Acute bronchitis
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| Bronchitis Classification and external resources | |
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| Lung: Bronchopneumonia: Gross very good close-up view also acute bronchitis Image courtesy of Professor Peter Anderson DVM PhD and published with permission © PEIR, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pathology | |
| ICD-10 | J20.-J21. |
| ICD-9 | 466 |
| MeSH | D001991 |
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WikiDoc Resources for Acute bronchitis | |
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Most recent articles on Acute bronchitis Most cited articles on Acute bronchitis | |
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Powerpoint slides on Acute bronchitis | |
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Evidence Based Medicine | |
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Clinical Trials | |
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Ongoing Trials on Acute bronchitis at Clinical Trials.gov Trial results on Acute bronchitis Clinical Trials on Acute bronchitis at Google
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US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Acute bronchitis NICE Guidance on Acute bronchitis
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Patient resources on Acute bronchitis Discussion groups on Acute bronchitis Patient Handouts on Acute bronchitis Directions to Hospitals Treating Acute bronchitis Risk calculators and risk factors for Acute bronchitis
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Causes & Risk Factors for Acute bronchitis | |
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Bronchitis is an inflammation of the large bronchi (medium-size airways) in the lungs. It can lead to pneumonia. Acute bronchitis is usually caused by viruses or bacteria and may last several days or weeks.[1] Acute bronchitis is characterized by cough and sputum (phlegm) production and symptoms related to the obstruction of the airways by the inflamed airways and the phlegm, such as shortness of breath and wheezing. Diagnosis is by clinical examination and sometimes microbiological examination of the phlegm. Treatment may be with antibiotics (if a bacterial infection is suspected), bronchodilators (to relieve breathlessness) and other treatments.
Cause/Etiology
In about half of instances of acute bronchitis a bacterial or viral pathogen is identified.[1] Typical viruses include respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, influenza, and others.[1]
Acute bronchitis can result from breathing irritating fumes, such as those of tobacco smoke or polluted air.
Signs and symptoms
Bronchitis may be indicated by an expectorating cough, shortness of breath (dyspnea) and wheezing. Occasionally chest pains, fever, and fatigue or malaise may also occur. Bronchitis caused by Adenoviridae may cause systemic and gastroentestinal symptoms.[1]
Diagnosis
A physical examination will often reveal decreased intensity of breath sounds, wheezing (rhonchi) and prolonged expiration. Most doctors rely on the presence of a persistent dry or wet cough as evidence of bronchitis.
A variety of tests may be performed in patients presenting with cough and shortness of breath:
- A chest X-ray that reveals hyperinflation; collapse and consolidation of lung areas would support a diagnosis of pneumonia. Some conditions that predispose to bronchitis may be indicated by chest radiography.
- A sputum sample showing neutrophil granulocytes (inflammatory white blood cells) and culture showing that has pathogenic microorganisms such as Streptococcus spp.
- A blood test would indicate inflammation (as indicated by a raised white blood cell count and elevated C-reactive protein).
- Neutrophils infiltrate the lung tissue, aided by damage to the airways caused by irritation.
- Damage caused by irritation of the airways leads to inflammation and leads to neutrophils being present
- Mucosal hypersecretion is promoted by a substance released by neutrophils
- Further obstruction to the airways is caused by more goblet cells in the small airways. This is typical of chronic bronchitis
- Although infection is not the reason or cause of chronic bronchitis it is seen to aid in sustaining the bronchitis.
Treatment
Antibiotics
In most cases, acute bronchitis is caused by viruses, not bacteria and it will go away on its own without antibiotics. To treat acute bronchitis that appears to be caused by a bacterial infection, or as a precaution, antibiotics may be given.[1] However, a meta-analysis found that antibiotics may reduce symptoms by one-half day.[1]
Smoking cessation
- For more details on this topic, see Smoking cessation.
To help the bronchial tree heal faster and not make bronchitis worse, smokers should cut back on the number of cigarettes smoked daily or quit smoking completely to allow their lungs to recover from the layer of tar that often builds up over time.[1]
Antihistamines
Using over-the-counter antihistamines may be harmful in the self-treatment of bronchitis.[1]
An effect of antihistamines is to thicken mucus secretions. Expelling infected mucus via coughing can be beneficial in recovering from bronchitis. Expulsion of the mucus may be hindered if it is thickened. Antihistamines can help bacteria to persist and multiply in the lungs by increasing its residence time in a warm, moist environment of thickened mucus.
Using antihistamines along with an expectorant cough syrup may be doubly harmful: encouraging the production of mucus and then thickening that which is produced. Using an expectorant cough syrup alone might be useful in flushing bacteria from the lungs. Using an antihistamine along with it works against the intention of using the expectorant.
Prognosis
Acute bronchitis usually lasts approximately 20 or 30 days. It may accompany or closely follow a cold or the flu, or may occur on its own. Bronchitis usually begins with a dry cough, including waking the sufferer at night. After a few days it progresses to a wetter or productive cough, which may be accompanied by fever, fatigue, and headache. The fever, fatigue, and malaise may last only a few days; but the wet cough may last up to several weeks.
