Bronchitis in adults - causes, signs, symptoms and treatment, medications, prevention of bronchitis. Bronchitis in adults - symptoms and treatment at home Inflammation of the bronchial tree treatment

In our article today:

The bronchi are part of the respiratory system, which play a connecting role between the lung tissue and the trachea. Due to the peculiarities of their physiological location, the bronchi are often exposed to various diseases and the negative effects of external factors. Let's take a closer look at the symptoms inflammation of the bronchi and methods of treating this disease.

Inflammation of the bronchi: causes

1. Living in a polluted ecological environment.

2. Genetic predisposition to antitrypsin deficiency.

3. Living in areas with high humidity.

4. The presence of chronic inflammation in the body.

5. Uncured or which caused complications in the form of inflammation of the bronchi.

6. Chronic kidney disease.

7. Acute respiratory viral diseases that were not cured or were treated according to the wrong regimen.

8. Regular inhalation of tobacco smoke (not only from traditional smoking, but also from passive smoking), dust or other irritating fumes.

9. Caries.

10. Alcohol addiction can lead to the development of chronic bronchitis.

11. Severe hypothermia of a person.

12. Bacterial lesions of the respiratory system usually cause the development of acute bronchitis.

In addition, the following groups of people are most prone to bronchitis:

People with weakened immune systems;

Aged people;

Pregnant women;

Patients who have chronic inflammation or disease;

Patients with malfunctions of the hormonal system and disorders in the central nervous system.

Inflammation of the bronchi: symptoms and signs

1. The disease develops like a common cold. A person experiences a slight sore throat, weakness, headaches and a dry cough.

2. After a couple of days, the cough becomes wet, with sputum discharge. The person feels chills. His body temperature rises.

3. After a few more days, the patient suffers from chest pain, constant bouts of coughing and fever.

4. Shortness of breath appears. The sputum acquires an astringent structure. A small amount of blood may also drain. If treatment is not started, then along with the mucus the person will begin to cough up pus.

6. When listening to the patient, wheezing, harsh breathing and shortness of breath are clearly noticeable. The patient finds it difficult to breathe because he is tormented by coughing attacks.

7. With a prolonged course of the disease, patients have an increased respiratory rate, wheezing and chest pain.

Traditionally, acute bronchitis occurs within ten to fifteen days. If no therapeutic measures are taken during this time, its symptoms will become less pronounced. In this case, the disease will begin to take a chronic form.

Chronic inflammation of the bronchi has the following symptoms and course:

1. The patient suffers from frequent coughing and copious sputum production.

2. When inhaling foreign odors and dust, a person develops coughing attacks.

3. The body experiences general exhaustion. The immune system is weakened, making the patient weak and vulnerable.

4. Chronic inflammation of the bronchi leads to scarring in the small airways. This, in turn, affects breathing and makes it significantly more difficult. Thus, it is difficult for the patient to breathe not only after physical activity, but also simply when walking.

Inflammation of the bronchi: diagnosis and treatment

Radiography;

Percussion;

General blood analysis.

Traditional therapy for bronchial inflammation includes the following:

1. Prescribing antipyretic drugs to the patient at elevated body temperature.

3. For a wet cough, expectorant oral syrups and tablets should be prescribed.

4. In case of prolonged bronchitis, it is necessary to do therapeutic exercises.

5. It is useful to make steam inhalations from essential oils, eucalyptus leaves or chamomile decoction.

6. During treatment, the patient must remain in bed.

7. For acute viral bronchitis, broad-spectrum antibiotics (Amoxiclav, Augmentin) can be prescribed. Features of administration and dosage are selected individually for each patient, depending on the age, weight and general condition of the patient.

8. When taking antibiotics, the patient must be prescribed medications to maintain and restore normal intestinal microflora. The best probiotics in this group are considered to be Linex and Hilak Forte.

9. For chest pain, painkillers are prescribed.

11. If the patient begins to produce green sputum and at the same time has a high temperature, then this may be a sign of bacterial bronchitis. In this case, you need to take a sputum sample for analysis and then prescribe appropriate antibiotics.

12. If the disease is severe, the patient may be prescribed corticosteroids and bronchodilators.

The duration of therapy depends on the degree of neglect of the disease. On average, acute bronchitis takes two weeks to heal. Chronic bronchitis requires long-term therapy (at least two months).

