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acute bronchitis disease

What causes acute bronchitis?

What causes acute bronchitis?

What causes acute bronchitis? Acute bronchitis is usually caused by a viral infection. This is most often the same viruses that cause colds and the flu. It may also be caused by a bacterial infection, or by physical or chemical agents that are breathed in.

acute bronchitis disease

Bronchitis or bronchitis is an inflammation and alertness in the airways responsible for bringing air into the lungs. When bronchitis occurs, the airways swell, swell (edematous) and produce phlegm, and  this is the cause of coughing.

Types of bronchitis

Bronchitis is classified into two types:

1. Acute bronchitis

It usually progresses quickly and the patient feels better after two to three weeks. Most usually healthy people who develop acute bronchitis recover without any complications.

2. Chronic bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis is a disease that recurs and lasts for a relatively long time, especially in smokers. Chronic bronchitis is that the patient has a cough accompanied by phlegm on most days during three months or more per year for two consecutive years.

Symptoms 

The most common symptom that accompanies bronchitis is a cough that is dry at first, and after a few days becomes accompanied by phlegm and the patient may feel a decrease in his body temperature and also tired.

Symptoms associated with acute bronchitis usually begin three to four days after the onset of the infection. Most people feel better after two to three weeks. However, some people may have a cough for longer than four weeks.

Pneumonia may be accompanied by symptoms similar to those of acute bronchitis. Because pneumonia is a serious disease, it is important to know the differences between the two diseases. Symptoms of pneumonia include a sharp rise in temperature, chills, cold and shortness of breath.

Causes and risk factors for

Bronchitis is usually caused by a viral infection. Most people develop bronchitis after they have had an upper respiratory infection such as a cold or the flu. In rare cases, especially acute bronchitis, a bacterial infection may be the cause.

Bronchitis may also occur from inhaling foreign substances into the lungs, such as: smoke, or infection from food or vomit entering the lungs.

Complications of 

Complications of acute bronchitis are rare but include:

  • Respiratory infection such as viral or bacterial pneumonia.
  • Chronic bronchitis.
  • asthma.
  • Sinusitis.

Depending on the pathogen, complications include other infectious lung diseases such as:

  • tuberculosis;
  • Whooping cough.
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease progression.

Diagnosis of acute bronchitis

The attending physician inquires about the patient’s symptoms and then performs a physical examination. This procedure is generally sufficient to give all the necessary information in order to diagnose whether the condition is really acute bronchitis or not.

In some cases, the doctor may order a chest x-ray to rule out the presence of pneumonia or another lung problem.

Treatment of acute bronchitis

Most people can receive treatment for the symptoms that accompany bronchitis at home. The patient should drink enough fluids. Over-the-counter medicines can be taken together with a medicine to remove phlegm, but a doctor should be consulted because it is not suitable for all patients, as this medicine helps to treat bronchitis at home. Expulsion of phlegm that has collected in the lungs by coughing, and lozenges can also be used against coughing or to soothe a dry and painful throat.

It is true that cough drops or syrups cannot stop them completely, but they can improve the feeling in the throat, as most people do not need antibiotics to treat bronchitis.

If the patient with bronchitis suffers from diseases of the heart or lungs, such as: failure of the heart muscle, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease  or asthma, he should see a doctor; Because it may then need additional treatment.

Prevention of acute bronchitis

To prevent acute bronchitis, the following can be done:

  • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Keep hand sanitizer close by when soap and water are not available.
  • Stay up to date on all vaccinations, including the flu shot and the pneumonia vaccine if you’re over 65 or at high risk.
  • Cover your mouth when coughing and stay home when sick.
  • Avoid smoking or exposure to other irritants, which can make acute bronchitis worse.

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