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How to determine if you have bronchitis. Bronchitis: symptoms, treatment at home

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

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

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

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 respiratory tract, which will begin to appear in a few days. wet cough. After the cough has passed, the person, in most cases, can be considered healthy.

Differences from a cold

By “cold,” doctors mean the body’s reaction to hypothermia. This process is characterized, as a rule, by severe symptoms that occur within a short time after the provoking factor. When a patient has a cold, their own opportunistic flora is activated, so treatment often requires antibiotics. Complaints include sore throat, general intoxication, weakness, and high fever.

Bronchitis is most often triggered 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 respiratory tract causes a cough, which after 2-3 days should change to a wet one. The temperature with viral bronchitis also subsides after a few days, and the patient’s general well-being improves.

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

Features of bronchiolitis

In case of defeat lower sections respiratory tract, in particular bronchioles, another appears characteristic symptom– oxygen deficiency due to bronchial obstruction. This is more typical for children under one year of age, in whom even minor inflammation and swelling can lead to a narrowing of the respiratory tract.

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

How to identify 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, symptoms develop quite quickly and subside when proper treatment after a week and completely disappear after 10-14 days. Acute period And feeling unwell bother the patient for only 3-4 days, the rest of the time the main discomfort is caused by coughing.

At chronic inflammation symptoms are less severe. The cough may last for several months or years, and may even be considered a natural way of life for the patient. The temperature does not rise with this form, so a person rarely consults a doctor, which only aggravates the course of the pathology. It is quite difficult to identify a chronic process at home.

Differential diagnosis

IN the early stages of bronchitis, especially viral etiology, the patient can treat folk remedies or physical therapy. In severe cases of bronchitis, when inflammation is already beginning to spread to the lungs, a completely different treatment is indicated, which necessarily includes medicines . The result depends on the correctness of the prescribed therapy, so it is very important to accurately determine the location of the inflammatory process and its severity. For acute cough differential diagnosis carried out with:

  1. Pneumonia.
  2. Bronchiolitis.
  3. Acute sinusitis.
  4. Bronchial asthma.

If you have a cough that lasts longer than 3 weeks, you also need to find out its cause, which may include:

  1. chronic bronchitis.
  2. Tuberculosis.
  3. Obstructive pulmonary disease.
  4. Pleurisy.
  5. Sarcoidosis and others.

Recurrent form

Some people get bronchitis too often or for too long. A doctor can diagnose recurrent bronchitis if inflammation recurs more than 3 times a year and lasts longer than 2 weeks. Most doctors believe that this is typical in childhood (up to 8 years) and is caused by:

  1. Genetic predisposition.
  2. Constitutional features.
  3. Diseases suffered during the period intrauterine development or newborns.

Is the disease contagious?

Bronchitis characterized by inflammation of the bronchial tubes (bronchi), the airways that begin with the trachea and end with the small airways and alveoli. This is one of the very serious diseases in which the patient definitely requires medical care.

The patient should provide the doctor with a complete medical history, including whether he or she smokes or has been exposed to toxic substances.

  • cough (the most commonly observed symptom);
  • secretion of sputum (white, yellow, green, or even mixed with blood);
  • fever (relatively rare symptom, in combination with a cough, may indicate influenza or pneumonia);
  • nausea, vomiting and diarrhea (rare);
  • general weakness and chest pain (in some cases);
  • shortness of breath and cyanosis (common in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or other diseases that harm the lungs);
  • sore throat;
  • runny or stuffy nose;
  • headache;
  • muscle pain;
  • severe fatigue.
  • diffuse wheezing in the form of high-pitched, prolonged sounds and the use of additional muscles when breathing (in some cases);
  • a diffuse decrease in air intake is accompanied by inspiratory stridor (a signal of bronchial or tracheal obstruction);
  • persistent swelling along the left edge of the sternum (indicates right ventricular hypertrophy);
  • deformation of the fingers, thickening of the phalanges and peripheral cyanosis (a sign of cystic fibrosis);
  • bullous myringitis (indicating mycoplasma pneumonia);
  • conjunctivitis, lymphadenitis and rhinorrhea (evidence of a possible adenovirus infection).

Diagnosis of bronchitis


Bronchitis may be suspected in people with acute respiratory infection and cough. Diagnosis is difficult because cough is a common symptom of many respiratory diseases.

  • complete blood count;
  • determining the level of procalcitonin (to distinguish a bacterial infection from a non-bacterial one);
  • cytological examination of sputum (if the cough does not go away);
  • blood culture analysis (if bacterial superinfection is suspected);
  • bronchoscopy (to exclude external aspiration foreign body, tuberculosis, tumors and other chronic diseases);
  • checking for influenza;
  • spirometry;
  • laryngoscopy (to exclude epiglottitis).