Inflammation of the bronchi: treatment, nutrition, prevention

1. Completely limit alcohol consumption.

2. The basis of the diet should be nutritious protein products that will increase immunity (fish, meat, dairy products, especially cottage cheese).

3. Limit the consumption of salt, hot spices and sauces, as they irritate the mucous membranes, which further provokes a cough.

4. To combat inflammation, the patient must drink plenty of fluids (at least two liters per day). This can be tea, water, a decoction of dried fruits or compote. The main thing is that such drinks are not too hot or cold.

5. It is important to give up eating sweets, since in addition to carbohydrates and fats, such food will not benefit a sick person.

6. It is useful to eat foods with a lot of potassium (prunes, bananas, dried apricots) every day.

7. If a patient has been diagnosed with chronic bronchitis, then he will have to give up sugar and confectionery products for a very long time, since this food increases the level of carbon dioxide in the body many times over.

8. For viral bronchitis, it is useful to eat foods with an antibacterial effect (onions, garlic, chamomile decoction).

9. Drinking ginger tea regularly will help relieve cough.

10. To prevent the development of inflammation in the lungs, it is useful to eat fatty fish. It must be boiled.

11. To increase zinc levels, it is useful to add pumpkin seeds to your diet.

12. Decoctions of medicinal herbs can be consumed, but it is best to do this before bed.

To reduce the risk of developing bronchitis, it is recommended to follow the following advice from doctors:

1. Quit smoking completely, since in half of the cases it leads to chronic inflammation of the bronchi.

2. Stop drinking alcohol.

3. Avoid hypothermia and nervous strain.

4. Lead an active lifestyle (play sports to improve immunity).

5. Eat a balanced diet. The diet should be rich in vitamins and nutrients. It is best if the menu is prepared for you by an experienced nutritionist or gastroenterologist.

6. It is useful to harden the body.

7. During the off-season, it is advisable to take additional vitamin complexes.

8. Monitor your weight and prevent obesity.

9. Treat in a timely manner those diseases that can lead to bronchitis. This is especially true for influenza, ARVI and other pathologies of the respiratory system.

10. Visit the dentist regularly and eliminate any dental diseases.

11. Do not visit public places during outbreaks of acute respiratory diseases or wear a protective mask.

Bronchitis is the most common disease of the respiratory system. Often it occurs as a result of people not taking it seriously or redness of the throat. Pathology refers to inflammatory lesions of the mucous membrane of large and medium-sized bronchi.

Normal bronchi and bronchitis

Types of bronchitis

For proper therapy, it is important to find out exactly what form of the disease it belongs to and from this make a decision on further treatment.

According to the symptoms of the disease, bronchitis is divided into chronic and acute.

• According to the presence of bronchospasm: obstructive or non-obstructive.

Due to the reason they occur, they are distinguished:

• Infectious, caused by a virus, bacteria or fungus,
• Non-infectious - allergic, asthmatic, smoker's bronchitis.

Depending on the type of disease, the doctor selects the necessary treatment regimen.

Symptoms of bronchitis

The symptoms of the disease are vivid, so it is difficult to confuse them. The main symptoms are:

• general weakness,
• sweating,
• wheezing,
• chest pain,
• increased body temperature, sometimes up to 40 C;
• dry cough becomes wet over time,
• labored breathing,
• shortness of breath,
• Coughing attacks can last 15-30 minutes,

Bronchitis is dangerous for infants: due to its rapid development, the disease can develop into pneumonia in a matter of hours.

How to treat, what to drink?

It is impossible to cure bronchitis in one day, since the causes of the disease are varied, and it is impossible to choose a “magic pill” that can cope with such a pathology. Even if the immune system is strong enough, the disease will last at least 4-5 days, and it will take four to seven days to cope with a bacterial infection.

To determine a treatment regimen, first of all, the doctor needs to determine acute or chronic bronchitis, and what its nature is - infectious or bacterial. After diagnosis, home treatment is prescribed: medications, physiotherapy, massage, inhalations, and the use of folk remedies.

Quick treatment of chronic bronchitis

The chronic form is characterized by prolonged inflammation of the bronchi, which is not associated with local or general lesions of the lungs and is manifested by a cough. A similar diagnosis is indicated if an adult has a cough for more than 3 months a year for 2 or more years.

