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Bronchitis
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Acute bronchitis is swelling of the air passages of the lung. Chronic bronchitis is swelling of the air passages of the lung that persists for a long time or occurs again and again.
Acute Bronchitis
Signs & Symptoms
• A cough starts out dry. Then mucus or phlegm come with the cough. Hoarseness or a sore throat can also occur.
• Chills. Fever less than 102ºF.
• Feeling of pressure behind the breastbone or a burning feeling in the chest.
Causes
• A viral or bacterial infection.
• Pollutants, such as smog.
These attack the mucus membranes within the windpipe or air passages in your respiratory tract leaving them red and inflamed. Acute bronchitis often develops after a cold or other respiratory infection.
Resources
Treatment
Most of the time, this type is caused by a virus and goes away without treatment. Sometimes, a doctor may prescribe:
Chronic Bronchitis
Signs & Symptoms
• A cough with mucus or phlegm for 3 or more months at a time. This occurs for more than 2 years in a row.
• Shortness of breath with exertion (in early stages).
• Shortness of breath at rest (in later stages).
Many people, most of them smokers, develop emphysema (destruction of the air sacs) with chronic bronchitis. This is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Causes
• Cigarette smoking. This is the most common cause.
• Air pollution.
• Repeated infections of the air passages in the lungs.
Chronic bronchitis causes permanent damage to the respiratory tract. It can make you more prone to respiratory infections like acute bronchitis and pneumonia. Chronic bronchitis is not contagious.
Treatment
• Not smoking. Avoiding secondhand smoke.
• Avoiding or reducing exposure to air pollution, chemical irritants, and cold, wet weather.
• Medical treatment as needed, for airway infections and heart problems.
• Oxygen, as prescribed.
Questions to Ask
Question 1
With a cough, are you not able to say more than 4 to 5 words between breaths or do you have purple lips?
Get medical care without delay. If symptoms are life threatening go to the ER or call 9-1-1. Don’t call 9-1-1 or use the ER if symptoms do not threaten life. Ask your doctor ahead of time where you should go for a problem that needs prompt care, but not emergency care.
Question 2
Does a cough persist after an episode of choking on food or a foreign object?
Get medical care without delay. If symptoms are life threatening go to the ER or call 9-1-1. Don’t call 9-1-1 or use the ER if symptoms do not threaten life. Ask your doctor ahead of time where you should go for a problem that needs prompt care, but not emergency care.
Question 3
Does the cough occur in an infant or young child with rapid breathing and sound like a seal’s bark?
You should be seen by your doctor for medical advice. Contact your doctor or health care provider to find out how soon you should be seen.
Question 4
With a cough, do you have any of these symptoms?
• Fever.
• Green, yellow, or bloody-colored mucus.
• Severe or increasing chest pain.
• Shortness of breath at rest and at noncoughing times.
• Vomiting more than once.
You should be seen by your doctor for medical advice. Contact your doctor or health care provider to find out how soon you should be seen.
Question 5
Have you had a cough longer than 3 weeks and has it not gotten better?
Call your doctor or health care provider and state the problem. He or she can decide what you should do.
Use Self-Care / Prevention:
You can probably take care of the problem yourself if you answered NO to all the questions. Use the “Self-Care” measures that are listed. Call your doctor if you don’t feel better soon, though. You may have some other problem.
Self-Care / Prevention
• Don’t smoke. Avoid secondhand smoke.
• Reduce your exposure to air pollution. Use air conditioning, air filters, and a mouth and nose filter mask if you have to. Stay indoors during episodes of heavy air pollution.
• Rest. Drink plenty of liquids.
• Breathe air from a cool-mist vaporizer. Bacteria grows in vaporizers, so clean your unit after each use. Breathing in mist with bacteria can make bronchitis worse. Use distilled (not tap) water in the vaporizer.
• Take an over-the-counter medicine for fever, pain, and/or inflammation as directed.
• Instead of cough suppressants, use expectorants.
• Use bronchodilators and/or take antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor.
This website is not meant to substitute for expert medical advice or treatment. Follow your doctor’s or health care provider’s advice if it differs from what is given in this guide.
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