How to distinguish bronchitis from a normal cough? How long is bronchitis treated and why is the disease dangerous? How to determine that bronchitis is passing.

Bronchitis is an infectious disease accompanied by diffuse inflammation of the bronchi. Most often occurs against the background of colds, for example, SARS, influenza, although it may also have a different origin. There is no single recipe that suits absolutely everyone.

To answer the question of how to cure bronchitis, you need to figure out what kind of disease it is. In the article, we will consider the main causes and symptoms of bronchitis in adults, as well as a list of effective treatments for various forms of the disease.

What is bronchitis?

Bronchitis is an inflammatory lesion of bronchial tissues that develops as an independent nosological unit or as a complication of other diseases. In this case, lung tissue damage does not occur, and the inflammatory process is localized exclusively in the bronchial tree.

Damage and inflammation of the bronchial tree can occur as an independent, isolated process (primary) or develop as a complication against the background of existing chronic diseases and past infections (secondary).

The first symptoms of bronchitis in adults are: chest pain, shortness of breath, painful cough, weakness of the whole body.

MKB code 10: J20 - J21.

- a rather serious disease, treatment should be carried out by a doctor. He determines the optimal drugs for treatment, their dosage and combination.

Causes

As mentioned above, the most common and common cause of acute or chronic bronchitis among adults is a viral, bacterial or atypical flora.

The main bacterial pathogens: staphylococci, pneumococci, streptococci.
The causative agents of bronchitis of a viral nature: influenza virus, respiratory syncytial infection, adenovirus, parainfluenza, etc.

Inflammatory diseases of the bronchi, in particular bronchitis, in adults can be caused by various reasons:

the presence of a viral or bacterial infection in the body;
work in rooms with polluted air and in hazardous production;
smoking;
living in areas with unfavorable environmental conditions.

Acute bronchitis occurs when the body is damaged by viruses, usually the same ones that cause colds and flu. The virus cannot be destroyed by antibiotics, so this type of drug is used extremely rarely.

The most common cause of chronic bronchitis is cigarette smoking. Considerable harm is also caused by air pollution, increased levels of dust and toxic gases in the environment.

There are a number of factors that can significantly increase the risk of any type of bronchitis:

genetic predisposition;
life in adverse climatic conditions;
smoking (including passive);
ecology.

Classification

In modern pulmonological practice, the following types of bronchitis are distinguished:

having an infectious nature (bacterial, fungal or viral);
having a non-infectious nature (arising under the influence of allergens, physical, chemical factors);
mixed;
with unknown etiology.

Bronchitis is classified according to a number of criteria:

According to the severity of the flow:

mild degree
medium degree
severe

Depending on the symmetry of bronchial lesions, the disease is divided into:

Unilateral bronchitis. It affects either the right or left side of the bronchial tree.
Bilateral. The inflammation affected both the right and left parts of the bronchi.

By clinical course:

spicy;

Acute bronchitis

Acute ailment is caused by short-term development, which can last from 2-3 days and up to two weeks. In the process, a person suffers at first dry, and then developing into a wet cough with the release of a mucous substance (sputum). If the patient is not cured, then there is a high probability of the transition of the acute form to the chronic one. And then the malaise can drag on for an indefinite time.

In this case, the acute form of bronchitis can be of the following types:

simple;
obstructive;
obliterating;
bronchiolitis.

In adults, simple and obstructive types of acute bronchitis can occur very often, following each other, which is why this course of the disease is called recurrent bronchitis. It occurs more than 3 times a year. The cause of the obstruction may be too much secretion or a strong swelling of the bronchial mucosa.

Depending on the causative agent of the disease, there are:

Viral.
Infectious.
Bacterial.
Allergic.
Asthmatic.
Dust.
Fungal.
Chlamydial.
Toxic.

Chronical bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis is a long-term inflammatory disease of the bronchi that progresses over time and causes structural changes and dysfunction of the bronchial tree. Among the adult population, CB occurs in 4-7% of the population (some authors claim that in 10%). Men get sick more often than women.

One of the most dangerous complications is pneumonia - inflammation of the lung tissue. In most cases, it occurs in immunocompromised patients and in the elderly. Symptoms of chronic bronchitis: cough, shortness of breath, sputum.

First signs

If the body temperature has increased, the ability to work has decreased, weakness and dry cough tormented, which eventually becomes wet, it is likely that this is bronchitis.

The first signs of acute bronchitis, which you should pay attention to an adult:

a sharp deterioration in health and general feeling of the body;
increase in body temperature;
the manifestation of a wet cough (sometimes it can be dry);
feeling of pressure in the chest;
severe shortness of breath and rapid fatigue during exertion;
lack of appetite and general apathy;
the occurrence of intestinal dysfunction, constipation;
pain in the head and muscle weakness;
heaviness and burning sensation in the chest;
chills and feeling cold, desire not to get out of bed;
profuse runny nose.

Symptoms of bronchitis in adults

Such a disease is quite common, every person has had bronchitis at least once in his life, and therefore its symptoms are well known and quickly recognizable.

The main symptoms of bronchitis:

The cough may be dry (no sputum production) or wet (with sputum production).
Dry cough can be observed with a viral or atypical infection. Most often, the evolution of a cough from dry to wet is noted.
Sputum discharge, especially with a green tint, is a reliable indicator of bacterial inflammation. When the color of sputum is white, the patient's condition is regarded as the normal course of the disease. A yellowish color with bronchitis usually occurs in patients who smoke for a long time, pneumonia is determined by this color. brown sputum or with blood should alert - this is a dangerous sign, you need urgent help from a doctor.
The voice of adults, especially those who have a bad habit of smoking, simply disappears and they can only speak in a whisper. Often, wheezing in the voice and the severity of speech simply appear, it feels as if the conversation is causing physical fatigue. But in fact it is! At this time, breathing is due to frequent shortness of breath and heaviness. At night, the patient breathes not through the nose, but through the mouth, while making strong snores.

In acute bronchitis, the symptoms and treatment in adults are significantly different from those that are characteristic of a disease that occurs in a chronic form.

Impaired patency of the bronchi against the background of a very long course of the disease may indicate the occurrence of a chronic process.

Types of bronchitis	Symptoms in adults
Spicy	The appearance of a pronounced cough, which soon becomes wet from dry; Body temperature increases and can reach 39 degrees; Increased sweating joins the general malaise; Chills occur, performance decreases; Symptoms are either mild or severe; While listening to the chest, the doctor hears dry rales and hard scattered breathing;
Chronic	It occurs, as a rule, in adults, after repeated acute bronchitis, or with prolonged irritation of the bronchi (cigarette smoke, dust, exhaust fumes, chemical vapors). It manifests itself with the following symptoms: tachycardia, pain and discomfort when coughing, skin pallor, fluctuations in body temperature heavy sweating, wheezing wheezing on exhalation, hard breathing Cough. With this form of the disease, it is persistent, incessant, with a slight sputum discharge, recurrent. It is very difficult to stop seizures.

Complications

In most cases, the disease itself is not dangerous. Complications after bronchitis, which develop with insufficiently effective treatment, pose a great threat. The effects predominantly affect the respiratory system, but other organs may suffer.

Complications of bronchitis are:

Acute pneumonia;
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;
Asthmatic bronchitis, which increases the risk of developing bronchial asthma;
lungs;
Pulmonary hypertension;
expiratory stenosis of the trachea;
Chronic cor pulmonale;
Cardiopulmonary failure;
bronchiectasis.

Diagnostics

When the first symptoms of the disease occur, it is necessary to contact a therapist. It is he who performs all diagnostic measures and prescribes treatment. It is possible that the therapist will refer the patient to narrower specialists, such as: a pulmonologist, an infectious disease specialist, an allergist.

The diagnosis of "acute or chronic bronchitis" is made by a qualified doctor after examining the patient. The main indicators are complaints, on their basis the diagnosis is actually made. The main indicator is the presence of a cough with white and yellow sputum.

Diagnosis of bronchitis includes:

A chest x-ray can help diagnose pneumonia or another disease that is causing the cough. Radiography is most often prescribed to smokers, including former smokers.
A lung function test is done using a device called a spirometer. It determines the basic characteristics of breathing: how much air the lungs can hold and how fast the exhalation occurs.

Laboratory research:

Complete blood count - leukocytosis, shift of the leukocyte formula to the left, increased ESR.
Biochemical studies - an increase in the blood level of acute phase proteins, a2- and y-globulins, an increase in the activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme. Sometimes hypoxemia develops.
Bacteriological examination - sputum culture.
Serological analysis - determination of antibodies to viruses or mycoplasmas.

Treatment of bronchitis in adults

The treatment of bronchitis is a controversial and multifaceted issue, since there are a lot of methods for suppressing the symptoms and primary sources of the disease. The principles on which therapeutic measures are based play an important role here.

When the task is set - how to treat bronchitis in adults, then four main stages of treatment can be distinguished:

The first step is to voluntarily quit smoking. This greatly increases the effectiveness of the treatment.
At the second stage, drugs are prescribed that, by stimulating receptors, expand the bronchi: Bromide, Salbutamol, Terbutaline, Fenoterol, Ipratropium bromide.
Assign mucolytic and expectorant drugs that contribute to sputum production. They restore the ability of the epithelium of the bronchi, dilute sputum.
At the fourth stage of treatment of bronchitis, only antibiotics are prescribed: orally, intramuscularly and intravenously.

Compliance with the regime:

Against the background of exacerbation of bronchitis, it is traditionally recommended to drink plenty of water. For an adult - the daily volume of fluid consumed should be at least 3 - 3.5 liters. Usually alkaline fruit drinks, hot milk with Borjomi in a ratio of 1: 1 are well tolerated.
It also undergoes several changes in the composition of the daily food ration, which should become complete in terms of proteins and vitamins. The daily diet must contain a sufficient amount of proteins and vitamins. It is important to include as many fruits and vegetables as possible.
Elimination of physical and chemical factors that provoke the appearance of a cough (dust, smoke, etc.);
When the air is dry, the cough is much stronger, so try to moisten the air in the room where the patient is. It is best to use an air purifier and humidifier for this purpose. It is also desirable to carry out daily wet cleaning of the patient's room to purify the air.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy - very effective for bronchitis, is prescribed along with drug therapy. Among physiotherapeutic procedures, quartz treatment, UHF, ozekirite, inhalations are used.