In children, a similar pathology occurs due to many untreated acute bronchitis; in adults, it is often caused by smoking - this pathology is called Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Smoker's bronchitis requires a long course of treatment, so during the period of exacerbation it is necessary to take bronchodilators - mucolytics and expectorants. If an infection occurs, the doctor may add antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs. Patients are prescribed inhalations with alkaline solutions or herbal infusions or chest massage. In addition, taking vitamins, following a diet and drinking regime are mandatory. In severe cases of the disease, bronchoscopy may be prescribed (assessment of the condition of the mucous membranes of the tracheobronchial tree using a special device). If smoker's bronchitis is not treated promptly, it can lead to emphysema and chronic respiratory failure.

In the treatment of chronic disease in children and adults, the stage of the disease plays an important role. At the acute stage, therapeutic measures are aimed at eliminating inflammatory processes in the bronchi, improving ventilation of the upper respiratory tract, and eliminating spasms. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to completely cure chronic bronchitis in adults. However, with the right therapeutic measures, periods of exacerbation can be minimized.

Obstructive bronchitis

Sometimes, due to the viral nature of the disease, obstructive syndrome may occur, in which case they speak of obstructive bronchitis. It is characterized by continuous, prolonged bouts of coughing, suffocation, and severe shortness of breath. This pathology significantly complicates treatment, so the patient is prescribed therapy to relieve obstruction. To achieve this, the following activities are carried out:

• alkaline and medicinal inhalations;
• bronchodilator inhalations (Salbutamol, Hydrobromide) – 3 times a day;
• etiotropic antiviral therapy (Interferon);
• antispasmodic therapy (Papaverine, Drotaverine);
• percussion and vibration massage;
• bronchodilators (Eufillin, Ventolin).

What antibiotics should I take to heal quickly?

The use of antibiotics to treat bronchitis is advisable if its causative agent was a bacterial infection, but if the cause of the pathology was a virus, then this therapy will not bring the expected effect. However, as a rule, the viral form of pathology is characterized by a decrease in temperature within 3-4 days; if this does not happen, it means that a bacterial infection has occurred and antibiotics cannot be avoided.

You can take an antibiotic only after a doctor’s prescription, since if it is chosen incorrectly, the therapeutic effect will not be obtained. To treat the acute form, antibiotics such as:

• Macrolides – Zomax, Macropen, Clamed;
• Panicillins – Amoxicillin, Augmentin;
• Cephalosporins – Zinnat, Ketocef, Klaforan.

The drugs are prescribed in the form of tablets or suspensions for children. For adults with severe disease, antibiotics are administered intramuscularly or intravenously.

Antiviral therapy

The issue of using antiviral therapy for the treatment of bronchitis of viral etiology remains controversial. Most doctors believe that the effectiveness of drugs in this group has not been proven and the main thing is to create the right conditions to fight the virus and the body can cope on its own. However, some doctors still disagree with them.

For viral infections, drugs with interferon or oseltamivir are most often prescribed, although these drugs are over-the-counter, we do not recommend taking them without consulting a doctor.

It is difficult to say for sure whether their use is necessary, but it is important to remember that if the body is strong, it will be able to cope with bronchitis, both without antiviral agents and without antibiotics.

Expectorants

The main symptom of the disease is a debilitating dry cough, so in order to get rid of bronchitis and cough you should. There are two groups of these drugs:

1. Means for stimulating expectoration,
2. Medicines to thin sputum.

Inflammation of the bronchi and trachea often occurs against the background of acute respiratory infections, viral infections, and influenza. In this case, inflammation spreads to the mucous membrane of the bronchi, trachea, bronchioles in the lungs. In clinical medicine, this disease is referred to as tracheal bronchitis and is often a complication of previous infectious or colds. What are the causes of the disease? How is inflammation of the bronchi and trachea related?

Most often, inflammation of the bronchi and trachea appears due to a violation of the protective functions of the immune system and mucous membrane. People who lead an unhealthy lifestyle are most susceptible to pathology:

Smoking is especially dangerous. Tobacco smoke irritates the mucous membrane of the trachea and penetrates deep into the bronchi. In smokers, inflammation of the lung mucosa is permanent, and treatment takes a long time. The disease often affects people who are exposed to frequent stressful situations and are emotionally unstable.