Treatment of bronchitis


Therapy mainly focuses on symptom relief. Treatment of acute and chronic bronchitis is different. Therapy chronic form of this disease involves preventing exposure to environmental irritants.

  • Central cough suppressants (i.e. codeine and dextromethorphan) - provide short-term symptomatic relief of cough in acute and chronic bronchitis;
  • short-acting β2-agonists (ipratropium bromide and theophylline) for the control of bronchospasm, dyspnea and chronic cough in patients with chronic bronchitis. Beta agonists long acting And inhaled corticosteroids may also be offered to combat chronic cough;
  • nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to treat the general symptoms of acute bronchitis, including mild to moderate pain;
  • cough suppressants or expectorants (such as guaifenesin) to treat cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing;
  • mucolytics for the treatment of moderate to severe COPD, especially in winter.

In people with acute bronchitis but otherwise healthy, antibiotics do not provide any benefit.

  • acute bronchitis should not be treated with antibiotics unless there is a risk of developing serious complications;
  • Antibiotic treatment is recommended for adult patients (65 years of age or older) with a severe cough if they have been hospitalized in the past year, have diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, or are receiving steroids;
  • Antibiotic therapy is recommended for patients in case of exacerbation of chronic bronchitis.


For stable patients with chronic bronchitis, long-term preventive therapy antibiotics are not indicated.

Influenza vaccination may reduce upper respiratory tract infections and subsequently reduce the spread of acute bacterial bronchitis.

Very often a person picks up common cold, which quickly turns into bronchitis. To prevent this, it is important to distinguish bronchitis from colds and other infections in time. Bronchitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the walls of the network of tubes - bronchi - that conduct inhaled air into the lungs. Most often, bronchitis is a complication after a cold and acute respiratory viral infection, but it can develop in different ways: independent disease.

The main cause of bronchitis is weak immunity, when the body, weakened after a cold or other illness, cannot resist the “attack” of various infections, as a result of which they affect the bronchi. To prevent bronchitis, treatment for colds and acute respiratory viral infections should be started in a timely manner in order to promptly create an obstacle to the spread of inflammation and prevent it from “descending” into the bronchi.

As recent studies by American scientists have shown, in 45% of cases bronchitis is a consequence...

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Bronchitis and colds: how to distinguish one disease from another?

Causes of the disease Signs of the disease Differences between bronchitis and colds Diagnosis and treatment of bronchitis

Sometimes the most common cold develops into bronchitis, which requires more serious therapy. To avoid consequences and complications, you should know how to distinguish bronchitis from a cold.

Causes of the disease

Bronchitis is a disease in which the walls of the bronchi, or more precisely, their mucous membranes, become inflamed. In most cases, bronchitis is a complication that develops against the background of an acute respiratory viral infection or a cold. However, such a disease can appear on its own.

There are several reasons that provoke the development of bronchitis. The main reason is weak immunity. For example, a person who has had a cold has a greatly weakened immune system and is unable to resist infections that affect the bronchi. To...

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How to avoid it and how to treat it so that bronchitis does not become chronic? Candidate of Medical Sciences, pulmonologist answers these and other questions highest category, Head of the Pulmonology Department of the Kyiv City Pulmonology Center Ekaterina GONCHAR.

What provokes the development of bronchitis: hereditary predisposition, lifestyle or violation of bed rest, which is mandatory for the flu, when a sick person goes to work too early?

Acute bronchitis may complicate the course of a number of diseases caused by influenza viruses, parainfluenza, adenovirus, rhinovirus and other infections. Bronchitis as an independent disease is quite rare: it is usually combined with damage to the nasopharynx, larynx, trachea, and lungs, when the protective properties mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. More often people suffer from bronchitis in spring and autumn during damp, cold weather, that is, in the development of bronchitis important role cold plays...

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Bronchitis is an infectious disease that can occur as an exacerbation of ARVI or independently due to a number of provoking factors in children under one year of age and older. Children's bronchitis requires special attention parents and qualified assistance from doctors. Below we will tell you about the most common causes of the development of this disease, consider the main types of bronchitis in children and help you understand how to determine if your child has bronchitis, ARVI or pneumonia. Knowing all these details, you will be able to understand what treatment your child needs and what therapeutic measures It's better not to do it.

Reasons

Identifying the causes of bronchitis plays a very important role for both parents and doctors. Lastly, they reveal the picture regarding treatment, and parents will be able to understand how to build their child’s lifestyle in the future so as not to get sick again. Most often, bronchitis in children develops against the background of a viral infection. Viruses enter the body through air during breathing and settle on...