Warming of the chest - is prescribed only as an additional treatment after the exacerbation of chronic bronchitis has been removed or the first stage of acute treatment has been completed.
Massage - done with poorly discharged sputum, provides better opening of the bronchi and acceleration of the outflow of serous-purulent or purulent sputum.
Therapeutic breathing exercises - helps to restore normal breathing and get rid of shortness of breath.
Inhalations. It is difficult to call them exclusively physiotherapy, because for the most part such procedures are a full-fledged therapy.

Bronchitis drugs for adults

Before using any medications, be sure to consult your doctor.

Bronchodilators

To improve sputum discharge, bronchodilators are prescribed. Adults with bronchitis with a wet cough are usually prescribed pills:

salbutamol,
Beroduala,
Eufillina,
Theotard.

Expectorants:

Mukaltin. Liquefies viscous sputum, facilitating its exit from the bronchi.
Means based on the herb thermopsis - Thermopsol and Codelac Broncho.
Syrup Gerbion, Stoptussin phyto, Bronchikum, Pertusin, Gelomirtol - are based on medicinal herbs.
ACC (acetylcysteine). An effective means of direct action. Has a direct effect on sputum. When taking the wrong dosage, it can cause diarrhea, vomiting, heartburn.

It is necessary to take these drugs for symptoms of acute bronchitis for treatment until the sputum is completely out of the bronchi. The duration of treatment with herbs is somewhere around 3 weeks, and with medicines 7-14 days.

Antibiotics

Antibacterial therapy is used in complicated courses of acute bronchitis, when there is no effectiveness from symptomatic and pathogenetic therapy, in debilitated individuals, when sputum changes (mucous sputum changes to purulent).

You should not try to independently determine which antibiotics for bronchitis in adults will be most effective - there are several groups of drugs, each of which is active against certain microorganisms. The most commonly used:

penicillins (Amoxiclav),
macrolides (Azithromycin, Rovamycin),
cephalosporins (ceftriaxone),
fluoroquinolones (Levofloxacin).

The dosage must also be determined by the doctor. If you take antibacterial drugs uncontrollably, you can seriously disrupt the intestinal microflora and cause a significant decrease in immunity. You need to drink these medicines strictly according to the scheme, without reducing or prolonging the course of treatment.

Antiseptics

Medicines with antiseptic action are used mainly in the form of inhalations. In acute bronchitis, in order to reduce the manifestation of symptoms, adults are treated with inhalations through a nebulizer with solutions of drugs such as Rivanol, Dioxidine.

The prognosis of bronchitis symptoms with rational treatment in adults is usually favorable. Complete healing usually occurs within 2-4 weeks. The prognosis of bronchiolitis is more serious and depends on the timely initiation of intensive treatment. With late diagnosis and untimely treatment, symptoms of chronic respiratory failure may develop.

Folk remedies for bronchitis

Boil some water, add 2 drops of fir, eucalyptus, pine or tea tree oil to it. Lean over the container with the resulting mixture and inhale the steam for 5-7 minutes.
Very old and effective recipe.- this is a radish, a small depression is made in it, into which a teaspoon of honey is placed. After a while, the radish gives juice and can be consumed 3 times a day. This is a good way to relieve a cough if you are not allergic to honey.
We treat bronchitis with calendula flowers. Pour 2 tablespoons of calendula flowers with a glass of boiling water and hold in a water bath for 15 minutes. Adults take 1-2 tablespoons 3 times a day 15 minutes before meals.
Pour a glass of milk into an enamel bowl, add 1 tablespoon of dry sage herb to it, cover tightly, bring to a boil over low heat, cool and strain. Then bring to a boil again, covered with a lid. Ready to drink hot before going to bed.
Horseradish and honey. The tool helps in the fight against bronchitis and lung diseases. Pass four parts of horseradish through a grater, mix with 5 parts of honey. Take one spoonful after meals.
Take 2 parts licorice root and 1 part lime blossom. Make a decoction of the herb and use it for dry coughs or excessively thick sputum.
10 g dried and chopped mandarin peel pour 100 ml of boiling water, insist, strain. Take 1 tablespoon 5 times a day before meals. Used as an expectorant.

Long-term treatment of bronchitis at home often leads to dangerous complications. If the cough does not go away after a month, contact the clinic. Refusal of treatment or relying on the knowledge of a pharmacy pharmacist in adults and the elderly can cause bronchotracheitis, purulent infection, tracheobronchitis, and long rehabilitation.

Prevention

Primary prevention measures:

In adults, for the prevention of bronchitis, it will be important to completely stop smoking, as well as regular alcohol consumption. Such abuses negatively affect the general condition of the body and, as a result, bronchitis and other diseases may appear.
limit the impact of harmful substances and gases that must be inhaled;
start treatment of various infections on time;
do not overcool the body;
take care of maintaining immunity;
during the heated period, maintain a normal level of humidity in the room.

Secondary prevention includes:

Eliminate all of the above risk factors. Timely diagnosis and early treatment of acute bronchitis (or chronic exacerbations).
Hardening of the body in the summer.
Prevention (ARVI) during the epidemic (usually from November to March).
Prophylactic use of antibacterial drugs for 5-7 days with exacerbation of bronchitis caused by a virus.
Daily breathing exercises (prevents stagnation of mucus and infection in the bronchial tree).

Bronchitis in adults is a dangerous disease that cannot be treated on its own. Self-medication can lead to serious consequences in the form of disability, in some cases even life is at risk. Timely access to a doctor and a timely diagnosis help to avoid complications and alleviate the symptoms already in the initial stages of bronchitis.

One of the most common diseases of the upper respiratory tract is bronchitis. It can manifest itself in both adults and children in the form of various signs. With the inflammatory process in the bronchi, a strong cough begins, which persists for several weeks.

The main reason for the transition of the disease from the acute to the chronic stage is untimely treatment.

Therefore, it is important to know how to identify bronchitis at the initial stage at home in order to prevent complications.

Symptoms depending on the cause of the disease

Bronchitis is characterized by inflammation of the bronchial mucosa. It can manifest itself under the influence of various factors, among which are:

Therefore, the symptoms of bronchitis may differ depending on the source of the disease. There are several types of the disease that are diagnosed in adults and children, namely:

In order to correctly prescribe drug therapy, it is necessary to find out how each of the above types manifests itself.

infectious bronchitis

The infectious type of the disease is one of the most common in adults and children. It is formed under the influence of various microorganisms of a bacterial, viral or fungal nature.

Symptoms depend on the nature of the course of the disease. When a mild form occurs, the patient is noted:

dry cough, which sometimes turns into a wet form;
weakening of the body, fatigue;
discomfort in the chest;
rise in temperature to subfebrile levels (sometimes hyperthermia);
dry wheezing;
hardness of breathing.

When the first symptoms of the disease appear, laboratory diagnostics may not give results. After all, there are no indicators in the blood that indicate bronchitis.

With a change in the stage of the disease, signs in adults may be expressed differently. If bronchitis becomes moderate, then their intensification is noted. Among them are:

coughing;
tension and pain in the chest and abdomen;
malaise and weakening of the body of a strong degree;
difficulty breathing;
discharge of sputum containing pus or mucus with pus;
hard breathing;
dry rales, turning into finely bubbling moisture.

Recognizing at home the onset of infectious bronchitis in most cases is easy. It is usually preceded by a viral, bacterial disease. Bronchitis in this case is a complication.

With a disease caused by a viral infection, some characteristic symptoms are noted, for example:

The fever lasts up to 3 days. From the onset of the first signs to the end of the disease, it takes from 1 to 3 weeks.

If bronchitis is caused by a bacterial pathogen, then the symptoms are slightly different, namely:

Cough in adults at the initial stage is moderate, dry. With development, the appearance of sputum is observed (after 3-4 days). It departs poorly, has a thick consistency, purulent character, yellow-green color.
Breathing becomes rapid, shortness of breath appears. Wet and dry rales are observed.
The person becomes lethargic, capricious, muscle and headaches are felt.
The temperature rises gradually to 38°C and above. Fever may last longer than with a viral infection.

The disease proceeds in the period from 2 to 4 weeks.

allergic bronchitis

In a person prone to allergies, an allergic type of bronchitis is often noted. Symptoms of the disease appear under the influence of common allergens, for example:

plant pollen;
wool and feathers of animals;
household dust;
perfumery;
cosmetics;
household chemicals.

Recognizing bronchitis is not difficult. After all, when contact with the irritant is eliminated, the symptoms disappear on their own without any treatment.

One of the features of this type of disease is the absence of purulent discharge.

There is also no increase in body temperature. In an adult with allergies, bronchitis can be detected by characteristic signs, which include:

dry rales of scattered type;
the appearance of shortness of breath on exhalation;
cough under the influence of allergens;
violation of respiratory function;
change of periods of remission and exacerbation upon elimination or resumption of contact with the irritating substance.

Toxic-chemical bronchitis

Signs of bronchitis of the toxic-chemical type appear after inhalation of harmful substances. Such compounds are acids, organic or inorganic dust, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide.

The first symptoms are manifested in the form of a deterioration in a person's condition. He abruptly loses interest in food, severe headaches are noted. With further exposure to harmful substances, the following are found:

An important step in the elimination of dangerous signs in adults is the exclusion of harmful effects. Only after that symptomatic therapy is prescribed.

Signs of various forms of bronchitis

Depending on the severity of the signs and the nature of the course, acute, chronic and obstructive bronchitis are distinguished. Symptoms of the disease in adults may vary. You can identify each form yourself at home, focusing on the characteristic manifestations.

Acute bronchitis

Acute bronchitis proceeds without obstruction, beginning with a dry frequent cough, which gradually flows into a wet one. As a result of coughing, sputum is discharged.

You can identify the disease by a change in breathing. It becomes:

At the same time, there are no signs of respiratory failure and shortness of breath.

The general condition of the patient is changing. Adults have:

rise in body temperature to 38-38.5 ° C;
weakening of the body;
increased sweating;
pain in the chest;
sore throat, accompanied by burning;
headache;
concomitant diseases (pharyngitis, laryngitis, conjunctivitis);
dehydration of the body due to hyperthermia.