Should the cough last longer than a month, some doctors may issue a referral to an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor) to see if a condition other than bronchitis is causing the irritation. It is possible that having irritated bronchial tubes for as long as a few months may inspire asthmatic conditions in some patients.
In addition, if one starts coughing mucus tinged with blood, one should see a doctor. In rare cases, doctors may conduct tests to see if the cause is a serious condition such as tuberculosis or lung cancer.
Acute bronchitis may lead to asthma or pneumonia.
Prevention
In 1985, University of Newcastle, Australia Professor Robert Clancy developed an oral vaccine for acute bronchitis. This vaccine was commercialised four years later as Broncostat.[1]
References
See also
External links
Online medical references:
- Bronchitis Lungs OnLine
- Acute Bronchitis FamilyDoctor.org (American Academy of Family Physicians)
Common cold | |
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| Viruses | Rhinovirus - Coronavirus - Human parainfluenza viruses - Human respiratory syncytial virus - Adenovirus - Enterovirus - Metapneumovirus |
| Symptoms | Pharyngitis - Rhinorrhea - Nasal congestion - Sneezing - Cough - Muscle aches - Fatigue - Malaise - Headache - Weakness - Loss of appetite |
| Complications | Acute bronchitis - Bronchiolitis - Croup - Pneumonia - Sinusitis - Otitis media - Strep throat |
| Antiviral drugs | Pleconaril (experimental) |
WikiDoc Research Resources for Acute bronchitis | |
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| Articles on Acute bronchitis | Most recent articles on Acute bronchitis • Most cited articles on Acute bronchitis • Review articles on Acute bronchitis • Articles on Acute bronchitis in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ |
| Media (Slides, Video, Images, MP3) on Acute bronchitis | Powerpoint slides on Acute bronchitis • Images of Acute bronchitis • Photos of Acute bronchitis • Podcasts & MP3s on Acute bronchitis • Videos on Acute bronchitis |
| Evidence Based Medicine Regarding Acute bronchitis | Cochrane Collaboration on Acute bronchitis • Bandolier on Acute bronchitis • TRIP on Acute bronchitis |
| Cost Effectiveness of Acute bronchitis | Cost Effectiveness of Acute bronchitis |
| Clinical Trials Involving Acute bronchitis | Ongoing Trials on Acute bronchitis at Clinical Trials.gov • Trial results on Acute bronchitis • Clinical Trials on Acute bronchitis at Google |
| Guidelines / Policies / Government Resources (FDA/CDC) Regarding Acute bronchitis | US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Acute bronchitis • NICE Guidance on Acute bronchitis • NHS PRODIGY Guidance • FDA on Acute bronchitis • CDC on Acute bronchitis |
| Textbook Information on Acute bronchitis | Books and Textbook Information on Acute bronchitis |
| Pharmacology Resources on Acute bronchitis | Dosing of Acute bronchitis • Drug interactions with Acute bronchitis • Side effects of Acute bronchitis • Allergic reactions to Acute bronchitis • Overdose information on Acute bronchitis • Carcinogenicity information on Acute bronchitis • Acute bronchitis in pregnancy • Pharmacokinetics of Acute bronchitis • |
| Genetics, Pharmacogenomics, and Proteinomics of Acute bronchitis | Genetics of Acute bronchitis • Pharmacogenomics of Acute bronchitis • Proteomics of Acute bronchitis |
| Newstories on Acute bronchitis | Acute bronchitis in the news • Be alerted to news on Acute bronchitis • News trends on Acute bronchitis |
| Commentary on Acute bronchitis | Blogs on Acute bronchitis |
| Patient Resources on Acute bronchitis | Patient resources on Acute bronchitis • Discussion groups on Acute bronchitis • Patient Handouts on Acute bronchitis • Directions to Hospitals Treating Acute bronchitis • Risk calculators and risk factors for Acute bronchitis |
| Healthcare Provider Resources on Acute bronchitis | Symptoms of Acute bronchitis • Causes & Risk Factors for Acute bronchitis • Diagnostic studies for Acute bronchitis • Treatment of Acute bronchitis |
| Continuing Medical Education (CME) Programs on Acute bronchitis | CME Programs on Acute bronchitis |
| International Resources on Acute bronchitis | Acute bronchitis en Espanol • Acute bronchitis en Francais |
| Business Resources on Acute bronchitis | Acute bronchitis in the Marketplace • Patents on Acute bronchitis |
| Informatics Resources on Acute bronchitis | List of terms related to Acute bronchitis |
ca:Bronquitis da:Bronkitis de:Akute Bronchitis fr:Bronchite gl:Bronquite id:Bronkitis is:Berkjukvef it:Bronchite lb:Bronchite lt:Bronchitas nl:Bronchitis ja:気管支炎 no:Bronkitt nn:Bronkittsq:Bronkiti akut sr:Хронични бронхитис fi:Keuhkoputkentulehdus sv:Bronkit ur:قصباتس yi:בראנקייטיס
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Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