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Bronchitis is a disease that affects every 3 people on the planet. The disease is characterized by the presence of an inflammatory process in the bronchi, which causes the appearance of pronounced symptoms in the form of fever, cough and shortness of breath.

In order not to confuse bronchitis with a regular cough caused by a cold or allergy, you need to know their main differences. Only in this case can the patient be protected from the risk of developing a more serious pathology.

How to distinguish bronchitis from a regular cough?

Every person should know what kind of cough is observed with bronchitis, as well as, in principle, about its other symptoms. The most common symptoms of this disease are:

Increase in body temperature to 38 degrees. Difficulty breathing, especially at night. General weakness. Extreme thirst. Tremor of the limbs. Shortness of breath even with the slightest physical exertion. Attacks of night suffocation (poison). Hurting cough with or without sputum production. Headaches. Chest pain...

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Instructions

A cough is the main indicator that inflammation begins in the bronchi. You can easily confuse the onset of bronchitis with a common viral infection, which is often the trigger for its development. On initial stage illness, the cough is predominantly dry and infrequent, but after a couple of days sputum is added to it. A painful cough, and in small children sometimes with vomiting, is more common at night than during the day. If you lie down, the cough will get worse, but taking a sitting position can temporarily relieve the condition.

In the morning, after a sleepless night, you usually feel unwell and exhausted. By the evening, the temperature may rise, especially if bronchitis is accompanied or was caused by an acute respiratory infection. Acute bronchitis almost always occurs with fever, but if with a viral etiology the temperature can be very high, then with bacterial temperature does not rise above 38°C.

If bronchitis occurs in the acute stage, then severe cough will...

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Viruses, bacteria, hypothermia, insufficient rest, a weakened immune system, dry indoor air, work in hazardous industries - all this can cause acute bronchitis in adults. Treatment should be started immediately, but this is not always possible due to late diagnosis.

We do not encourage self-diagnosis and self-medication, but everyone should be able to assess their health status and know the symptoms that require medical attention.

The disease must be detected at an early stage

Bronchitis can be viral, bacterial and allergic. Each type has its own distinctive features, they have different pathogens and the characteristics of the course are also different. You should also know that symptoms of the disease often appear after suffering an acute respiratory illness. Therefore, if a person has had a cold and has the symptoms described below, then high probability this will be inflammation...

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Bronchitis is quite serious and unpleasant disease, which is accompanied by a prolonged and debilitating cough, weakness, headache, and fever. The inflammatory process begins in the nasopharynx and, moving lower, affects the bronchi. Bronchitis must be treated correctly, but for this it must be recognized and distinguished from others similar diseases, and for this you need to know the symptoms of bronchitis in adults and children.

The main indicator of the onset of bronchitis is a cough. Often, the onset of bronchial inflammation can be confused with a viral infection of a different nature. At the initial stage, the cough is infrequent and dry; after two to three days the cough is accompanied by sputum. May be disturbing at night painful cough, sometimes with vomiting. To alleviate the condition during such attacks, you should sit or stand.

After a sleepless night, the patient feels weak and unwell. Towards evening the temperature rises if the disease was caused by an acute respiratory infection. The acute form of bronchitis is often accompanied by...

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C'est la vie: you have ARVI

Bronchitis in the mouths of doctors is a collective diagnosis. This is how 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 acute respiratory viral infection(everyone knows ARVI). And only in 10% of cases the causative agents are not viruses, but bacteria - streptococci, staphylococci, pneumococci, hemophilus influenzae and other microorganisms.

Caution: mycoplasma!

Such as mycoplasma, for example. Amazing connective tissue lungs, this pathogen causes prolonged, chronic cough which can last for years. Respiratory mycoplasmosis is very similar to influenza or ARVI. But the treatment prescribed for influenza and viral infections does not help in this case.

Catch common viral infections...

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Bronchitis is inflammatory process, which spreads to the lower respiratory tract. The disease affects regardless of gender and age, and can be diagnosed in infants. It is manifested by cough, fever, pain in the bronchi and a general deterioration in well-being. Doctors may recommend several techniques to identify bronchitis at home. However, a complete diagnosis can only be made instrumental methods. The disease must be differentiated from other acute and chronic pathologies which are accompanied by similar symptoms (asthma), and also determine the type of bronchitis.