Symptoms

Each stage of an inflammatory respiratory tract disease is characterized by general symptoms:

• sore throat;
• dry painful cough;
• general malaise;
• pain in the chest area caused by coughing;
• increased sweating;
• body temperature can rise to 38 degrees;
• difficulty breathing deeply;
• hoarse voice.

Inflammation of the bronchi and trachea has the main symptom, which is expressed by a cough with purulent sputum. It occurs against the background of inflammatory processes, and can be paroxysmal and painful, especially at night. The temperature often rises, which indicates the spread of infection. At this time, complaints of headaches and aching sensations in the joints appear.

Inflammation of the bronchi and trachea can be protracted, which has a long period of impact on the body. Based on symptoms, there are several types of inflammation of the trachea and bronchi.

Allergic inflammation

The allergic form of the disease is characterized by the following symptoms:

• dry cough, especially at night, with sputum production;
• clear wheezing is heard in the lungs;
• chest pain;
• feeling of malaise, weakness;
• The temperature may rise slightly.

Allergic inflammation of the bronchi, trachea and is often observed in patients who have been exposed to an allergen for a long time. For example, dust, pet fur, pollen and others.

Acute period of inflammation

A diffuse inflammatory process of the mucous membrane of the trachea and bronchi is caused by a decrease in the body’s resistance to the external environment; the pathogens are viruses and bacteria (staphylococci, streptococci and others), which cause acute respiratory viral diseases.

This stage of inflammation requires immediate treatment. Untimely treatment can cause a number of serious complications, including respiratory failure and damage to the walls of the bronchi. Characteristic symptoms of acute bronchial inflammation are:

• painful dry cough;
• wheezing during breathing and listening;
• dyspnea;
• chest pain from coughing.

The acute phase of inflammation is especially difficult for children. It is fraught with complications. It is important to conduct an X-ray examination in time to exclude other diseases of the pulmonary system. Due to untimely or incorrect treatment, purulent inflammation may begin. There is an accumulation of sputum and purulent discharge, which comes out during coughing, causing a gag reflex.

Chronic stage of inflammation

The chronic form of the disease is characterized by the following signs and symptoms:

• exacerbation of chronic bronchitis;
• atrophic changes in the tracheal mucosa;
• active cough that lasts more than three months a year;
• discharge of purulent sputum;
• incessant chest pain.

The chronic stage occurs in the absence of proper treatment of the acute or allergic form, usually in people who smoke or those who work in dusty conditions.

Airway obstruction

Obstructive inflammation is characterized by the formation of edema and spasms in the bronchi, the formation of mucus plugs. With this type of inflammation, ventilation and patency in the bronchi are disrupted. Smokers and young children are at risk. Symptoms of obstructive tracheal bronchitis are:

• shortness of breath, wheezing, temperature;
• swelling of the lower extremities;
• blue tint of lips, nail area;
• swollen veins in the neck.

Diagnostics

Differential diagnosis of inflammation of the trachea and bronchi in children and adults begins with auscultation and percussion of the patient’s lungs to identify wheezing and other signs of respiratory system disease. To clarify the diagnosis, an X-ray examination is prescribed.

Laboratory examination of secreted sputum determines the absence or presence of other diseases of the bronchopulmonary system. Microbiological testing allows you to identify bacteria and establish sensitivity to antibiotics. For frequent bronchopulmonary inflammations, bronchoscopy is prescribed.

Treatment

For the infectious form of tracheal bronchitis, an integrated approach is used. Drug treatment includes antiviral (Anaferon, Arbidol and others) and antibacterial drugs, which include broad-spectrum antibiotics (Penicillin, Oxacillin).

In case of allergic inflammation, antihistamines are prescribed. To improve sputum separation, expectorants and mucolytic drugs (Mukoltin, Bromhexine) are prescribed. Physiotherapeutic procedures in the form of inhalations are introduced as complex therapy.

They directly affect the cause of the disease, provide an anti-inflammatory, bronchodilator effect, reducing the viscosity of sputum, improving its excretion. Herbal infusions, mucolytic agents, etc. are used as a solution for inhalation. As an additional treatment for tracheobronchitis, mustard plasters are used, which restore the drainage functions of the bronchi and relieve cough.