The acute stage of the disease lasts about two weeks.

Chronical bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis is a consequence of untimely treatment of the acute form of the disease. In this case, a painful cough appears, which worries the patient for more than 12 weeks a year. Usually it is deep, deaf, manifests itself after waking up. Coughing is accompanied by a copious release of mucus from the bronchi.

The chronic course of the disease is not accompanied by hyperthermia.

An increase in body temperature is observed at the level of subfebrile marks. If the rise is observed to high levels, it is usually short-lived.

Exacerbation of bronchitis is associated with hypothermia, SARS, as well as the onset of the autumn-winter period.

There are also specific symptoms of the chronic type. One of them is shortness of breath, which can get worse. It is caused by gradual bronchial obstruction.

When coughing, bloody discharge may appear along with sputum. In this case, it is imperative to visit a doctor to exclude tuberculosis or oncological diseases.

With a long course of chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may appear.

Obstructive bronchitis

With obstructive bronchitis, there is a decrease in patency and blockage of the bronchi. The process is due to the accumulation of mucus, tissue swelling or bronchospasm.

The onset of obstruction is characterized by special signs. One of them is a strong cough, characterized by:

dryness;
hysteria;
attacks;
amplification at night.

With severe attacks, nausea and vomiting, lacrimation may occur.

Breath becomes wheezing. This makes breathing much more difficult. When listening to the patient, wheezing in the lungs is determined. In the process of breathing, the muscles of the collarbones, neck, and chest are involved. In the throat, tickling and burning are noted.

The fever is moderate. At the initial stage of the onset of the disease, hyperthermia is observed. Subsequently, the temperature normalizes or decreases to subfebrile condition.

At the time of the onset of obstruction, other diseases may be activated. Accompany bronchitis in most cases rhinitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis.

The disease proceeds depending on the nature of the treatment and the severity of the symptoms. On average, symptoms are observed for 10-21 days.

Bronchitis must be detected at an early stage. If it is started, then a complication may appear in the form of bronchiolitis or other diseases. Therefore, a cough that does not go away within a few days requires immediate medical attention. He will diagnose and prescribe treatment in accordance with the type of disease.

What is bronchitis?

The first symptoms of bronchitis in adults are: chest pain, shortness of breath, painful cough, weakness of the whole body.

MKB code 10: J20 - J21.

Bronchitis is a rather serious disease, treatment should be carried out by a doctor. He determines the optimal drugs for treatment, their dosage and combination.

Causes

As mentioned above, the most common and common cause of acute or chronic bronchitis among adults is a viral, bacterial or atypical flora.

The main bacterial pathogens: staphylococci, pneumococci, streptococci.
The causative agents of bronchitis of a viral nature: influenza virus, respiratory syncytial infection, adenovirus, parainfluenza, etc.

Inflammatory diseases of the bronchi, in particular bronchitis, in adults can be caused by various reasons:

the presence of a viral or bacterial infection in the body;
work in rooms with polluted air and in hazardous production;
smoking;
living in areas with unfavorable environmental conditions.

The most common cause of chronic bronchitis is cigarette smoking. Considerable harm is also caused by air pollution, increased levels of dust and toxic gases in the environment.

There are a number of factors that can significantly increase the risk of any type of bronchitis:

genetic predisposition;
life in adverse climatic conditions;
smoking (including passive);
ecology.

Classification

In modern pulmonological practice, the following types of bronchitis are distinguished:

having an infectious nature (bacterial, fungal or viral);
having a non-infectious nature (arising under the influence of allergens, physical, chemical factors);
mixed;
with unknown etiology.

Bronchitis is classified according to a number of criteria:

According to the severity of the flow:

mild degree
medium degree
severe

Depending on the symmetry of bronchial lesions, the disease is divided into:

Unilateral bronchitis. It affects either the right or left side of the bronchial tree.
Bilateral. The inflammation affected both the right and left parts of the bronchi.

By clinical course:

spicy;
chronic.

Acute bronchitis

In this case, the acute form of bronchitis can be of the following types:

simple;
obstructive;
obliterating;
bronchiolitis.

Depending on the causative agent of the disease, there are:

Viral.
Infectious.
Bacterial.
Allergic.
Asthmatic.
Dust.
Fungal.
Chlamydial.
Toxic.

Chronical bronchitis

First signs

If the body temperature has increased, the ability to work has decreased, weakness and dry cough tormented, which eventually becomes wet, it is likely that this is bronchitis.

The first signs of acute bronchitis, which you should pay attention to an adult:

a sharp deterioration in health and general feeling of the body;
increase in body temperature;
the manifestation of a wet cough (sometimes it can be dry);
feeling of pressure in the chest;
severe shortness of breath and rapid fatigue during exertion;
lack of appetite and general apathy;
the occurrence of intestinal dysfunction, constipation;
pain in the head and muscle weakness;
heaviness and burning sensation in the chest;
chills and feeling cold, desire not to get out of bed;
profuse runny nose.

Symptoms of bronchitis in adults

Such a disease is quite common, every person has had bronchitis at least once in his life, and therefore its symptoms are well known and quickly recognizable.

The main symptoms of bronchitis:

The cough may be dry (no sputum production) or wet (with sputum production).
Dry cough can be observed with a viral or atypical infection. Most often, the evolution of a cough from dry to wet is noted.
Sputum discharge, especially with a green tint, is a reliable indicator of bacterial inflammation. When the color of sputum is white, the patient's condition is regarded as the normal course of the disease. A yellowish color with bronchitis usually occurs in patients who smoke for a long time, asthma and pneumonia are determined by this color. Brown sputum or with blood should alert - this is a dangerous sign, urgent medical attention is needed.
The voice of adults, especially those who have a bad habit of smoking, simply disappears and they can only speak in a whisper. Often, wheezing in the voice and the severity of speech simply appear, it feels as if the conversation is causing physical fatigue. But in fact it is! At this time, breathing is due to frequent shortness of breath and heaviness. At night, the patient breathes not through the nose, but through the mouth, while making strong snores.

In acute bronchitis, the symptoms and treatment in adults are significantly different from those that are characteristic of a disease that occurs in a chronic form.

Impaired patency of the bronchi against the background of a very long course of the disease may indicate the occurrence of a chronic process.

Types of bronchitis	Symptoms in adults
Spicy	The appearance of a pronounced cough, which soon becomes wet from dry; Body temperature increases and can reach 39 degrees; Increased sweating joins the general malaise; Chills occur, performance decreases; Symptoms are either mild or severe; While listening to the chest, the doctor hears dry rales and hard scattered breathing;
Chronic	It occurs, as a rule, in adults, after repeated acute bronchitis, or with prolonged irritation of the bronchi (cigarette smoke, dust, exhaust fumes, chemical vapors). It manifests itself with the following symptoms: tachycardia, pain and discomfort when coughing, skin pallor, fluctuations in body temperature heavy sweating, wheezing wheezing on exhalation, hard breathing Cough. With this form of the disease, it is persistent, incessant, with a slight sputum discharge, recurrent. It is very difficult to stop seizures.

Complications

Complications of bronchitis are:

Acute pneumonia;
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;
Asthmatic bronchitis, which increases the risk of developing bronchial asthma;
emphysema;
Pulmonary hypertension;
expiratory stenosis of the trachea;
Chronic cor pulmonale;
Cardiopulmonary failure;
bronchiectasis.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of bronchitis includes:

A chest x-ray can help diagnose pneumonia or another disease that is causing the cough. Radiography is most often prescribed to smokers, including former smokers.
A lung function test is done using a device called a spirometer. It determines the basic characteristics of breathing: how much air the lungs can hold and how fast the exhalation occurs.

Laboratory research:

Complete blood count - leukocytosis, shift of the leukocyte formula to the left, increased ESR.
Biochemical studies - an increase in the blood level of acute phase proteins, a2- and y-globulins, an increase in the activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme. Sometimes hypoxemia develops.
Bacteriological examination - sputum culture.
Serological analysis - determination of antibodies to viruses or mycoplasmas.

Treatment of bronchitis in adults

When the task is set - how to treat bronchitis in adults, then four main stages of treatment can be distinguished:

The first step is to voluntarily quit smoking. This greatly increases the effectiveness of the treatment.
At the second stage, drugs are prescribed that, by stimulating receptors, expand the bronchi: Bromide, Salbutamol, Terbutaline, Fenoterol, Ipratropium bromide.
Assign mucolytic and expectorant drugs that contribute to sputum production. They restore the ability of the epithelium of the bronchi, dilute sputum.
At the fourth stage of treatment of bronchitis, only antibiotics are prescribed: orally, intramuscularly and intravenously.

Compliance with the regime:

Against the background of exacerbation of bronchitis, it is traditionally recommended to drink plenty of water. For an adult - the daily volume of fluid consumed should be at least 3 - 3.5 liters. Usually alkaline fruit drinks, hot milk with Borjomi in a ratio of 1: 1 are well tolerated.
It also undergoes several changes in the composition of the daily food ration, which should become complete in terms of proteins and vitamins. The daily diet must contain a sufficient amount of proteins and vitamins. It is important to include as many fruits and vegetables as possible.
Elimination of physical and chemical factors that provoke the appearance of a cough (dust, smoke, etc.);
When the air is dry, the cough is much stronger, so try to moisten the air in the room where the patient is. It is best to use an air purifier and humidifier for this purpose. It is also desirable to carry out daily wet cleaning of the patient's room to purify the air.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy - very effective for bronchitis, is prescribed along with drug therapy. Among physiotherapeutic procedures, quartz treatment, UHF, ozekirite, inhalations are used.

Warming of the chest - is prescribed only as an additional treatment after the exacerbation of chronic bronchitis has been removed or the first stage of acute treatment has been completed.
Massage - done with poorly discharged sputum, provides better opening of the bronchi and acceleration of the outflow of serous-purulent or purulent sputum.
Therapeutic breathing exercises - helps to restore normal breathing and get rid of shortness of breath.
Inhalations. It is difficult to call them exclusively physiotherapy, because for the most part such procedures are a full-fledged therapy.

Bronchitis drugs for adults

Before using any medications, be sure to consult your doctor.