In order to diagnose bronchitis, it is necessary to understand its cause and the structure of the human respiratory system. It is a network of branched tubes through which inhaled air moves, passing the nasopharynx and trachea. The latter is divided into two main bronchi. The tubes then continue to branch, forming small bronchi and bronchioles. Their final sections are called the alveoli of the lungs; they participate in gas exchange processes. This connection between the organs of the respiratory system explains the frequent phenomenon when the disease spreads to the lungs, developing into pneumonia.

The main symptom of bronchitis is cough. It can be dry or wet, with sputum production, and is a sign of inflammation of the lower respiratory tract and swelling of the mucous membrane. On initial stage The cough is often dry, then becomes wet. The nature of the sputum can determine the cause of the disease. The discharge may be transparent, contain impurities (pus, blood), and may also have bad smell. The process is often accompanied by pain in the chest.

An increase in body temperature is another sign of inflammation. This symptom identifies bronchitis in a child. The patient feels weakened, his general condition worsens, lethargy and apathy develop, and his appetite disappears. Breathing is difficult, accompanied by wheezing.

Signs in children

It is very important to recognize bronchitis in a child in time and begin treatment. The clinical signs of the disease in an infant are similar to its manifestations in an adult, but it can be more severe and lead to dangerous consequences. The most severe of them is pneumonia (pneumonia).

The disease may be of viral or bacterial origin. It is contagious - transmitted by airborne droplets. In some cases, it develops as a result of allergic reactions or constant irritation of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract by toxins, including fumes household chemicals, aggressive detergents. It is impossible to become infected from such patients.

IN early age The immune system is not yet strong enough, so infants are more susceptible to infection. In addition, at one year old child the respiratory muscles are poorly developed, due to which phlegm is removed. For these reasons, the disease must be recognized in the early stages. It will manifest itself with characteristic signs:

  • high temperature (up to 38-39 degrees or slightly);
  • difficulty breathing, wheezing and noises;
  • dry or wet cough;
  • decreased appetite;
  • periodic attacks of suffocation;
  • shallow breathing, which may cause chest pain;
  • lethargy and apathy in the baby.

Expert opinion

Komarovsky Evgeniy Olegovich

Pediatrician, doctor of the highest category, TV presenter of the program “Doctor Komarovsky’s School.”

About bronchitis in infants and older children: The primary disease often has viral origin. If treatment is not timely, bacteria become involved in the process, then another treatment regimen is prescribed. The need for antibiotics for bronchitis is determined by a number of factors, including the type of microflora and general condition child.

Diagnosing and treating bronchitis at home is dangerous. Untimely therapy or an incorrectly selected regimen can lead to the disease spreading to the lower respiratory tract. If the process spreads to the lungs, pneumonia will develop. On the other hand, inflammation of the bronchi is often a consequence of upper respiratory tract infection (rhinitis, laryngitis, tracheitis) and occurs as a complication of these diseases.

Symptoms depending on the cause of the disease

Bronchitis is a polyetiological pathology. This means that inflammation can develop various reasons. The most common are viruses and bacteria, but bronchitis of allergic and toxic origin is also isolated. These varieties occur with similar symptoms, but have their own characteristics.

Allergic bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial mucosa, which occurs due to individual sensitivity to certain irritants. Allergy - dangerous condition, which, if not treated in a timely manner, can develop into bronchial asthma.

Toxic bronchitis begins with constant irritation mucous membrane harmful substances that are in the inhaled air. This type includes the constant cough of smokers and people who work in chemical plants. The development of the disease is affected by too dry, dusty air - its particles can also cause inflammation of the bronchial mucosa.

Type of bronchitis Characteristic signs
Viral Dry cough, sputum begins to be released over time. Shortness of breath, wheezing when inhaling, pain in the chest area, low-grade fever. Can be transmitted by airborne droplets
Bacterial Persistent fever, weakness. The sputum contains impurities of pus. Cough, wheezing, painful breathing
Allergic Dry cough that occurs upon contact with an allergen. Symptoms may subside in the absence of the stimulus. In asthmatics - narrowing of the blood vessels of the bronchial tree, attacks of suffocation. Body temperature remains normal.
Toxic Signs of respiratory failure, dry, hard cough, wheezing. Pallor of mucous membranes, shortness of breath, chest pain

You can get bronchitis at any age. It often starts with, if not cured on time. Even after symptoms have passed, the infection may remain in the respiratory tract and continue to multiply as it decreases. immune defense. You can also become infected from a person with a latent form of the disease if it is of infectious origin.

Signs of various types of disease

Bronchitis should also be classified according to the form of its course. Regardless of the cause, it can be acute or chronic, and also occur with alternating periods of remission and exacerbation. The severity of the disease is determined by its cause, as well as the duration of its course.

