drinking plenty of fluids, for fever you |
| Bronchitis begins with the symptoms of a | | | | may take Tylenol, Panadol, Datril. |
| cold, running nose, coughing, sneezing, fever | | | | |
| of 102°F (38.8°C), greenish yellow | | | | Cough suppressants may be used only when the |
| sputum. In three to five days most of the | | | | cough is dry. Cough is useful because brings |
| symptoms disappear, but coughing may continue | | | | up extra mucus and irritants from the lungs |
| for some time. If the acute bronchitis is | | | | and this way stops the mucus to accumulate in |
| complicated with bacterial infection the | | | | the airways and producing pneumonia bacteria. |
| fever and a general feeling of illness | | | | Tetracycline or ampicillin are used in the |
| persists. The bacterial infection should be | | | | treatment of acute bronchitis, but good |
| treated with antibiotics, if the cough | | | | results have been obtained with trimethoprim |
| doesn't get away it may be asthma or | | | | sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim or Septra) and |
| pneumonia. In direct proportion with the | | | | azithromycin (Zithromax) and clarithromycin |
| stage of the disease acute bronchitis has | | | | (Biaxin). In children acute bronchitis |
| those symptoms: dry, hacking, unproductive | | | | amoxicillin (Amoxil, Pentamox, Sumox, |
| cough, runny nose, sore throat, back and | | | | Trimox)is recommended, inhaler sprays to |
| other muscle pains, general malaise, | | | | dilatate the bronchis and clear aut the mucus |
| headache, fever, chills. | | | | are also good. It is important to rest |
| | | | sufficiently, to eat well, avoid air |
| Diagnosis | | | | pollution and irritants. Childrens wash their |
| | | | hands regularly and as a preventive measure |
| The doctor will listen to the child's chest, | | | | they are artificially immunized against |
| if he hears moist rales, crackling, wheezing | | | | pneumonia. |