Bronchodilators

To improve sputum discharge, bronchodilators are prescribed. Adults with bronchitis with a wet cough are usually prescribed pills:

salbutamol,
Beroduala,
Eufillina,
Theotard.

Expectorants:

Mukaltin. Liquefies viscous sputum, facilitating its exit from the bronchi.
Means based on the herb thermopsis - Thermopsol and Codelac Broncho.
Syrup Gerbion, Stoptussin phyto, Bronchikum, Pertusin, Gelomirtol - are based on medicinal herbs.
ACC (acetylcysteine). An effective means of direct action. Has a direct effect on sputum. When taking the wrong dosage, it can cause diarrhea, vomiting, heartburn.

Antibiotics

penicillins (Amoxiclav),
macrolides (Azithromycin, Rovamycin),
cephalosporins (ceftriaxone),
fluoroquinolones (Levofloxacin).

Antiseptics

Folk remedies for bronchitis

Boil some water, add 2 drops of fir, eucalyptus, pine or tea tree oil to it. Lean over the container with the resulting mixture and inhale the steam for 5-7 minutes.
A very old and effective recipe is a radish, a small depression is made in it, into which a teaspoon of honey is placed. After a while, the radish gives juice and can be consumed 3 times a day. This is a good way to relieve a cough if you are not allergic to honey.
We treat bronchitis with calendula flowers. Pour 2 tablespoons of calendula flowers with a glass of boiling water and hold in a water bath for 15 minutes. Adults take 1-2 tablespoons 3 times a day 15 minutes before meals.
Pour a glass of milk into an enamel bowl, add 1 tablespoon of dry sage herb to it, cover tightly, bring to a boil over low heat, cool and strain. Then bring to a boil again, covered with a lid. Ready to drink hot before going to bed.
Horseradish and honey. The tool helps in the fight against bronchitis and lung diseases. Pass four parts of horseradish through a grater, mix with 5 parts of honey. Take one spoonful after meals.
Take 2 parts licorice root and 1 part lime blossom. Make a decoction of the herb and use it for dry coughs or excessively thick sputum.
10 g of dried and chopped mandarin peel pour 100 ml of boiling water, insist, strain. Take 1 tablespoon 5 times a day before meals. Used as an expectorant.

Prevention

Primary prevention measures:

In adults, for the prevention of bronchitis, it will be important to completely stop smoking, as well as regular alcohol consumption. Such abuses negatively affect the general condition of the body and, as a result, bronchitis and other diseases may appear.
limit the impact of harmful substances and gases that must be inhaled;
start treatment of various infections on time;
do not overcool the body;
take care of maintaining immunity;
during the heated period, maintain a normal level of humidity in the room.

Secondary prevention includes:

Eliminate all of the above risk factors. Timely diagnosis and early treatment of acute bronchitis (or chronic exacerbations).
Hardening of the body in the summer.
Prevention of acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) during the epidemic (usually from November to March).
Prophylactic use of antibacterial drugs for 5-7 days with exacerbation of bronchitis caused by a virus.
Daily breathing exercises (prevents stagnation of mucus and infection in the bronchial tree).

Bronchitis is a disease of the respiratory system, which is characterized by the presence of an inflammatory process in the bronchial tree. The cause of its appearance may be an introduced infection or prolonged exposure to allergens, dust, toxic chemical compounds, smoke. Symptoms of bronchitis in adults may vary depending on the state of the immune system and the type of disease.

Symptoms of the chronic form

Chronic is considered a form of bronchitis, in which a cough is observed for 90 days a year for 2 years. In the course of the disease, states of remissions and exacerbations are observed. In remission, a person is worried about a constant wet cough against the background of normal temperature and a satisfactory state of health.

Most often, exacerbations occur during the cold season, but they can also occur with prolonged exposure to irritating factors. The exacerbation is accompanied by an increase in body temperature (from subfebrile to febrile indicators), sweating, weakness, chills. Shortness of breath often develops, which after years can become permanent. This is due to structural changes in the bronchi that appear as a result of a progressive disease.

Chronic bronchitis can be caused by smoking. Cigarette smoke contains substances that disrupt the functioning of the cilia that cover the bronchi. Because of this, irritation and damage to the respiratory tract occurs, which flows into inflammation and impaired drainage function of the bronchi.

Symptoms of an acute illness

After the infection enters the human respiratory system, inflammation of the bronchial epithelium begins to actively develop, which is accompanied by increased secretion synthesis. Because of this, the main symptom of the disease is coughing. Initially, a dry, painful, unproductive cough without sputum is manifested. It may be accompanied by perspiration and sharp pain behind the sternum.

Sometimes the cough becomes so severe that it can cause increased intracranial pressure and severe headaches.

After a few days, sputum discharge begins, and the cough becomes wet, which brings relief to the patient. At first, sputum is white or transparent, but then its color can change to yellowish with impurities of pus. This indicates the presence of pathogenic flora of bacterial origin.

Due to the fact that the acute form mainly occurs against the background of acute respiratory infections, the disease is accompanied by symptoms such as an increase in body temperature to 38 ° C, rhinitis, dryness and sore throat, general weakness and aches throughout the body. Signs of bronchitis in an adult may include shortness of breath due to a decrease in the lumen of the bronchi.

With the right treatment, the symptoms of the disease disappear in about 15-20 days. But if the inflammation progresses, bronchitis can flow into a chronic or other form (bronchopneumonia, pneumonia).

Symptoms of an allergic type of disease

Allergic bronchitis is characterized by the presence of attacks that occur upon contact with an irritant and completely disappear in its absence. The allergic type of the disease occurs against the background of normal body temperature, but with a strong cough, which is especially painful during a night's sleep. Coughing fits are interconnected with the location of the pathogen that causes allergies. Along with a cough, there may be discharge of a transparent secret from the nose, various rashes on the skin, conjunctivitis.

With allergic bronchitis, breathing difficulty occurs, which is especially pronounced on exhalation. It is accompanied by whistling sounds or wheezing in the chest, which are clearly audible without additional devices.

If any signs appear, you should consult a doctor who can establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe adequate therapy.

Symptoms of the obstructive form

The cause of obstructive bronchitis is a violation of the patency in the bronchial tree. This phenomenon may occur due to influenza, pneumonia, improperly selected treatment of diseases of the respiratory system, or be an independent deviation.

Signs of bronchitis in an adult are manifested in the form of changes in breathing, which is accompanied by loud wheezing of a dry type and a specific whistling sound on exhalation. In the disease, severe shortness of breath is observed, which occurs due to swelling of the bronchi and the accumulation of a secreted secret in them.

This will be useful: information on how not to get infected.

Bronchitis is a common inflammatory disease. It appears not only in the cool season, but also in the warm season, when open windows that create a draft save from the heat. Temperature fluctuations are one of the causes of bronchitis. It can occur unexpectedly and be acute, it can be a continuation of respiratory diseases and become chronic. Prolonged or systematic inflammation of the bronchi is often the cause of bronchial asthma and general allergization of the body, and therefore requires immediate diagnosis, treatment and further prevention.

Instruction

Most often, bronchitis develops as a complication of rhinitis, pharyngitis and laryngotracheitis in acute respiratory infections. Among other causes of this disease are staphylococci, streptococci, pneumococci and other microbes, the activity of which is manifested in the general weakening of the body due to past infections, with a decrease in its defenses, with changes in hot and cold temperatures. With the help of characteristic symptoms, you can definitely identify bronchitis and start timely treatment.
Acute bronchitis begins abruptly, with an increase in temperature to 38 - 39 ° C and malaise. There is a feeling of congestion in the chest and coughing. Initially, a dry cough, without sputum, causes a sharp pain in the chest. After 2 - 3 days, during the cough, the discharge of mucous begins, and then mucopurulent sputum, which brings a feeling of relief. The cough may be paroxysmal.
Worse is capillary bronchitis, in which the lumens of many small bronchi are clogged with mucopurulent plugs. This leads to shortness of breath, as well as a deterioration in the general condition of the body due to intoxication. Possible complications in the lungs in the form of focal pneumonia or emphysema.
Chronic bronchitis is a consequence of acute untreated bronchitis, nasal breathing disorders, as well as systematic exposure to adverse factors - smoking, alcohol, inhalation of harmful fumes. It manifests itself at least 3-4 times a year and is characterized by a persistent cough with a normal temperature. Chronic inflammation of the bronchial mucosa reduces their elasticity and over time can lead to bronchial asthma, as well as irreversible changes in the mucosa, with no hope of recovery. Treatment of chronic bronchitis requires a longer period, so it is much easier to prevent.

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Treatment of bronchitis with folk remedies at home in adults

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchi that is accompanied by certain symptoms.

Bronchitis is successfully and quickly treated at the initial stage, if its symptoms are identified in time.

But in a neglected form, it gives numerous complications in adults to other organs and becomes chronic. How to treat bronchitis at home to avoid it?

The symptoms of bronchitis are as follows:

Coughing;
Headache;
Increase in body temperature;
Weakness;
In some cases, tachycardia.

Why does bronchitis develop?

The causes of bronchitis in adults are:

Hypothermia.
Infections that have entered the upper respiratory tract from the outside.
Infectious diseases of the respiratory system - influenza, runny nose, SARS.
Chronic or acute infectious diseases of other organs - pyelonephritis, cystitis.

The infection, having penetrated the respiratory tract from the outside or from the inside, is introduced into the tissues of the alveoli and bronchi. The patient feels discomfort in the throat, perspiration, then there is a dry cough, pain.

If the treatment of bronchitis at home is started, the accumulated mucus will leave the bronchi. This often results in an increase in temperature.

Factors provoking the development of the disease in adults are cigarette abuse, poor working conditions, and weakened immunity. To quickly and permanently get rid of a cough, you must definitely eliminate them too.

Timely treatment of chronic bronchitis with folk remedies will help to cope with the infection and overcome unpleasant symptoms - primarily a painful cough.

How and how to treat acute bronchitis in adults

Three main methods are used to treat bronchitis in adults:

Drug therapy - pharmaceutical tablets, powders, solutions for injections and rinses. Antibiotics, antiseptics, analgesics, mucolytic cough medicines are used, and, if necessary, antipyretic drugs.
Folk remedies - medicinal herbs, plants, bee products and other cough remedies.
Physiotherapy - inhalation, heating using various devices, ozocerite, quartz, massage.