Acute form

With it, the symptoms of the disease persist for a maximum of 3 weeks. Acute is characterized by a rapid onset with increased body temperature and general weakness. The cough is dry, the formation of sputum begins over time. At this stage, it is important to distinguish the disease from other pathologies with similar symptoms and adhere to bed rest.

If the cause of bronchitis is detected in time and treatment is started, the patient will gradually cough less and sputum will no longer be produced. In other conditions, a transition to chronic stage. Most often, acute bronchitis is associated with seasonal immunodeficiency and occurs in the cold season as a consequence of a cold.

Chronic course

Unlike acute prolonged bronchitis considered more dangerous. The chronic form is a long-term inflammation of the respiratory mucosa, which often occurs with copious discharge sputum. It can be aseptic (non-purulent), and also contain impurities of blood or pus. The disease is accompanied by a constant increase in temperature and a general deterioration of the condition.

Various factors influence. Thus, it can be diagnosed due to untimely treatment acute form, as well as with additional irritation of the mucous membrane. Often accompanies smokers and people who are forced to breathe polluted air. When identifying this type, it is important to exclude pneumonia.

Obstructive form

Broncho obstructive bronchitis - dangerous species diseases. It is characterized by swelling of the mucous membrane of large and small bronchi and the progressive development of respiratory failure. Bronchial obstruction is accompanied by an intense cough with sputum production. Acute is more common in children younger age against the background of decreased immunity and increased susceptibility to allergic reactions. In its chronic form, the disease manifests itself in adults who, due to their occupation, come into contact with chemical reagents or live in areas with polluted air.

Difference from colds and ARVI

Viral infections are the main cause of deterioration in health during the off-season. Colds are all diseases that occur with inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, fever, sore throat and cough. Its symptoms last no more than 7 days, while bronchitis will manifest itself for at least 1-2 weeks. Even if a cough develops with a cold, it is not accompanied by chest pain.

Colds can cause chronic bronchitis. In particular, treatment with folk remedies and non-compliance with doctor’s recommendations lead to a deterioration in the patient’s condition and the spread of infection to the lower respiratory tract.

Recurrent form

In some cases, bronchitis occurs with alternating periods of remission and relapses. It is often associated with allergic reactions or toxic irritation of the bronchial mucosa. Symptoms subside when the irritant (allergen or toxin) is eliminated, and then worsen with repeated contact. Since the immune system already recognizes the pathogen, the increase in the clinical picture - cough, swelling of the mucous membranes - takes a short period of time.

Differential diagnosis

During diagnosis, it is important to distinguish bronchitis from other diseases that may manifest themselves in similar ways. clinical signs. For this purpose they carry out full examination sick. On initial examination Auscultation (listening) of the bronchi and lungs using a stethoscope is necessary. Next, blood and sputum are collected for tests: with the help of the first, the intensity of inflammatory reactions can be detected, and the second medium will contain the causative agent of the disease.

Bronchitis is a common disease of the lower respiratory tract, characterized by an inflammatory process in the bronchial mucosa. Symptoms of bronchitis and treatment tactics depend on the form of the disease: acute or chronic, as well as the stage of development of the disease. It is necessary to treat bronchitis of any form and stage in a timely and complete manner: the inflammatory process in the bronchi not only affects the quality of life, but is also dangerous due to severe complications, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pathologies and dysfunctions cardiovascular system etc.

Reasons for the development of the disease

Bronchitis in both children and adults in the vast majority of cases is primary disease infectious etiology. The disease most often develops under the influence of an infectious agent. Among the most common causes of primary bronchitis are the following pathogens:

  • viruses: parainfluenza, influenza, adenovirus, rhinovirus, enterovirus, measles;
  • bacteria (staphylococci, streptococci, Haemophilus influenzae, respiratory forms of mycoplasma, chlamydophila, pertussis pathogen);
  • fungal (candida, aspergillus).

In 85% of cases the provocateur infectious process become viruses. However, often with reduced immunity or the presence of a viral infection, favorable conditions to activate the conditional pathogenic flora(staphylococci, streptococci present in the body), which leads to the development of an inflammatory process with mixed flora. Identification of primary and active components pathogenic flora is prerequisite For effective therapy diseases.
Bronchitis of fungal etiology is quite rare: with normal immunity, activation of fungal flora in the bronchi is practically impossible. Mycotic lesions of the bronchial mucosa are possible with significant disruptions in work immune system: for congenital or acquired immunodeficiencies, after a course of radiation or chemotherapy, when taking cytostatics in cancer patients.
Other factors in the etiology of acute and chronic forms of the disease that provoke the development of an inflammatory process in the lungs include:

  • foci of chronic infection in the upper respiratory tract;
  • prolonged inhalation of polluted air (dust, bulk materials, smoke, fumes, gases), including smoking;
  • pathologies of organ structure bronchopulmonary system.

