This is an automatically translated article.
Swelling and inflammation in the bronchial tubes are common symptoms of bronchitis. However, these symptoms varied widely in severity in each subject. So how to recognize bronchitis symptoms? Learn how to recognize symptoms of bronchitis in children and adults in the article below.
1. What is bronchitis?
The bronchi are the 2 main airways that branch off from the trachea (the airways that start at the back of the throat and go into the ribcage). When parts of the bronchial walls become swollen and tender (inflamed), the condition is called bronchitis. The inflammation causes more mucus to be produced, narrowing the airways and making it harder to breathe.
There are several types of bronchitis as follows:
Acute bronchitis can last up to 90 days; Chronic bronchitis can last for months or sometimes years. If chronic bronchitis reduces the amount of air reaching the lungs is considered a sign of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Infectious bronchitis usually occurs in the winter and is caused by viruses, including influenza viruses. Even after the viral infection has passed, irritation of the bronchi can continue to cause symptoms. Infectious bronchitis can also be caused by bacteria, especially if it occurs after you have had an upper respiratory viral infection; Irritant bronchitis (industrial or environmental bronchitis) caused by exposure to mineral or vegetable dust, fumes from strong acids, ammonia, certain organic solvents, chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur, dioxide and bromine.
2. What causes bronchitis?
The causative agent of bronchitis is transmitted by droplet infection. Fine, often invisible droplets are formed during coughing, especially if it is not controlled. They damage the bronchial mucosal cells and thus also alter their cilia. Some viruses paralyze the hairy epithelium, others destroy it. As a result, the cilia can only slowly or completely remove mucus and pathogens from the bronchi. At the same time, slime production increases. Mucus builds up and acts like a foreign body in the airways, causing discomfort to the patient and creating a cough response. The body tries to get rid of mucus by coughing. The intense cough not only develops due to irritation of the mucous membranes, but also represents an alternative mechanism required to clear the airways (mucosal clearance) due to damaged or paralyzed cilia.
There are other viruses that can cause acute bronchitis. These include, rhinovirus, influenza, herpes, corona and parainfluenza. Viral bronchitis in children is usually caused by the RS virus (respiratory syncytial virus).
Rarely, bronchitis is caused by bacteria, especially Mycoplasma or Chlamydia. Other bacteria including streptococcus, staphylococcus, pneumococcus and Haemophilus influenzae are the main causes of acute bronchitis in immunocompromised, lung patients.
Very rarely the fungus causes acute bronchitis. This is especially the case in people with weakened immune systems.
Other rare causes of bronchitis are ammonia, hydrochloric acid, sulfur dioxide gas, and nitrogen. When inhaled, they damage the mucous membranes of the bronchi and can therefore cause inflammation. Radiation (radiotherapy) in cancer treatment can also be the reason for acute bronchitis.
3. Symptoms of bronchitis in adults
3.1. Acute bronchitis One of the most important symptoms of bronchitis is a cough. Most patients initially have only a dry cough. It is often accompanied by a runny nose.
In about half of cases, the virus spreads throughout the body. Then, with bronchitis, fever develops. Cold symptoms such as sore throat, headache and body aches, hoarseness, and burning sensation behind the breastbone are often present. Affected people feel tired all the time.
Symptoms change as the disease progresses: After a few days, patients with bronchitis develop a productive cough. Sputum is usually viscous and clear to slightly white. This is typical for an acute viral infection of the bronchial mucosa. In some patients, the sputum is yellowish or green in color. Additional bacteria then colonized the inflamed mucous membranes. Doctors call this bacterial superinfection or secondary bacterial infection.
In severe cases, patients with bronchitis cough up bloody mucus. Blood usually comes from small wounds on the mucous membranes. This is generally not dangerous. Spitting up blood can also have serious causes. Therefore, it should always be checked by a doctor.
When the mucous membrane secretes a lot of mucus, swells and narrows, complex bronchitis develops. It is also known as obstructive or spastic bronchitis. There is an audible breathing sound (wheezing, wheezing). Some patients also have difficulty breathing (rapid breathing).
Sometimes acute bronchitis turns into pneumonia. If bronchitis is causing the following symptoms, you should definitely see a doctor:
Cough that lasts for more than 8 weeks; The patient has a very high fever, or the fever returns after a fever-free period; Patient feels fatigue, chills and night sweats; When coughing up sputum containing blood; Increasing shortness of breath. In addition, a hissing, conspicuous breathing can be heard. 3.2. Chronic bronchitis Chronic bronchitis with cough with phlegm. It is especially noticeable in the morning. Normally, sputum is milky white. If the bacteria have also spread to the inflamed bronchial lining, the sputum turns yellow-purulent.