In chronic bronchitis in adults, the cough is often protracted, which cannot be quickly eliminated. How to cure bronchitis in this case?

Treatment of bronchitis with folk remedies

Folk remedies can be effective for bronchitis in adults as both therapeutic and prophylactic. A variety of rubbing and compresses, inhalations and infusions help:

Defeat even a prolonged cough of any nature;
Eliminate accompanying symptoms - sore throat, swelling of the mucosa, temperature;
Prevent the development of complications;
Strengthen immunity.

They are made mainly from medicinal plants. Those herbs are selected that would help thin the sputum in the bronchi and stimulate the patient's immune system. These are licorice and ginseng root, eleutherococcus, nettle, echinacea.

You can prepare medicinal decoctions and infusions on your own, or you can purchase preparations containing extracts of these plants in a phytopharmacy.

Rubbing and decoctions for coughing with bronchitis in adults

Rubbing has a strong warming effect, dilates blood vessels and accelerates blood circulation. This is important if you need to quickly cure a cough. The following substances are used for adults:

Camphor alcohol.
Turpentine and ointments based on it for coughing.
Essential oils.

If cough is accompanied by symptoms such as high fever, severe weakness, chills, warming rubbing is contraindicated.

In this case, rubbing with vinegar diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 1 will help alleviate the patient's condition and symptoms.

With bronchitis, drinking plenty of water is indicated - you need to drink at least 1.5 liters of fluid per day, especially if the temperature rises.

For the preparation of medicinal tea or a decoction for coughing, such plants, fruits and herbs are suitable:

Raspberries and currants;
Violet and clover;
Elderberry and linden;
Sage and thyme;
Kalina and rowan.

All these plants can be used not only to treat coughs, but also as a diaphoretic for bronchitis in adults. We must not forget about such a proven cough remedy as heated milk. It is good to add honey, butter, badger fat, soda, cocoa butter to it.

Some recommend treating coughs in adults with alkaline mineral water, which also needs to be heated. The minerals contained in it contribute to the dissolution and discharge of sputum, increase immunity. This is Borjomi or Essentuki.

Onion syrup helps to quickly defeat a cough. It is prepared like this: an average peeled onion is lowered into a saucepan, 2 cups of water are poured. When the water boils, you need to reduce the heat, add 2 tablespoons of sugar and cook over low heat for half an hour. The resulting cough decoction is taken half a glass three times a day before meals.

To cure a cough as quickly as possible, you should alternate all means and procedures. Treatment at home with folk remedies will consist of the following stages:

Regular consumption of warm drinks, including herbal decoctions with honey.
Therapeutic inhalations and rinses.
Massage with fir or eucalyptus oil.
Compresses before going to bed (usually they are put on all night).

If massage and inhalation were performed when coughing, then the compress does not need to be put on that day.

Cough compresses for bronchitis

Cough compresses are a proven home remedy that can quickly alleviate the patient's well-being and stimulate the discharge of thick mucus from the bronchi. Dry cough after 1-2 procedures turns into a wet one, sputum begins to be expectorated, inflammation decreases.

The simplest and most affordable compress, if you suffer from a strong cough - mustard plasters. They are pre-soaked in warm water, then applied to the back in the area of the shoulder blades on both sides of the spine. You should not keep them for more than 20 minutes - this is quite enough to get the desired therapeutic effect.

Otherwise, you may burn your skin. It is possible to determine when it is time to remove the mustard plasters by the patient's sensations (burning, feeling of heat on the skin under the mustard plasters) and by the characteristic red spots. To prevent burns, a bandage is applied between the mustard plaster and the skin, folded in two or three layers.

Rubbing with turpentine ointment, camphor oil or ethyl alcohol also gives a good effect. But first you need to accurately determine whether the patient has a fever. The chest and back of the patient are rubbed with the agent, polyethylene or special paper for compresses is applied on top, then the torso is insulated with a woolen scarf or bandage.

After the procedure, you should lie down in bed under the covers. Warm milk with honey or cocoa butter will enhance the effectiveness of the compress. After three hours, the scarf and polyethylene can be removed.

Potato compresses are put on all night. To do this, potatoes need to be washed and boiled or baked in their skins. Then knead still hot, add a little vodka, fir or camphor oil. The resulting mass is applied to the patient's chest, covered with a film, warmed with a scarf from above. By morning, the cough will be much less.

The most gentle compress for coughing is steamed cabbage leaf with honey. Dip the cabbage leaf in boiling water and hold it there for 2-3 minutes. Then squeeze lightly, generously grease with honey and apply to the chest. From above, as in previous recipes, cover with a film and a woolen scarf or scarf. After an hour, the compress can be removed, the remnants of honey washed off and the skin lubricated with a greasy cream or ointment.

For resorption, you can prepare your own lollipops. To do this, sugar is heated in a saucepan over low heat until it turns into a thick golden brown syrup.

You do not need to add water, you can add licorice or a little marshmallow root syrup. The resulting caramel should harden, then it is broken into pieces and absorbed several times a day.

Inhalations in the treatment of bronchitis

For inhalation, solutions with essential oils or decoctions of medicinal herbs, boiled potatoes, onions or garlic are used. Ideally, use an inhaler or nebulizer. But if there are no such devices at home, you can simply place the treatment solution for inhalation in a saucepan or basin, cover yourself with a towel and inhale the fumes.

The procedure must be carried out carefully so as not to burn yourself. Hot steam dilates blood vessels, improves blood supply to tissues, and the medicinal substance relieves inflammation and helps to thin the sputum in the bronchi.

After inhalation, it is useful to do a massage so that the liquefied sputum leaves better. After the procedure, you can not go outside for an hour. A specialist will tell about all this in the video in this article.

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Features of the treatment of bronchitis in adults

Treatment of bronchitis in adults is a complex and lengthy process that requires the attention of a doctor, since any mistakes or ignoring recommendations can lead to a lot of complications for the human body.

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the entire respiratory system of a person: bronchi, trachea, air tubes in the lungs. Most often the reasons are:

transferred viral and infectious diseases (in such cases, bronchitis develops as a complication of an untreated disease);
smoking, including passive;
chemical reagents at enterprises;
cold moist air outside, prolonged hypothermia;
diseases associated with stagnation of blood in the pulmonary circulation;
chronic forms of sinusitis, sinusitis;
past trauma to the chest;
polluted air outside.

Types of bronchitis in adults

In order to understand how to treat bronchitis, it is necessary to determine the type that a person has fallen ill with. In medicine, the following types of diseases are diagnosed:

Allergic. The cause of the development of the disease is some allergen. Only the correct definition of this allergen will allow you to find out how to quickly cure bronchitis.
Tracheal. This disease has a combined form, in which the virus first causes inflammation of the trachea, and then affects the bronchi.
Obstructive. This form is more common in children than in adults.
Spicy. The disease proceeds rapidly and requires immediate treatment.
Chronic. This type occurs due to improper treatment of other types of bronchitis or viral, infectious diseases of the nasopharynx. This species is divided into several subspecies:

simple non-obstructive, while the person's breathing remains normal;
purulent non-obstructive, breathing also does not change;
obstructive, breathing changes, strong wheezing appears in the chest;
purulent-obstructive, in this case, the sputum in the bronchi stagnates and turns into pus.

The latter type of bronchitis is considered life-threatening. With the wrong treatment, sepsis can develop, and the person will die. When contacting a doctor, the patient must indicate the severity of the disease itself. She may be:

light;
middle;
severe.

Symptoms of the disease

Depending on the type of disease, the symptoms will differ, but slightly. At the first stages, all patients complain of weakness, general malaise, fatigue, causeless headaches may begin. Literally after 2-3 days, a strong dry cough appears, which is paroxysmal in nature. In adults, there is a burning sensation, heaviness in the chest area.

Cough in the early stages will be unproductive, so each attack will only increase the pain in the chest. Due to a strong cough, the voice becomes hoarse, a sore throat appears. This stage is already characterized by an increase in temperature to 38 degrees. Headaches can become unbearable, as a coughing fit causes an increase in intracranial pressure. Some patients complain of pain in the muscles of the abdominal, femoral region.

If you start timely and correct treatment, then sputum should begin to depart on the 3rd day. Patients feel relief, as there is no pain in the body, as with a dry cough. At this stage, it is extremely important to monitor the nature of sputum. Even a small amount of pus may indicate the addition of a bacterial infection. The general course of treatment for this disease is about 3 weeks.

Treatment of various types of bronchitis

Simple bronchitis. This type of disease can be treated at home, but only after consultation with a specialist. The attending physician will prescribe medication, physiotherapy, folk remedies. To achieve a quick result, many recommend alternating treatments. Of the medical preparations, antibiotics, antimicrobials, analgesics and mucolytics are prescribed. From traditional medicine, rubbing, compresses, massage, inhalation are popular. But they can be applied only after the patient's temperature has returned to normal.

Obstructive bronchitis. This type is subject to treatment only in the acute stage of the course; after the transition to the chronic stage, it will be completely impossible to cure it. The entire treatment regimen consists of symptomatic therapy. Each patient should understand that it will take a long and difficult time to treat bronchial obstruction. For treatment, it is recommended to choose herbal preparations. Thyme and essential oils from it help well. It not only has an expectorant effect, but also helps to calm inflammation and kill existing infection in the bronchi.

Given that this type is characterized by edema and narrowing of the bronchi and trachea, bronchodilator drugs are prescribed. They can be in the form of tablets or inhalations. To convert a dry cough into a wet one, a mucolytic agent is prescribed, and for a better sputum discharge, an expectorant. These drugs for obstructive bronchitis should have an artificial basis, since herbal preparations can cause additional allergies and provoke even more swelling of the bronchi.

Almost all forms of this species are treated with antibiotics. They can be taken orally, but in severe cases of the disease, it is recommended to administer intramuscularly or intravenously. Smoker's bronchitis. It is extremely difficult to defeat a smoker's bronchitis, since it affects not only the bronchial tree, but also areas of the lung tissue. If you do not start the correct and timely treatment, then this type becomes obstructive, and pathological changes in the lungs become irreversible.