Photo: artskvortsova/Shutterstock.com

Classification of the disease bronchitis

In the classification of the disease, there are two main forms: acute and chronic. They differ in manifestations, signs, symptoms, course of the disease and methods of therapy.

Acute bronchitis: symptoms and characteristics

The acute form occurs suddenly, proceeds violently and lasts for proper therapy on average 7-10 days. After this period, the affected cells of the bronchial walls begin to regenerate, a full recovery from viral and/or inflammation bacterial etiology occurs after 3 weeks.
Based on the nature of the disease, mild, moderate and severe degree. Classification is based on:

  • severity of respiratory failure;
  • blood and sputum test results;
  • X-ray examination of the area of ​​​​bronchial lesions.

Also distinguished various types in accordance with the nature of the inflammatory exudate:

  • catarrhal;
  • purulent;
  • mixed catarrhal-purulent;
  • atrophic.

The classification is carried out based on the results of sputum analysis: for example, purulent bronchitis is accompanied by the presence copious amounts leukocytes and macrophages in the exudate.
The degree of bronchial obstruction determines such types of diseases as acute obstructive and non-obstructive bronchitis. In children under the age of 1 year, acute obstructive bronchitis occurs in the form of bronchiolitis, accompanied by blockage of both deep and small bronchi.

Acute non-obstructive form

Acute non-obstructive, or simple form characterized by the development of a catarrhal inflammatory process in the bronchi of large and medium caliber and the absence of blockage of the bronchi with inflammatory contents. Most common reason of this form – viral infection and non-infectious agents.
As the disease progresses and with appropriate treatment, sputum leaves the bronchi during coughing, and respiratory failure does not develop.

Acute obstructive form of bronchitis

This form is especially dangerous for children. preschool age due to the narrowness of the airways and the tendency to bronchospasm with a small amount of sputum.
The inflammatory process, most often of a purulent or catarrhal-purulent nature, covers the bronchi of medium and small caliber, and their lumen is blocked with exudate. Muscular walls contract reflexively, causing spasm. Respiratory failure occurs, leading to oxygen starvation body.

Chronic form of the disease

In the chronic form, signs of the inflammatory process in the walls of the bronchi are observed for three or more months. The main symptom of chronic bronchitis is an unproductive cough, usually in the morning, after sleep. Shortness of breath may also occur, worsening with exercise.
The inflammation is chronic, occurring with periods of exacerbation and remission. Most often, the cause of the chronic form is constantly acting aggressive factors: occupational hazards (smoke, fumes, soot, gases, fumes chemicals). The most common provocateur is tobacco smoke with active or passive smoking.
The chronic form is typical for the adult part of the population. In children, it can develop only in the presence of immunodeficiencies, structural anomalies of the lower respiratory system, severe chronic diseases.

Photo: Helen Sushitskaya/Shutterstock.com

Different forms of bronchitis: signs and symptoms

Symptoms vary depending on the form of the disease and in different age periods.

Symptoms in adults

Formed respiratory system, immunity and longer exposure than in children negative factors determine the main differences in the manifestation of both acute and chronic forms of the disease in adulthood.

Acute form in adults

Most often (in 85% of cases) it occurs as a consequence of an acute respiratory viral infection. It is characterized by a rapid onset of the disease, starting with discomfort in the chest area, painful attacks of dry non-productive cough, worsening at night, when lying down, causing painful sensations in the pectoral and diaphragmatic muscles.

With bronchitis against the background of ARVI, there are general symptoms viral disease: intoxication of the body (weakness, headaches, aching sensation in muscles, joints), hyperthermia, possible accumulation of catarrhal manifestations (rhinitis, sore throat, lacrimation, etc.)

Cough with this disease is defense mechanism, helping to remove inflammatory exudate from the bronchi. With proper treatment, 3-5 days after the onset of the disease, a stage of productive cough with sputum production occurs, which brings some relief. When breathing into the chest with or without a stethoscope instrumental examination Wet rales are heard.

In acute respiratory viral infections, the stage of productive cough usually coincides with the beginning of recovery from ARVI: manifestations of intoxication in the body are reduced, body temperature normalizes (or is kept within subfebrile limits). If such phenomena are not observed on days 3-5 from the onset of the disease, a diagnosis of the possible addition of bacterial infection and/or development of complications.