A special massage significantly eases the course of the disease. Vibration and percussion massage techniques are used. Breathing exercises promote better coughing and mucus removal.

Complications

When inflammation of the bronchi and trachea is recurrent, then one can judge the development of complications. The main reason is the lack of necessary treatment. Gradually the disease enters the chronic stage. Complications include the following diseases:

• emphysema;
• bronchopneumonia;
• acute respiratory failure.

To avoid complications, it is necessary to consult a pulmonologist at the first symptoms of inflammation.

Prevention

To prevent inflammation of the bronchi and trachea, it is important to promptly treat colds and infectious diseases. During an epidemic of acute respiratory viral infections, try to avoid visiting crowded places. Wear a mask, maintain hygiene. Hardening, physical activity, walks in the fresh air, and room ventilation are the main preventive measures to combat the disease.

During illness, you should stop smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages. Bad habits aggravate the patient’s condition and increase recovery time. It is also necessary to eat right.

Many people do not take bronchial inflammation seriously and do not even suspect that it can lead to serious complications. When a person suffers from a strong, debilitating cough for a long time, because mucus accumulates in the bronchi. Coughing disrupts respiratory function and can result in hypoxia (oxygen deficiency). What symptoms are characteristic of the inflammatory process in the bronchi? How to treat inflammation of the bronchi?

Symptoms of inflammation in the bronchi

Quite often one has to fight the disease during the cold season – in winter. It all starts from an acute respiratory viral infection - sore throat, runny nose, fever. After some time, a severe cough occurs. The sputum may be of different colors - yellow, green or white.

An acute inflammatory process in the bronchi is always accompanied by high body temperature. In the case when the symptoms worsen, one can suspect that the inflammation has descended into the lungs. To confirm or refute pneumonia, an x-ray must be taken.

If inflammation is accompanied by unpleasant sensations in the bronchi and the cough lasts too long, the attending physician makes a diagnosis of chronic bronchitis. There are different causes of cough due to inflammation of the bronchi:

• Infectious lesions of the bronchi.
• Chronic damage to the bronchi, in which a large amount of mucus accumulates, so the organ is constantly under tension. Most often, such bronchitis is provoked by external irritants - dust, industrial gases, tobacco smoke.

Attention! If you do not find out in a timely manner what caused the inflammation of the bronchi, everything may end in the future.

Chronic bronchitis can be triggered by smoking, various industrial substances, and inhalation of harmful vapor.

It is especially difficult to diagnose chronic inflammation of the bronchi. When the disease just begins, the patient is bothered by severe shortness of breath and a morning cough. Cough gets worse with age and can occur even at rest. It all ends with serious changes in the lungs.

Acute inflammatory process in the bronchi

In the acute form, no special treatment is required. At the onset of inflammation, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

• Drink as much warm water as possible.
• If you have a fever, take a Paracetamol tablet.
• Stick to bed rest.

If pus accumulates in the bronchi, the sputum will be yellow-green in color. In this case, antibiotics are necessary. Only a doctor can select the required dosage and treatment regimen; you cannot do this yourself.

Chronic inflammation of the bronchi

To alleviate the condition and prevent serious complications, pay attention to the following recommendations:

• Stop smoking and you will immediately notice how you feel much better.
• See your doctor. You need to take bronchodilators; they can help make breathing easier and widen the airways. Bronchodilators can be used for inhalation. Corticosteroids and antibiotics are used when the disease gets worse. In severe cases, continuous use of corticosteroids is required.
• Stick to your home routine. Avoid contact with dust and other allergens as much as possible. Do not forget to humidify the air (in the cold season, use a special humidifier).

When is urgent help needed for bronchial inflammation?

• If you notice streaks of blood in the sputum.
• It is difficult to breathe when lying down.
• Wheezing and coughing persist for a long time, intensifying at night and with physical exertion.
• In addition to cough, other symptoms are also troubling - weakness, high fever, chills.

Relief from inflammation of the bronchi

For a dry, painful, debilitating cough, you need to take special medications:

• Tablets containing codeine - Codelac, Codterpine.
• Non-narcotic drugs Glaucin, Libexin, Levopront, Tusuprex.

