Bronchitis
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, the airways that connect the trachea (windpipe) to the lungs. This delicate, mucus-producing lining covers and protects the respiratory system, the organs and tissues involved in breathing. When a person has bronchitis, it may be harder for air to pass in and out of the lungs than it normally would, the tissues become irritated and more mucus is produced. The most common symptom of bronchitis is a cough.
Bronchitis can be acute or chronic. An acute medical condition comes on quickly and can cause severe symptoms, but it lasts only a short time (no longer than a few weeks). Acute bronchitis is most often caused by one of a number of viruses that can infect the respiratory tract and attack the bronchial tubes. Infection by certain bacteria can also cause acute bronchitis. Most people have acute bronchitis at some point in their lives.
Chronic bronchitis, on the other hand, can be mild to severe and is longer lasting — from several months to years. With chronic bronchitis, the bronchial tubes continue to be inflamed (red and swollen), irritated, and produce excessive mucus over time. The most common cause of chronic bronchitis is smoking.
People who have chronic bronchitis are more susceptible to bacterial infections of the airway and lungs, like pneumonia. (In some people with chronic bronchitis, the airway becomes permanently infected with bacteria.) Pneumonia is more common among smokers and people who are exposed to secondhand smoke.
Bronchitis often follows a respiratory infection such as a cold. And just as most people get occasional colds, virtually everyone has bronchitis at least once.
Most cases of acute bronchitis disappear within a few days without lasting effects, although coughs may linger three weeks or more. But if you have repeated bouts of bronchitis, see your doctor. You may have a more serious health problem — such as asthma, chronic bronchitis or emphysema — that needs attention.
Signs and symptoms
A cough that brings up yellowish-gray or green mucus (sputum) is one of the main signs of bronchitis. Mucus itself isn't abnormal — your airways produce at least an ounce of normal secretions every day. But these secretions usually don't accumulate, because they're continuously cleared into your throat and swallowed with your saliva. When the main air passageways in your lungs (bronchial tubes) are inflamed, however, they often produce large amounts of discolored mucus that comes up when you cough. Mucus that isn't white or clear usually means there's a secondary infection.
Still, these signs can be deceptive. You don't always produce sputum when you have bronchitis, and children often swallow coughed-up material, so parents may not know there's a secondary infection.
Bronchitis may be accompanied by common signs and symptoms of an upper respiratory infection, including:
- Soreness and a feeling of constriction or burning in your chest
- Sore throat
- Congestion
- Breathlessness
- Wheezing
- Slight fever and chills
- Overall malaise
Causes
The same viruses that cause colds often cause acute bronchitis. But you can also develop noninfectious bronchitis from exposure to your own or someone else's cigarette smoke and even from pollutants such as household cleaners and smog.
Bronchitis can also occur when acids from your stomach consistently back up into your food pipe, a condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. And workers exposed to certain dusts or fumes may develop occupational bronchitis, an acute disease that generally clears up when exposure to the irritant stops.
Sometimes inflammation and thickening of the lining of your bronchial tubes become permanent — a condition known as chronic bronchitis. Signs and symptoms include shortness of breath and a continual cough that produces large amounts of mucus. You're generally considered to have chronic bronchitis if you cough most days for at least three months a year in two consecutive years. Often, however, smokers with chronic bronchitis cough almost every day, even if it's just to "clear their throats" in the morning.
Unlike acute bronchitis, chronic bronchitis is an ongoing, serious disease. Smoking is the major cause, but air pollution and dust or toxic gases in the environment or workplace also can contribute to the condition. In some people, chronic inflammation of the airways leads to asthma.
Complications
Although a single episode of bronchitis usually isn't cause for concern, it can lead to pneumonia in some people. Older adults, infants, smokers and people with chronic respiratory disorders or heart problems are at greatest risk of this complication.
Repeated bouts of bronchitis should be taken seriously. They may signal chronic bronchitis, asthma or other lung disorders. Having chronic bronchitis also increases your risk of lung cancer if you're a smoker or if you're exposed to someone else's tobacco smoke over a long period of time.
Treatment
Antibiotics don't effectively treat most cases of bronchitis because the condition usually results from a viral infection. Instead, the following are the cornerstones of treatment for acute bronchitis:
- Get plenty of rest.
- Drink extra liquids.
- Take a nonprescription cough medicine.
Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic if he or she suspects that you have a bacterial infection. If you have a chronic lung disorder or if you smoke, your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to reduce your risk of a serious, secondary infection.
If you have asthma, your doctor may recommend an inhaler and other asthma medications to reduce inflammation and open narrowed passages in your lungs.
Prevention
If you have frequent, repeated attacks of bronchitis, the culprit may be something in your environment. Cold, damp locations — especially in combination with air pollution or tobacco smoke — can make you more susceptible to acute bronchitis. When the problem is severe, you may need to consider changing where and how you live and work.
These measures also may help prevent bronchitis and protect your lungs in general:
- Avoid smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke. Tobacco smoke increases your risk of chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
- Get an annual flu vaccine. Many cases of acute bronchitis result from influenza. Getting a yearly flu vaccine can help protect you from both bronchitis and the flu.
- Ask your doctor about a pneumonia shot. If you're older than 55 or you have risk factors such as diabetes, heart disease and emphysema, consider having a pneumonia shot. In addition, a vaccine known as Prevnar can help protect young children against pneumonia. It's recommended for all children under age 2 and for children 2 years and older who are at particular risk of pneumococcal disease, such as those with an immune system deficiency, asthma, cardiovascular disease or sickle cell anemia. Side effects of the pneumococcal vaccine are generally minor and include mild soreness or swelling at the injection site.
Informations obtained from National Institute of Health.