Modern medicine records cases when bronchitis has been developing in a person for several years, and he is unaware of its presence. This applies to long-term smokers. They explain a strong paroxysmal dry cough by exposure to tobacco smoke and consider it the norm. But everyone should know that a cough is a reaction of the body that warns of the development of a serious illness, so it must be properly treated.

In most cases, patients with smoker's bronchitis are treated already in the later stages, when the doctor cannot completely cure it, but only prescribes drugs that alleviate symptomatic manifestations. A specialist can recommend inhalations, warming, massage, physiotherapy. It is these methods that will allow the maximum amount of toxic substances to be removed from the bronchi.

Spicy. This type of bronchitis is treated in different ways, methods and drugs depend on the cause of the disease. If the acute form of bronchitis has a bacterial basis, an antibiotic course is prescribed, if it is viral, then not only antimicrobial therapy, but also anti-inflammatory therapy is carried out. When the cough is dry and does not turn into a wet one for a long time, an expectorant is prescribed. It helps to cleanse the bronchial mucosa and return them to normal function.

If the acute form is caused by exposure to a certain allergen, then additional antihistamines are prescribed. At home, you can use compresses from cabbage leaves, boiled potatoes, alcohol, camphor oil. They allow you to improve blood circulation in the bronchi and remove sputum or pus from them. Since acute bronchitis can cause complications, it is recommended to adhere to bed rest, drink more liquids, such as: milk with lemon, tea, warm mineral water.

If you start timely treatment of acute bronchitis, the prognosis is positive, but if you ignore all prescriptions, complications such as:

bronchial asthma;
pneumonia;
myocarditis;
glomerulonephritis;
vasculitis.

Since inflammatory processes also affect other human organs, they gradually enter the bloodstream, spread through the vessels, kidneys and heart muscle. Chronic.

The chronic form of bronchitis requires careful diagnosis.

Instrumental and laboratory studies are being carried out. It is these methods that make it possible to establish the cause of a disease that has become chronic due to improper or missing treatment. Chronic bronchitis is treated with antibiotic therapy using expectorants. The course of such treatment is about 10 days. Antibacterial therapy includes antibiotics, phytoncides, antiseptics, sulfonamides.

It is actively used in the treatment of physiotherapy procedures. Heating is prescribed with mustard plasters, banks, compresses, the bronchi are affected by UHF and quartz. Some experts recommend a method of alternative medicine - acupuncture. You can reduce the manifestation of unpleasant symptoms with the help of such folk remedies as decoctions and tinctures of licorice root, marshmallow, succession, rosemary. Adults are advised to go to the Russian bath, but only in the absence of fever.

Treatment of bronchitis in the elderly

When treating a disease in the elderly, therapeutic measures are selected in accordance with the severity of its course. If the patient's body temperature reaches critical levels, intoxication of the body is observed, bed rest is recommended. Abundant drinking, inhalations, expectorant and bronchial dilating drugs are prescribed. If a virus has become the source of the disease, antiviral therapy is prescribed. Antibiotics are prescribed with extreme caution, since the body of an elderly person is already weakened by the disease itself, and drugs can completely destroy the body's defense reaction.

As soon as the body temperature returns to normal, elderly patients are advised to actively move, as this contributes to the discharge and removal of sputum. Such patients are also prescribed a cardiac drug with a cardiological effect. If the patient has a lack of blood circulation, diuretic drugs are prescribed.

The best treatment is prevention!

Preventive measures of bronchitis are simple, it is enough to follow the following rules:

give up bad habits: smoking and drinking alcohol;
if the work is associated with an increased risk and the use of aggressive chemical components, you need to work only in a protective mask;
spend as much time as possible outdoors in the form of hiking, going to the square or park;
engage in active sports;
reconsider the diet and its balance;
perform morning exercises, including breathing;
minimize contact with sick people;
do not overcool, do not stay for a long time in cold rooms;
carry out regular ventilation and wet cleaning in the house;
do not self-medicate with viral or infectious diseases.

With bronchitis, treatment should be timely and professional and carried out only after consultation with the attending physician.

respiratoria.ru⁪>

How to identify bronchitis

Colds are associated with cough, sore throat, and fever, but inflammation of the airways is sometimes associated with more than just colds, such as in bronchitis. In addition to viral, it has an allergic or bacterial origin. Signs of bronchitis are different for each type of infection. Are you familiar with the symptoms of this disease? The instructions below will help you recognize any of its forms.

Types of bronchitis and their symptoms

Bronchitis is divided into types according to the mass of signs, but there is a general classification:

Spicy. This form is more common and is accompanied by pronounced symptoms. The cause of the disease is a viral or bacterial lesion of the bronchial mucosa or the ingestion of allergens on it.
Chronic. Lack of therapy or improper treatment leads to the fact that the acute form flows into a chronic one. It is characterized by a not so bright manifestation of signs that are exacerbated in the spring or autumn period, because at this time there is a peak of acute respiratory infections.

Spicy

The early symptoms of acute bronchitis are similar to the common cold. There is weakness and sore throat. Then they are joined by a dry cough, from which nothing helps, while the sputum is yellow, white or even green. The same pathogens that cause colds in bronchitis immerse small villi on the surface of the bronchi in mucus, which reduces their ability to purify the air. For this reason, there is a continuous cough and a temperature of 37 degrees and above.

Simple

This type of bronchitis has a leading symptom - hard breathing due to coughing, which accompanies the entire period of the disease. Other signs of an acute form:

chills;
malaise;
headache;
temperature rise to 38 degrees;
insomnia;
difficult to separate sputum;
increased heart rate;
pain in the muscles, lower chest;
nasal congestion and runny nose;
increased sweating.

obstructive

If the above signs of bronchitis are accompanied by inflammation and swelling of the bronchi due to accumulated mucus, then this form of the disease is called obstructive. It is characterized by a continuous wheezing, wheezing cough that does not improve for a long time up to one month and is often worse after eating. Here are some more signs of obstructive bronchitis:

dyspnea;
difficulty in taking a deep breath;
bluing of the skin of the face;
dizziness;
bubbling sounds are heard in the supine position when breathing;
rapid rise in temperature.

Chronic

If acute bronchitis is not properly treated, then the disease takes on a chronic form, which is even more difficult to deal with. The main symptom indicating an ailment is an incessant cough, which is accompanied by the release of a large amount of mucus. Other symptoms of chronic bronchitis in adults or children during an exacerbation are as follows:

feeling of weakness and weakness;
chest pain syndrome;
heat;
pale skin;
dyspnea;
secretion of clear mucus when coughing.

Characteristic signs of bronchitis in an adult

Bronchitis can be triggered not only by a cold - the disease is often the result of a weakening of the body's overall resistance to infections caused by viruses, bacteria, chemicals, fungi or allergens. For this reason, there are several forms of this disease:

Infectious. It is a consequence of creating favorable conditions for the reproduction of pathogenic bacteria, such as mycoplasma or chlamydia.
Allergic. This form of bronchitis develops due to exposure to the bronchi of a particular allergen.
Toxic-chemical. Inhalation of vapors of toxic substances, general intoxication of the body lead to the development of this type of bronchitis.

Infectious nature

Mild infectious bronchitis has the following symptoms:

dry cough, gradually becoming wet;
wheezing, hard breathing;
general malaise;
feeling of discomfort in the chest;
temperature of 38 and above, which persists for several days.

If the disease takes a severe form, then when coughing, there is a feeling of pain due to overstrain of the muscles of the chest. In addition, weakness is felt more and more, breathing becomes difficult, and purulent clots are found in the outgoing sputum. Dry rales are also noted during breathing in an adult, which accompany the patient throughout the day.

allergic

When bronchitis is diagnosed without fever, in most cases it is an allergic form. It can occur upon contact with a provoking factor, such as bird feathers or animal hair. Inhalation of pollen or household products also often leads to the development of allergic bronchitis. Even your favorite down pillow can fail and cause this disease. Here's how to identify bronchitis of an allergic nature:

hard cough;
dyspnea;
labored breathing;
normal body temperature;
dry wheezing when breathing;
undulating course of the disease.

Toxic-chemical origin

Due to the inhalation of acid fumes, dust of organic or inorganic origin and various gases, toxic-chemical bronchitis develops. Among the signs indicating this form of the disease, one can note:

lack of appetite;
hard breathing;
headache;
tingling in the chest;
labored breathing;
persistent cough;
bluish mucous membranes;
state of suffocation.

Features of the course of the disease in children

The disease in a child is much more difficult also because already at an early stage it is accompanied by signs of intoxication, i.e. lethargy, high fever, loss of appetite. For babies up to a year, blockage of the bronchioles is characteristic, which leads to hypoxia, manifested by blue skin, shortness of breath and the appearance of wheezing and whistling. If the baby did not have contact with the patient, then the disease develops due to the sensitivity of the respiratory tract, narrower bronchi, or an allergic reaction.

In children who are 2-3 years old, the early stage of the disease is easily identified by a runny nose and heavy breathing, because the narrower airways are quickly blocked by even a small amount of mucus. In addition, only certain medicines are allowed for babies, such as potions or syrups. Therapy must be coordinated with the doctor, and children under 2 years of age are treated only in a hospital.

Diagnostic methods

Any diagnosis is made only on the basis of patient complaints and laboratory tests, i.е. tests and even x-rays. The following activities are carried out:

Collection of complaints, identification of characteristic signs of bronchitis, determination of their duration.
General examination using a phonendoscope to listen to the work of the lungs.
General blood analysis. It is prescribed to identify the causative agent of infection and signs of bronchitis by the number of leukocytes.
Sputum analysis. It is carried out for the same purpose - to determine the cause of bronchitis and the sensitivity of the pathogen to drugs, in order to know whether to drink antibiotics.
Chest x-ray. It is done to rule out pneumonia.
Spirography. The study is necessary to determine the possible bronchial asthma or obstructive pulmonary disease.
Computed tomography of the chest area is the most accurate among the studies of the presence of lung pathology.
Bronchoscopy. It is aimed at examining the throat, trachea, larynx and lower respiratory tract using a thin instrument.