When you notice that you are feeling better and the sputum is coming off, you need to stop and switch to other medications that can help you:

• Liquefy phlegm – mucolytics. This group of drugs includes Carbocysteine, Acetylcysteine.
• Cough up phlegm – expectorants. Preparations containing thyme, marshmallow, anise drops, plantain.
• Facilitate the passage of phlegm – mucokinetics. In this case, it is necessary to take Ambroxol.

Chest collection No. 1 and No. 2 perfectly relieves inflammation; with its help you can get rid of dry cough. For wet cough, use chest pack No. 3, No. 4. You can also take proven remedies:

• Milk with butter and honey.
• Warm birch sap.
• Gogol-mogol.

Prevention of bronchial inflammation

If you suffer from chronic inflammation of the bronchi, you should consider getting a flu vaccine to prevent serious complications. It is worth paying attention to anti-pneumococcal vaccination.

Inflammation of the bronchi most often develops when there is a virus in the body. To prevent infection, you must remember to wash your hands with soap and try not to visit public places during a flu epidemic.

Periodically massage the chest and perform breathing exercises. Nutrition is important, so pay attention to it. Your diet should contain as many vegetables, fruits, and berries as possible.

Thus, inflammation in the bronchi is most often a consequence of a cold or flu. You shouldn’t let the disease go away and think that it will go away on its own. Quite often the inflammation goes down into the lungs, so it is very important to be treated promptly. The course of treatment for bronchitis includes taking medications, massage, inhalation, rest, and breathing exercises. If you notice that you are getting worse, go to the hospital immediately.

The bronchi are an important part of the respiratory system; they connect the lungs with the trachea. Many people do not pay attention to the onset of inflammation, since its symptoms often resemble a common cold. However, such a manifestation of inattention to one’s own health can end disastrously with such serious complications as respiratory failure.

Types and forms of bronchitis

Bronchitis is a disease in which the lining of the bronchi becomes inflamed.

The following existing types of bronchitis are distinguished:

1. Spicy– characterized by a sharp onset of symptoms and recovery within 14 days.
2. Chronic– inflammation becomes chronic if it occurs in acute form several times a year. Characterized by a constant cough, even during the recovery period.
3. Obstructive– is a type of respiratory failure.
4. Smoker's bronchitis– typical for people with many years of smoking experience. In this case, coughing and shortness of breath occur, and respiratory diseases are more severe and longer.

The disease has a classification that distinguishes diseases according to various factors:

• Unilateral– affects only one side of the bronchi;
• Bilateral– both parts are affected;
• Tracheid– inflammation of the upper part of the bronchi;
• Simple– the focus of inflammation is in the middle part of the bronchi;
• Broncholitis– damage to the smallest parts of the bronchi, which can eventually develop into pneumonia and pleurisy;
• Primary– illness caused by infection or allergic reaction;
• Secondary– is a complication of previous respiratory diseases (ARVI, influenza);
• Catarrhal– inflammation of the outer lining of the bronchi;
• Purulent – sputum released when coughing contains pus;
• Fibrous – characterized by the presence of fibrin in the bronchial tree;
• Hemorrhagic– there are hemorrhages in the bronchi, the secreted sputum also contains blood;
• Atrophic– the bronchial mucosa becomes thinner, this leads to expansion of the airways;
• Mixed– the most common type, characterized by a combination of several types.

The type is determined based on the results of diagnostic measures; the duration of treatment and the types of prescribed medications depend on it

Causes of bronchitis

The most common causes of bronchitis include the presence of damage to the respiratory tract by such pathogens:

• viruses;
• bacteria;
• infections;
• an allergic reaction to something;
• asthma;
• dust;
• fungal diseases;
• chlamydia;
• toxins.

Bronchitis can be a complication after suffering respiratory diseases or be hereditary.

The development of inflammation of the lining of the bronchi can be caused by severe pollution of the region of residence, smoking, humid climate, work in hazardous enterprises

Pathogenesis of bronchitis

The development of bronchial inflammation begins to develop from the moment the pathogen enters the respiratory tract.

Development occurs according to the following scheme:

• Violation of local defense mechanisms, which prevent foreign bodies from entering the bronchi and lungs;
• The number is increasing discharged mucus;
• Strength of the inflammatory process directly depends on where in the bronchi the infection has taken hold;
• When the disease develops a cough with phlegm appears - this is how the respiratory system tries to get rid of excess mucus;
• Respiratory system develops failure.