If the chronically inflamed bronchi are also irritated (eg by air pollutants, cigarette smoke, infections, etc.), symptoms may worsen.
Note: Cough with more or less sputum is also a typical sign of acute bronchitis. However, in chronic bronchitis, the symptoms are much less obvious.
The general condition of patients with chronic bronchitis is generally good. There are hardly any breathing problems.
As the disease progresses, chronic bronchitis can simply develop into chronic obstructive bronchitis, where the inflamed bronchi become increasingly narrow. This interferes with the circulation of air when inhaling and exhaling.
With mild stenosis, dyspnea occurs only with exertion, eg when running. However, as the disease progresses, the airways become increasingly narrow. This makes it harder to breathe. In the worst case scenario, chronic obstructive bronchitis causes shortness of breath even without exertion (ie at rest).
Overload in the right heart can develop as a complication of chronic obstructive bronchitis. As a result, cardiac arrhythmias may occur. As the pumping power of the heart muscle decreases, water accumulates in the tissues of the legs (edema). In addition, affected individuals frequently experience significant hypoxia. Bluish lips and fingernails are a sign of this.
In all stages, chronic obstructive bronchitis can cause symptoms of emphysema g: When the air sacs in the lungs become over-inflated and destroyed, the lungs' ability to breathe. permanently reduced. Lungs are overinflated. COPD develops from chronic bronchitis. The transition is fluid.
Note: The lung's ability to self-clean is impaired due to chronic bronchitis. Patients are therefore susceptible to additional respiratory bacterial infections. The risk of pneumonia is also increased.
4. Symptoms of bronchitis in children
Baby bronchi are very fragile and not yet fully mature. Therefore, children are especially susceptible to spastic bronchitis. On the other hand, spastic bronchitis in adults is quite rare. Therefore, it is often referred to as bronchitis in children or bronchitis in toddlers.
Toddlers and infants with spastic bronchitis present as hissing or wheezing, difficulty breathing. Because of its asthma-like symptoms, spastic bronchitis is also sometimes called "asthmatic" bronchitis. However, this designation is incorrect.
Because the bronchi are narrowed and inflamed, breathing is very difficult, especially exhalation. The patient has difficulty breathing or has difficulty breathing. You may also hear noises as you exhale, such as a click, whistle, or humming sound. There is also a spasmodic cough. Especially in the morning, a violent cough is characteristic. This is because more mucus has built up in the bronchi overnight. It causes a strong urge to cough.
The coughed up mucus is mainly white, rarely bloody. If it turns yellow-green, this usually indicates that bacteria have also spread to the inflamed mucosa (bacterial secondary infection).
Difficulty breathing and frequent coughing makes children very tired. As a result, those affected quickly become exhausted. Shortness of breath can be frightening for both the patient and the child's parents.
Spastic bronchitis (like common acute bronchitis) is often accompanied by cold or flu-like symptoms. Examples include fever, sore throat, headache, and body aches.
5. Treatment of bronchitis
Depending on the symptoms and cause of bronchitis, treatment options include:
Antibiotics may be prescribed to treat acute bronchitis caused by a bacterial infection or for those people with other lung conditions that put them at higher risk for lung infections. Bronchodilators, which open up the bronchi, can be used short-term to open the airways and reduce wheezing. A cool mist humidifier or vaporizer can be helpful for wheezing or shortness of breath. Corticosteroids used in inhalers are sometimes prescribed to help relieve coughing, reduce inflammation, and make the airways less responsive. They are usually given when the cough persists after the infection is gone. Cough medicine should be used with care. While they can be helpful to relieve a dry, uncomfortable cough, they should not be used to suppress a productive cough. When a cough is wet, expectorating it can help thin the secretions and make them easier to cough up. When there is a lot of mucus, coughing is important to clear the lungs of fluid. For viral bronchitis, antibiotics will not be effective. If the flu is causing the bronchitis, antiviral treatment may help. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as Aspirin, Acetaminophen, or Ibuprofen, can be used to relieve pain and reduce fever. Children with bronchitis should not take Aspirin and should instead take Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen. Drink enough to keep the urine light (except for the first time of the day, when it's usually darker). Rest, especially if you have a fever. In summary, the rate of people suffering from bronchitis is increasing due to impacts from the environment and daily life. In addition to symptoms such as cough, sputum production, bronchitis also has symptoms of breathing faster than usual, shortness of breath, and wet rale. If bronchitis is persistent and tends to get worse, the patient should see a doctor immediately.
Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.