Possible complications and consequences of the disease

Some diseases do not pass without a trace for a person, especially with untimely or improper treatment. Heredity and the bad habit of smokers are also factors provoking negative consequences. Complications can be the following:

Bronchopneumonia is a consequence of an acute form of bronchitis, which develops with a local decrease in the protective functions of the body and multiple layering of bacterial infections. It is more common in the elderly and children.
Asthmatic bronchitis is a complication of chronic bronchitis that occurs with bronchial edema, i.e. obstruction. The disease is characterized by attacks of dry cough with the release of yellowish sputum, congestion in the chest and lack of air to the patient.
Emphysema of the lungs. Irreversible pathological changes occur in the lung tissue - the walls of the alveoli are destroyed due to their expansion, the lungs increase in volume.
Bronchiolitis or bronchitis without cough. Damage to small elements of the bronchial tree, i.e. bronchioles, which do not have receptors, therefore there is no reaction to irritation.

The incidence of bronchitis among children aged 3-8 years is quite high, which is due to the anatomical features of the bronchial tree of babies and the underdevelopment of the immune system.

With proper medical care, inflammation is treated quickly and without complications, especially if symptoms are recognized in time in children.

Depending on the pathogen and the characteristics of the child's body, bronchitis can take various forms. Babies are most often diagnosed with:

acute bronchitis;
recurrent;
chronic;
obstructive;
allergic;
bronchiolitis.

Each type of bronchitis is characterized by both general and specific symptoms. Only taking into account the characteristics of the form of the disease, you can choose the right treatment.

Acute symptoms

Acute bronchitis is common among children of different age categories. It is characterized by an inflammatory process in the bronchial tree in the absence of lesions of the lung tissue. Its occurrence is often associated with an untreated viral disease or hypothermia.

For the initial stage of acute bronchitis, the appearance of such common signs as a feeling of malaise, apathy, headaches, loss of appetite is inherent. Then there is an increase in body temperature, which can be both insignificant and quite high.

In most cases, there is a fever with a temperature of 38 ° C.

The duration of the body's temperature reaction depends on the type of causative agent of acute bronchitis. If it was caused by a parainfluenza virus or respiratory syncytial, then the duration of the fever will not exceed 3 days. But if the cause was mycoplasma or adenovirus, then the temperature increase will persist for 10 days or more.

The initial stage of the disease is characterized by the presence of a painful dry (sometimes "barking") cough. Auscultation (listening) of the child reveals coarse dry and wet coarse and medium bubbling rales. A week later, a dry cough is replaced by a productive (wet), accompanied by active sputum discharge. If this change occurs within a week, then this characterizes a mild form of acute bronchitis.

How are children treated?

If the correct treatment of the child is chosen, then acute bronchitis can be eliminated in 2 weeks. But at the same time, children under the age of two years may have a residual cough for some time.

Basic treatment of acute bronchitis for children from three years of age includes:

plentiful warm drink (tea, milk, water, compote and other liquid familiar to the child);
properly organized food with an abundance of fresh vegetables and fruits. Excluded heavy fatty and fried foods;
maintaining the required level of humidity in the room (at least 60%). This prevents the mucous membranes of the respiratory system from drying out;
regular ventilation of the room where the sick child is located;
taking antipyretic drugs at temperatures above 38 ° C;

antibiotic therapy if a bacterial infection is detected;
taking antitussive and expectorant drugs;
inhalation.

If bronchitis torments an infant, it is recommended to periodically turn it from one side to the other. This simple action stimulates the cough reflex, which is necessary for the normal discharge and thinning of sputum.

Cupping, mustard plasters and foot baths can be used as an additional treatment for children over the age of two. It is also useful to lubricate the baby's chest with ointments with a warming effect. However, all these procedures can be carried out only in the absence of elevated body temperature.

Symptoms of a relapsing type of disease

Recurrent bronchitis is characterized by periodic exacerbations (3-4 times a year), which torment the child for one and a half to two years. The disease is more common in children under 6-7 years of age. The symptoms of the disease are similar to the acute form of bronchitis, but appear periodically, during the period of exacerbation, which can last up to 30 days.

In the first days of exacerbation, the child's body temperature rises to 37-38 ° C. The fever does not last long, but a slight increase in temperature may persist for several weeks. Headaches, nasal congestion, general weakness and apathy also appear. After about 5 days, coughing fits begin. At first, it is dry, "tearing", but after 3-4 days it becomes wet with the release of mucus, which may contain pus.

Recurrent bronchitis is characterized by scattered coarse and medium bubbling or dry rales. But if the disease is localized in the large bronchi, then wheezing may be completely absent. However, it is likely to listen to hard breathing in the basal areas of the bronchi.

After an exacerbation, the disease practically does not manifest itself. Only with vigorous physical activity, stress, or with a sharp change in air temperature, a mild cough may occur.

How to treat?

During the period of exacerbation of recurrent bronchitis, treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis, but under the constant supervision of the attending pediatrician.

The set of measures to eliminate the disease includes:

bed rest at the optimum temperature and humidity of the room (t ° - 18-22 ° C, humidity - 60-70%);
after the decline in elevated body temperature, regular walks in the fresh air are required;
good nutrition with an abundance of foods rich in vitamins;
taking expectorant drugs (for example, Pertussin, marshmallow root syrup);
inhalations with soda-salt and alkaline water, infusion of sage or chamomile;
with the threat of the development of complications of the disease, antibiotic therapy is prescribed;
the use of mustard plasters, cans, pepper plaster, warming ointments.

During the period of remission, the child should be regularly shown to the pediatrician and pulmonologist. For effective treatment of recurrent bronchitis, you should:

observe the daily routine;
do morning exercises and go to exercise therapy classes;
take long walks on a fresh holiday with active games;
sign up for swimming, a tourist club or go skiing;

once a year to visit special recreational boarding houses for children with diseases of the respiratory system.

With the wrong approach or neglect of treatment, recurrent bronchitis in a child can transform into a chronic stage or bronchial asthma.

Symptoms of the chronic form in children

Chronic bronchitis can be diagnosed in a child older than three years, since its characteristic difference is the appearance of exacerbations three times a year for 2 or more years. The disease is dangerous for children, because it causes irreversible negative changes in the walls of the bronchial tree.

If you find the first symptoms of the chronic stage of bronchitis, you should seek help from a qualified doctor.

Chronic bronchitis may be the result of regular acute respiratory infections or constant exposure to irritants (eg, cigarette smoke, highly polluted air) on the child.

The main symptoms of the chronic stage:

coughing fits that torment the child constantly. During remission, it is often dry, but with an exacerbation it gradually becomes wet. At the same time, a large amount of purulent-mucous sputum is expectorated;

well-audible wheezing, but with auscultation it is impossible to determine their clear localization. During an exacerbation, wheezing becomes more intense and can persist for 90 or more days;
shortness of breath, indicating a narrowing of the lumen of the bronchi;
fever that occurs in the first days of exacerbation. However, during periods of remission, the temperature can rise only to subfebrile indicators;
constant sweating of the child, cyanosis of the skin on the nasolabial triangle;
general weakness, regular headaches, loss of appetite, sleep disturbance.

How to treat a child?

Treatment of the chronic stage is aimed primarily at eliminating the focus of inflammation and the resulting obstruction. For this are used:

antibacterial therapy, which is selected taking into account the sensitivity to certain medications of the pathogenic flora detected in the sputum;
expectorants and mucolytics;
inhalation;
taking vitamins B, C, nicotinic acid.

Symptoms of allergic bronchitis

Allergic bronchitis manifests itself in a child upon contact with an irritant, which can be both endo- and exogenous factors (for example, a certain food product or plant pollen).

Symptoms of the disease are clearly manifested during proximity with the allergen and include:

slight increase in body temperature;
dry cough with clear sputum. Attacks often torment the child during a night's sleep;
shortness of breath, and in some cases, asthma attacks that occur during the active physical activity of the child, in stressful situations, during a cry;
well auscultated moist medium bubbling rales. With exacerbation, wheezing is heard at a distance;
tearing, clear and copious discharge from the nose.

How to treat?

To save the child from the disease, it is necessary to establish the exact cause of the allergic reaction. To alleviate the condition with allergic bronchitis, children are prescribed antihistamines (preferably the third generation), expectorants and anti-inflammatory drugs.

To increase the resistance of the child's body with this form of bronchitis, it is useful:

hardening;
sunbathing;
therapeutic breathing exercises;
halotherapy (treatment with a climate with a high salt content);
hypoxic therapy (treatment with mountain air with a low oxygen content).

Symptoms of the obstructive form

Obstructive bronchitis is a serious disease in which there is a significant narrowing of the lumen of the bronchi or their blockage with accumulations of sputum. In the absence of timely treatment, the child may experience asthma attacks, threatening the development of hypoxia.

Obstructive bronchitis is most often found in children 3-4 years old, but can also appear in infants or schoolchildren.

You can suspect the disease by symptoms such as:

the appearance of noisy breathing, accompanied by whistling sounds. Pathological sounds are well audible even at a distance (the so-called remote wheezing);
shortness of breath of an expiratory or mixed type, which occurs both after vigorous activity and in a calm state;
the presence of a dry paroxysmal cough with a tendency to increase at night. At the same time, a small amount of sputum is released;
during auscultation, large and medium bubbling or dry "whistling" rales are heard;
tachypnea, in which the chest is swollen, and the muscles of the abdomen are involved in breathing;
body temperature rises slightly or remains within normal limits;
the presence of leukocytosis, leukopenia and accelerated ESR in the blood test;

How to treat?

If obstructive bronchitis is detected in an infant, then treatment should be carried out exclusively in a hospital. Children over the age of three years can be treated at home, but only in the absence of suspicion of pneumonia, severe intoxication of the body and acute respiratory failure.

The complex of measures for the treatment of obstructive bronchitis in children, among other things, includes taking drugs:

bronchodilators;
antitussives;
anti-inflammatory;
antihistamines;
antibacterial;
antispasmodic.

A special therapeutic drainage and postural massage has a positive effect. Their parents may well perform on their own at home. For preschool children, such procedures will help to quickly get rid of cough and sputum accumulated in the bronchi. For school-age children, massages are recommended to be combined with breathing exercises.

Symptoms of bronchiolitis

Bronchiolitis is an inflammatory process affecting the smallest bronchi and bronchioles. The disease mainly occurs in children aged 3 to 5 years and can cause acute respiratory failure. Bronchiolitis is dangerous for a fragile organism, therefore, if its signs are found, it is necessary to urgently seek medical help.