The total duration of the cough period is up to 2 weeks, until the bronchial tree is completely cleared of sputum. About 7-10 days after the end of the cough, the period of regeneration of epithelial cells in the walls of the bronchi lasts, after which the onset of full recovery. Average duration the acute form of the disease in adults is 2-3 weeks, in healthy people without bad habits uncomplicated acute form ends with recovery full health lower respiratory tract.

Acute obstructive form

Acute obstructive form in adults is much less common than in children, and, due to physiology, poses a much lower threat to health and life, although the prognosis is based mainly on the severity of respiratory failure in the patient.

Respiratory failure with obstructive acute form The disease depends on the degree of blockage of the bronchial lumen by inflammatory exudate and the area of ​​bronchospasm.

Acute obstructive form is typical mainly for people diagnosed bronchial asthma, smokers, the elderly, those with chronic forms of lung or heart disease.
The first symptoms are shortness of breath due to oxygen deficiency, including at rest, an unproductive cough with prolonged painful attacks, wheezing in the chest with a pronounced increase in inspiration.

With moderate and severe degrees of respiratory failure, the patient strives for a semi-sitting position, sitting, with support on the forearms. Involved in the breathing process accessory muscles chest, the expansion of the wings of the nose is visually noticeable when inhaling. With significant hypoxia, cyanosis is noted in the area of ​​the nasolabial triangle, darkening of the tissues under the nail plates on the hands and feet. Any effort causes shortness of breath, including the process of speaking.

Relief with proper therapy occurs on days 5-7 with the onset of a productive cough and removal of sputum from the bronchi. In general, the disease lasts longer than the non-obstructive form; the recovery process takes up to 4 weeks.

Symptoms and stages of the chronic form of the disease

The chronic stage is diagnosed when bronchial form cough for at least three months, as well as a history of certain risk factors for developing the disease. The most common factor is tobacco smoking, most often active, but passive inhalation of smoke also often leads to an inflammatory process in the walls of the bronchi.
The chronic form can occur in an erased form or in alternating acute phases and remission. As a rule, an exacerbation of the disease is observed against the background of a viral or bacterial infection, however acute phase in the presence of a chronic form, it differs from acute bronchitis against the background general health bronchi by the severity of symptoms, duration, and frequent occurrence of complications of bacterial etiology.
An exacerbation can also be triggered by changes in climatic conditions, exposure to a cold, damp environment. Without appropriate therapy, the chronic form of the disease progresses, respiratory failure increases, and exacerbations become more and more severe.
During periods of remission in the early stages of the disease, the patient may be bothered by an episodic cough after a night's sleep. As the inflammatory process increases clinical picture expands, accompanied by shortness of breath on exertion, increased sweating, fatigue, coughing attacks at night and during periods of rest while lying down.
The later stages of the chronic form cause a change in the shape of the chest, pronounced frequent moist rales in the chest when breathing. Coughing attacks are accompanied by the release of purulent exudate, the skin acquires an earthy tint, cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle area is noticeable, first after physical activity, then at rest. Late stage The chronic form of bronchitis is difficult to treat; without treatment, as a rule, it develops into chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Symptoms in children

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Among the main causes of illness in children are not only pathogenic microorganisms, but also allergens. Acute bronchitis can also be a period of the course of childhood diseases such as measles, whooping cough, and rubella.
Risk factors for the development of bronchitis are prematurity and low body weight in newborns, especially when feeding with artificial substitutes breast milk, anomalous structure and pathologies of the development of the bronchopulmonary system, immunodeficiency states, impaired nasal breathing due to a deviated nasal septum, chronic diseases accompanied by the proliferation of adenoid tissue, chronic lesions infections in the respiratory system and/or oral cavity.
The acute form of the disease in preschool children is quite common and accounts for 10% of all acute cases. respiratory diseases in this age period, which is due anatomical features structure of the child's respiratory system.

Acute non-obstructive form in children

Acute non-obstructive form in childhood proceeds in the same way as in adult patients: starting with a dry cough and signs of intoxication of the body, the disease progresses to the stage of sputum production on days 3-5. The total duration of the disease in the absence of complications is 2-3 weeks.
This form is considered the most favorable in terms of prognosis for recovery, but it is more common in schoolchildren and adolescents. Due to the structure of the respiratory system, children of preschool age are more likely to develop obstructive bronchitis and bronchiolitis.

Acute obstructive form in children: symptoms and stages of the disease

Acute obstructive bronchitis is diagnosed in children under 3 years of age with a frequency of 1:4, that is, every fourth child before reaching the age of three suffers from this form of the disease at least once. Children are also prone to repeated episodes of the disease; several obstructive inflammatory processes in the bronchi during the year may indicate the manifestation of bronchial asthma. Frequent, repeating episodes of the disease also increase the likelihood of developing a chronic form, bronchiectasis, and emphysema.

