Diagnosis and treatment of bronchitis: What you need to know

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Nguyen Huy Nhat - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec International General Hospital Da Nang.

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes. When suffering from bronchitis, the patient often coughs and coughs up sputum. Currently, the rate of people suffering from bronchitis is increasing, especially children and the elderly who are at high risk of getting sick.

1. What is bronchitis?

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes. When suffering from bronchitis, the patient often coughs and spits up sputum. There are two types of bronchitis, including acute and chronic bronchitis:
Acute bronchitis: An acute inflammation of the bronchial mucosa in a person without previous lesions, usually caused by bacteria, viruses or both. Chronic Bronchitis: As it moves into the chronic phase, it continuously irritates the bronchial tubes, which is one of the main causes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This condition can last for months or even years. Chronic bronchitis is much more severe than acute bronchitis.

2. Causes of bronchitis

The main cause of acute bronchitis is usually a virus, but it can also be caused by a bacterial infection or a lot of exposure to substances that irritate the lungs, such as smoke, dust, pollution, etc. air pollution.
Chronic bronchitis is often caused by repeated inflammation of the bronchial mucosa over a long period of time. Subjects at high risk of chronic bronchitis are those who are regularly exposed to occupational lung irritants (such as construction workers, coal miners, metal workers, ..) , and smokers. The level of air pollution is also one of the factors that contribute to the development of the disease.

3. Factors that increase the risk of bronchitis

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Here are some of the main factors that increase the risk of bronchitis:
Tobacco smoke: this is considered a leading factor in the development of the disease. People who regularly smoke or live in smoke-free environments are also at increased risk of acute or chronic bronchitis. Poor resistance: when the body has another acute illness, such as a cold or a chronic condition that damages the immune system, it is also easy to get bronchitis. Those at high risk of infection are the elderly, infants and young children. Exposure to irritants at work: if you often work in an environment containing lung irritants, there is a high chance you will get bronchitis. Such as textile, mechanical or chemical or smoke exposure. Gastroesophageal reflux: Repeated episodes of heartburn can irritate the throat and increase the risk of bronchitis.

4. Symptoms of bronchitis

Common signs and symptoms in people with bronchitis include:
Coughing up phlegm, which can be white, yellow or green (rare), cough that may be accompanied by blood. Fatigue Fever, chills Shortness of breath or tightness in the chest If you have acute bronchitis, you will have cold symptoms such as a slight headache or body aches, in addition, the cough will persist. for several weeks after the inflammation is gone. For chronic bronchitis it will probably take longer before it gets worse. At this point, the cough and other symptoms may worsen, and there is a high risk that you will have an acute infection in the early stages of chronic bronchitis.

5. When do you need to see a doctor?

You should see a doctor if any of the following signs appear:
Cough that lasts for more than 3 weeks Difficulty sleeping Fever higher than 38 degrees C Cough with mucus and blood Trouble breathing, chest tightness.

6. Diagnosis of acute bronchitis

Acute bronchitis can be diagnosed through a review of the development of symptoms and a physical examination. The doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to the patient's breathing sounds, which can detect other abnormal sounds in the lungs.
In addition, other tests are also done to diagnose the disease including:
X-ray of the lungs. Spirometry: this is a test that evaluates your lung function. It measures the amount of air the lungs can hold and checks the speed at which air is pushed out of the lungs. This test also helps your doctor identify asthma or certain other breathing problems. Sputum test: determines if there is presence of bacteria or virus in the sputum. Blood tests: suggest infection if white blood cells are elevated, suggest virus if white blood cells are not elevated, consider inflammatory factors and other important markers.

7. Methods of treating bronchitis

For cases of acute bronchitis, the doctor will prescribe the patient to use a number of drugs to help relieve symptoms, including:
Antibiotics: Although antibiotics are strong drugs to treat It treats bacterial infections, but acute bronchitis is usually caused by a virus, so it's not able to treat it. However, the doctor can still prescribe depending on the condition of each patient. Cough medicine: If you cough too much, it will seriously damage your throat and bronchi. If your cough prevents you from sleeping, you need to use cough suppressants. Certain other medicines: If you have allergies, asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), your doctor may prescribe an inhaler or other medicines to help reduce inflammation and relax your lungs. manage. If you have chronic bronchitis, you should undergo rehabilitation. This therapy helps you design an exercise program that will help you regulate your breathing, relieve symptoms caused by bronchitis, and improve your health.

8. Ways to help prevent bronchitis

To help reduce your risk and prevent bronchitis, you can do the following:
Stay away from secondhand smoke Drink lots of water Get a yearly vaccination to help keep you and your family safe from colds and flu. fight some types of pneumonia Wash your hands with hand sanitizer often to reduce your risk of getting sick Avoid contact with people with colds or flu if you have a medical condition Wear a medical mask: If you have COPD , you should wear a mask at work if you are exposed to smoke, dust or when in a crowded place. Bronchitis as well as respiratory diseases are examined and treated by a team of highly qualified and experienced doctors at Vinmec hospital. If you need to consult and visit Vinmec Hospitals of the national health system, please book an appointment on the website (vinmec.com) for service.

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