Bronchitis in the mouths of doctors is a collective diagnosis. So doctors can call any inflammation of the bronchi: from bronchiolitis, which affects the bronchioles (small branches of the bronchi), to tracheitis (when the entire respiratory "trunk" suffers) and tracheobronchitis (when the bronchi suffer along with the "trunk").

The main culprit of this inflammation is an acute respiratory viral infection (the well-known ARVI). And only in 10% of cases, the pathogens are not viruses, but bacteria - streptococci, staphylococci, pneumococci, Haemophilus influenzae and other microorganisms.

Caution: mycoplasma!

Such as mycoplasma, for example. Affecting the connective tissue of the lungs, this pathogen causes a protracted, chronic cough that can last for years. Respiratory mycoplasmosis is very similar to influenza or SARS. That's just the treatment that is prescribed for influenza and viral infections, in this case does not help.

You can catch common viral infections that irritate the bronchial "tree" at any time of the year. Infections, as it were, divided the seasons into spheres of influence: autumn is "controlled" by rhinoviruses and parainfluenza pathogens, winter - by influenza, spring - by the so-called respiratory syncytial viruses and adenoviruses. Moreover, each of them can capture your body in what is called a chain - first one, and then others. So it turns out that acute inflammation of the bronchi can be repeated 3-6 times a year, causing bewilderment of a person who does not dry out from coughing: it seems to be treated, but there is no sense.

Manipulation "inhalation"

It will not happen if you do not immediately start treatment for ARVI, doctors say. The main thing is not to let the inflammation “go down” inside, not to miss the moment when the viruses are still hosting in the nasopharynx, causing lethargy, fatigue, runny nose, sore throat and headache.

How? Intense rinsing of the irritated throat with a warm solution of an alcohol tincture of calendula, eucalyptus or chamomile. This simple procedure can bring a tangible effect. But on one condition: if you gargle every hour or at least every two hours and at the same time use at least a glass of healing solution each time.

Do not forget about hot inhalations. What will you breathe: potato steam or steam from a validol tablet filled with boiling water - it doesn’t matter. Both procedures will greatly alleviate your suffering.

How do you breathe? Welcome!

The first precious day for treatment missed? Wait for the cough. Dry, irritating, hacking cough indicates damage to the trachea. “Moistened” and becoming more “soft” indicates the spread of the process deep into the respiratory tract. Usually at this time a small amount of mucous secretion begins to be coughed up and pain is felt in the lower chest. According to doctors, the pain is quite natural: the diaphragm convulsively contracts from coughing attacks and the surrounding muscles suffer.

However, the patients themselves are neither warm nor cold from such explanations. As soon as they feel discomfort, the citizens, tortured by coughing, begin to ring all the bells, rushing to the first pharmacist who comes across with a plea: “Give me something for coughing!”

1:0 not in our favor

And they make a fatal mistake, dooming themselves to even greater suffering. The fact is that some drugs help thin the sputum, while others are designed to suppress the cough reflex. When the bronchi are clogged with a viscous mucous secret accumulated in them, it is difficult for them to work. That's why we cough, trying to free the clogged space. The main thing to do during this period is to thin the sputum and cough it up vigorously!

But how to do this if instead of a drug with an expectorant effect, you took a drug that suppresses the cough reflex? By self-medicating, you can easily get stagnation of sputum in the bronchi. After a while, inflammation with a cough will return to you with renewed vigor.

The drug is not in the profile

Another common mistake is the indiscriminate use of antibiotics and sulfa drugs. Considering that most bronchitis is caused by viruses, and these drugs do not work on viruses, the effect of such treatment is just the opposite: the chaotic use of antibiotics depresses the immune system, and it cannot cope with the disease in any way.

Another tip: when taking expectorant drugs, drink as much liquid as possible so that there is something to “dilute” the bronchial mucus, otherwise these drugs will be ineffective.

Is it clear now how important it is for bronchitis and other diseases accompanied by a cough to follow the advice of a doctor? Only he can correctly assess your condition and prescribe the right treatment.

Leaves-roots ...

But you can speed up your recovery yourself. Cope with bronchitis will help to drink plenty of fluids, food rich in vitamins, fatty fish (salmon, flounder, halibut, sardines, mackerel), lean meat, pumpkin seeds. And, of course, the good old herbal medicine. In some cases, well-chosen medicinal herbs are more effective than drug treatment, as they have a complex effect, not only suppressing the cough reflex, but also removing inflammation of the mucous membrane of the larynx, trachea, "improving" the properties of sputum.

The enveloping and anti-inflammatory effect on the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract is exerted by the roots, leaves and flowers of Marshmallow officinalis, the roots of licorice naked, the leaves and flowers of the mullein scepter, the buds of the common pine, the marsh rosemary herb.

The word of professionals

Improve sputum separation herb lanceolate thermopsis, roots, rhizomes, flowers and leaves of spring primrose, tricolor violet herb, fruits and seeds of common anise, leaves and flowers of coltsfoot.

A bronchodilator, expanding the lumen of the bronchi and facilitating breathing, the herb of ephedra horsetail and two spikelets, licorice roots, tricolor violet herb, fennel fruits, roots and rhizomes of Siberian origin. The course of treatment with all the above infusions and decoctions is 6-8 days.

Remember? Take action! God willing, in a couple of weeks you will forget about the cough that exhausts you. If, despite the measures taken, your condition does not improve, you should not delay. Start your survey. Best of all - in a specialized pulmonary department of a hospital, where there are all conditions in order to conduct not only fluoroscopy and bronchoscopy, but also microbacteriological and cytological examination of sputum. Bronchitis is better not to run.

By the way

Suffering Chronicle. American scientists investigated what causes chronic cough. It turned out that in 41% of cases, coughing is associated with the consequences of a severe runny nose, due to which part of the mucus from the nose fell into the throat. In 24% - with asthma, in 21% - with gastroesophageal reflux, causing the reflux of part of the contents of the stomach into the esophagus. And only 5% of sufferers were diagnosed with chronic bronchitis. And in two patients who took part in the study, chronic cough was caused by ... a side effect of the drugs they took for hypertension.

Doctor Pepper. Many spices help to get rid of cough. Red capsicum causes perspiration and facilitates the separation of phlegm. Clove is an excellent pain reliever that relieves coughs and runny noses. Well treats diseases of the upper respiratory tract ginger. It can be added both to pastries and to the first and second courses.

Knowing how to identify bronchitis will help the patient seek medical help in a timely manner and take the right measures for a quick recovery. A late visit to the doctor increases the likelihood of pneumonia, and in the early stages the patient can often cope on his own. It is very important not to miss the moment when the help of a specialist is needed.

Cough is an important symptom that appears when the respiratory tract is affected. By its nature, the doctor can suggest the type of disease and the degree of neglect of the process.

If a person can self-medicate with a sore throat and runny nose, then if a cough occurs, a specialist consultation is necessary.

Evidence that the infection from the oropharynx has spread further can be considered the appearance of a dry hacking cough. This symptom is considered characteristic. They begin inflammation in the airways, which in a few days will begin to manifest itself as a wet cough. After the cough has passed, the person, in most cases, can be considered healthy.

Differences from the common cold

Under the "cold" doctors understand the body's reaction to hypothermia. This process is characterized, as a rule, by sharp symptoms that occur within a short time after the provoking factor. When a patient has a cold, their own opportunistic flora is activated therefore treatment often requires antibiotics. Complaints are received for sore throat, general intoxication, weakness, high temperature.

Bronchitis is more often provoked by a viral infection and is its continuation. Its appearance is preceded by a runny nose and sore throat, which an adult or child could complain about for several days. Inflammation in the airways causes a cough, which should change to wet after 2-3 days. The temperature in viral bronchitis also subsides after a few days, and the general well-being of the patient improves.

Sometimes bronchitis can proceed atypically, for example, without fever. It must be remembered that coughing is a symptom that indicates the need for a medical examination. Bronchitis without coughing is a rather rare occurrence, but such a course is sometimes possible.

Feature of bronchiolitis

When the lower respiratory tract is affected, in particular the bronchioles, another characteristic symptom appears - oxygen deficiency due to bronchial obstruction. This is more typical for children under one year of age, in which even slight inflammation and swelling can lead to a narrowing of the lumen of the respiratory tract.

Difficulty breathing leads to shortness of breath, deterioration of the general condition patient, cyanosis of the skin, changes that are determined by the doctor during palpation and auscultation.

How to define acute bronchitis?

The acute form of the disease is exactly what happens most often. In 90% of cases, it is caused by a viral infection. After the pathogen enters the body, the symptoms develop quite quickly, subside with proper treatment after a week and completely disappear after 10-14 days. The acute period and poor health disturb the patient for only 3-4 days, the rest of the time the main discomfort is coughing.

With chronic inflammation, the symptoms are less pronounced.. A cough can last for months or years, and even be considered a natural way of life for the patient. The temperature in this form does not rise, so a person rarely sees a doctor, which only aggravates the course of the pathology. At home, it is quite difficult to identify a chronic process.

Differential Diagnosis

In the early stages of bronchitis, especially viral etiology, the patient can be treated with folk remedies or physiotherapy. In severe bronchitis, when inflammation is already beginning to spread to the lungs, a completely different treatment is indicated, which must include drugs. Its result depends on the correctness of the prescribed therapy, therefore it is very important to accurately determine the localization of the inflammatory process and its severity. In acute cough, the differential diagnosis is made with:

Pneumonia.
bronchiolitis.
Acute sinusitis.
Bronchial asthma.

When coughing for more than 3 weeks, you should also find out its cause, which may include:

Chronical bronchitis.
Tuberculosis.
Obstructive pulmonary disease.
Pleurisy.
Sarcoidosis and others.

Recurrent form

Some people get bronchitis too often or for too long. Recurrent bronchitis can be diagnosed by a doctor if the inflammation recurs more than 3 times a year and lasts longer than 2 weeks. Most doctors believe that this is characteristic of childhood (under 8 years old) and is caused by:

genetic predisposition.
constitutional features.
Past diseases in the period of intrauterine development or neonatality.