The acute obstructive form occurs against the background of damage to the bronchi of small and medium calibers with the accumulation of inflammatory exudate in deep sections respiratory organ, blockage of lumens and the occurrence of bronchospasm. Increased likelihood the development of obstruction is due to the anatomical narrowness of the bronchi and characteristic of children age period increased tendency of muscle tissue to contract in response to irritants in the form of sputum. The obstructive form in children is manifested primarily by wheezing in the chest area, shortness of breath that increases when speaking, physical activity, increased frequency breathing movements, difficulty breathing.

Cough is not a mandatory symptom; in infants or weakened children it may be absent. Respiratory failure leads to symptoms such as cyanosis ( blue tint skin) nasolabial triangle, fingernails and toenails. When breathing, there is a pronounced movement of retraction of the intercostal spaces, expansion of the wings of the nose. Body temperature, as a rule, remains in the subfebrile range, not exceeding 38°C. With a concomitant viral infection, catarrhal manifestations may occur: runny nose, sore throat, lacrimation, etc.

Bronchiolitis in children as a type of bronchitis: symptoms and treatment

Acute bronchiolitis is the most dangerous type inflammatory lesion bronchial tissues in childhood. Most often, bronchiolitis is diagnosed in children under 3 years of age. The disease is dangerously high in quantity deaths(1% of cases), the most susceptible to it are children aged 5-7 months, born prematurely, with low body weight, fed with artificial formula, as well as babies with congenital anomalies respiratory organs and cardiac system.
The prevalence of bronchiolitis is 3% in children of the first year of life. The greatest danger is posed by a viral infection: RV viruses, which have a tropism for the tissue of the mucous surface of the small bronchi, provoke a significant proportion of bronchiolitis in children.
The following pathogens are also identified:

  • cytomegalovirus;
  • human herpes virus;
  • virus chickenpox(chickenpox);
  • chlamydia;
  • mycoplasma.

Most often, infection occurs in utero or during childbirth; the disease develops with a decrease in innate immunity, especially in the absence of breastfeeding.
The disease can be complicated by the addition of a bacterial inflammatory process with the activation of opportunistic microorganisms present in the body (streptococci, staphylococci).
The development of the disease is sudden and rapid. Primary manifestations are limited to symptoms of intoxication (lethargy, drowsiness, moodiness), slight increase body temperature, discharge from the nasal passages.
On the 2-3rd day, wheezing when breathing, shortness of breath begins, the child expresses anxiety, is starved of food, and cannot suck the breast, pacifier, or pacifier. The respiratory rate reaches 80 respiratory movements per minute, the pulse accelerates to 160-180 beats/min. Cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle, blanching or blueness of the skin, especially fingers and toes, is detected. There is pronounced lethargy, drowsiness, lack of a revitalization complex, and no reaction upon treatment.
Bronchiolitis in infants requires immediate initiation of hospital treatment.

Diagnosis of the disease

To diagnose the disease, determine its causes, stage of development and the presence of complications, the following research methods are used:

  • collecting anamnesis, analyzing patient complaints, visual inspection, listening to breathing sounds with a stethoscope;
  • general blood test;
  • general sputum analysis;
  • X-ray examination to exclude or confirm pneumonia as a complication of bronchitis;
  • spirographic examination to determine the degree of obstruction and respiratory failure;
  • bronchoscopy for suspected anatomical developmental abnormalities, the presence of a foreign body in the bronchi, tumor changes;
  • computed tomography according to indications.

Treatment methods for different forms of the disease

Depending on the cause of the disease, drugs that act on the pathogen are first prescribed: antiviral medications, antibiotics, antifungal agents etc.
It is necessary to use it in combination with etiotropic therapy symptomatic treatment: antipyretics, mucolytic drugs (acetylcysteine, ambroxol), drugs that suppress the cough reflex for severe painful coughing attacks, bronchodilators.
Both general and local action(through inhalers, nebulizers, instillations and sprays into the nasal passages, etc.).
TO drug therapy attach methods physical therapy, gymnastics, massage to facilitate the separation and removal of sputum.
In the treatment of the chronic form, the main role is played by the elimination of the factor that provokes the inflammatory process in the tissues of the bronchi: occupational hazards, environmental conditions, smoking. After elimination this factor carry out long-term treatment mucolytic, bronchodilator drugs, medications restorative action. It is possible to use oxygen therapy and spa treatment.