If treated incorrectly or untimely, bronchitis can be complicated by pneumonia or pleurisy.

Symptoms of bronchitis

Symptoms of different types of disease may differ slightly, for example, the acute form of bronchitis has the following symptoms:

• Fatigue;
• Sore throat that develops into coughing;
• The cough is dry at first, then becomes wet, and cloudy white sputum appears. Sometimes with a greenish tint;
• Increased body temperature;
• General malaise;
• Spasms in the throat;
• Wheezing.

Chronic bronchitis has the following symptoms:

• A cough that does not stop even after several months;
• Expectoration of sputum in large quantities;
• Respiratory failure develops;
• Dyspnea.

If you do not consult a doctor in a timely manner, the acute form of bronchitis can develop into chronic. This, in turn, can become a prerequisite for the development of serious respiratory failure, pneumonia

Diagnostics

Modern diagnostics of bronchial inflammation is diagnosed using the following methods:

1. Questioning by a doctor clarifies the patient’s symptoms and complaints, on the basis of which subsequent diagnostics are prescribed in order to confirm the presence of the disease.
2. X-ray– reveals darkening in the bronchi area, which indicates the presence of a large amount of mucus. Helps to find out the location of the source of the disease.
3. Listening with a stethoscope helps detect wheezing when breathing, which is inevitable with bronchitis.
4. General blood analysis helps to determine the presence of an inflammatory process in the body.
5. Bronchoscopy It is used mainly for the chronic form of the disease. It is a procedure in which a bronchoscope is used, which is inserted into the bronchi through the oral cavity and displays information about the condition of the organ on the monitor.

Diagnostic procedures are aimed at detecting a disease in order to prescribe treatment

Treatment of bronchitis

When a disease is detected, traditionally, complex treatment is prescribed, which includes diet, medications, procedures and restorative breathing exercises.

At the same time, the active phase of treatment drugs is 14 days, and the recovery period can last for several months.

Drugs for treatment

Medication therapy includes the following:

• Bronchodilators– Salbutamol, Phenterol, Berodual, Eufillin;
• Expectorants– Doctor Mom, Lazolvan, Mucaltin, Bromhexine, Licorice root;
• Antibiotics– Amoxiclav, Cefazolin, Erythromycin, Moxifoxacin, Biparox;
• Antiviral drugs– Viferon, Interfenon, Amiksin, Genferon;
• Vitamin complexes;
• Antihistamines;
• Hepatoprotectors.

As auxiliary drugs Antipyretic drugs may be prescribed for sore throats and to maintain immunity.

Folk remedies

Traditional methods of treatment cannot be independent; they are used only in combination with medications.

The most common means:

• Radish + honey used as an effective antitussive;
• Camomile tea, St. John's wort, calamus, sage and calendula have an anti-inflammatory effect;
• Thyme can be used for preparing infusions for inhalation or tea;
• Decoctions increase immunity from such medicinal plants as violet, marshmallow, coltsfoot, plantain, yarrow, echinacea;
• As an expectorant An infusion of plantain leaves is used.

Treatment with traditional methods is designed to speed up recovery and significantly improve immunity.

Diet for bronchitis

For a speedy recovery, the patient must follow a special diet rich in useful elements.

It includes the following food products:

• mineral water;
• dairy products;
• high protein foods;
• low-calorie meals;
• fresh vegetables and fruits;
• citrus;
• natural jams;
• honey instead of sugar.

Proper nutrition in case of illness, it contains easily digestible foods that quickly saturate the body, but do not overload it.

Prevention

The following effective methods are used to prevent bronchitis:

• regularly boosting the immune system by saturating the body with vitamins;
• timely treatment of colds;
• avoiding drafts and hypothermia;
• complete rest;
• walks in the open air;
• vaccination during the flu epidemic;
• regular physical activity;
• eliminating bad habits - smoking and drinking alcohol;
• refusal to work in harmful conditions.

Preventive measures do not provide a 100% guarantee of avoiding bronchial inflammation, however, it significantly reduces the risks. It is important to monitor your health so that minor illnesses are not complicated by the emergence of dangerous diseases.

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