Asthmatic bronchitis, whose symptoms and treatment deserve special attention, is a widespread disease. Everyone is at risk, both adults and children. The most important symptom of the disease is the accumulation of mucus in the bronchi. It doesn't come out on its own. As a result, spasms occur, manifested by coughing, against which the bronchial channels narrow.
Description of pathology
The disease is characterized as an inflammatory process of the lower respiratory tract. Doctors say that it is allergic reactions to various irritants (dust, pollen, bacteria and viruses) that provoke asthmatic bronchitis. Symptoms and treatment of pathology deserve special attention.
It is very important, as soon as the diagnosis is confirmed, to begin therapy immediately. Otherwise, as a result of complications, bronchitis risks developing into asthma. And this is already a rather dangerous disease. Pulmonologists consider bronchitis a harbinger of asthma. These diseases differ only in the absence of asthma attacks in the firstcase.
The disease affects people of all ages. But most often it manifests itself at an early age. Constant companions of bronchitis are rhinitis, dermatitis and other chronic allergic reactions.
What triggers asthmatic bronchitis
Symptoms and treatment of pathology are determined by the sources that caused the disease.
As a rule, the causes of the development of the disease are hidden in the nature of irritants:
- Non-infectious. Various household and food irritants. These include: dust, wool, pollen, cleaning products, paint, citrus fruits, chocolate, nuts, seafood. Also, this group of allergens includes all red and orange berries, fruits and vegetables (even carrots).
- Infectious. These are viral mucosal irritants. These include staph, fungal infections, mold and others.
At a younger age, asthmatic bronchitis can occur as a result of a hereditary predisposition or an allergy to a medicine, a vaccine. Also, the causes of the disease can be respiratory diseases: bronchitis, influenza, measles, whooping cough.
Symptoms of pathology
It is important to recognize a disease such as asthmatic bronchitis in a timely manner. Only a specialist can correctly interpret symptoms and treatment. Therefore, if you suspect a pathology, you should consult a competent doctor.
For the disease is characterized by pronounced symptoms. Therefore, you can suspect the presence of asthmatic bronchitis on your own.
Characteristicsigns of the disease are:
- A paroxysmal prolonged cough. It gets worse during small physical exertion, laughing or crying. Since this is an allergic reaction, it will be preceded by nasal congestion and sore throat. It all starts with a dry cough, and after a couple of days phlegm appears.
- Difficulty breathing. This is due to the narrowing of the bronchi.
- Excessive sweating, lethargy and malaise.
- Wheezing in the bronchi. Characteristic wheezing will be heard even without a stethoscope.
- Possibly slight increase in body temperature.
If asthmatic bronchitis is caused by a reaction to a household irritant, then after the elimination of the allergen from the environment, the symptoms will disappear. If the cause of the disease is an infection, then the temperature will rise and a runny nose will appear.
The course of treatment for asthmatic bronchitis lasts less than a month. The disease itself does not have any effect on other internal organs. But with frequent repetition, the pathology can lead to bronchial asthma.
Obstructive Asthma Disease
This is a complicated form of the disease.
Such asthmatic bronchitis is characterized by:
- night cough,
- impaired breathing,
- light choke,
- outgoing thick dark green sputum.
Polluted air leads to this disease.
Therapy is based on mucolytic and moisturizing preparations. Homemade recipes will help. Patients diagnosed with obstructive asthmatic bronchitissymptoms and treatment with folk remedies should be discussed with your doctor first. As a rule, soda inhalation with the addition of medicinal herbs is recommended.
It is also necessary to deal with the symptoms. Temperature-reducing medications may be used. If necessary, nasal and nasopharyngeal lavage is prescribed.
Chronic asthmatic bronchitis
If the cough and other symptoms that characterize asthmatic bronchitis do not leave the patient for more than 3 months, and the disease recurs annually, then this is already a chronic stage.
Most of all, workers of manufacturing enterprises suffer from this pathology. Quite often the disease comes to light at smokers. Tobacco, dust and vapors of harmful chemicals affect the bronchial mucosa. As a result, the infection easily enters the body.
More often suffer men over 50 from such an ailment as asthmatic bronchitis. Symptoms and treatment in adults should be considered exclusively by a specialist. Indeed, at this age, as a result of the disease, the functioning of the bronchi is greatly impaired. The mucous membrane is simply not able to completely remove sputum.
At the chronic stage, asthmatic bronchitis can also be obstructive and non-obstructive. The course of the disease without obstruction allows the patient to live a full life and work. However, such persons are sensitive to weather changes and often suffer from colds. And people with an obstructive form should strictly follow all the doctor's recommendations in order toprevent the development of pulmonary embolism. Treatment in this case is necessary. It will take a long time.
The first sign of chronic asthmatic bronchitis is a morning cough. Then it begins to manifest itself day and night, and intensifies in the cold season. Over time, the cough becomes round-the-clock and hysterical. It is accompanied by a constant discharge of sputum. During exacerbations, it becomes yellow-green in color, with the presence of pus and smells unpleasant. The disease can lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Pathology in children
For the first time, the disease can manifest itself in preschool age.
This happens due to the peculiarities of the structure of the bronchial tree:
- mucous tendencies to edema,
- narrowed passage in the bronchi.
During the reaction to the stimulus, severe edema develops, the bronchi close as much as possible.
For a child, this is a severe pathology - asthmatic bronchitis. Symptoms and treatment in children must be discussed with a pulmonologist. Babies need the right therapy.
To remove sputum from young children, nebulizers are used - compressor inhalers containing bronchodilators. A pulmonologist may prescribe a short hormonal course in the presence of severe shortness of breath.
Disease in adults
Pathology can appear at any age.
In adults, the disease develops as a result of:
- work on harmfulproduction,
- prolonged smoking,
- polluted ecosystem,
- weakened immunity.
Not everyone associates morning coughing spells with bronchitis. Because of this, a late-detected disease has time to develop and move into a more serious stage.
Diagnosis of pathology
Do not rush to diagnose yourself, even if the symptoms indicate asthmatic bronchitis. Treatment of pathology can be started only after confirmation of the disease by a doctor. To do this, the patient will need to undergo some examinations.
In laboratory conditions, the following studies are carried out to identify the disease:
- X-ray. May show emphysema.
- Blood test. Shows the level of immunoglobulins E and A, histamine. In case of illness, it is increased, and the level of compliment titer, on the contrary, is lowered.
- Skin scraping.
- Sputum culture. Antibiotic response being tested.
- Endoscopy. The bronchial mucosa is examined in detail.
- Spirography. The volume of exhaled air is measured.
- Pyclometry. The rate of exhalation of air is measured in the morning and in the evening. Then there is a percentage ratio between them. For a he althy person, the norm is 20%.
- Pneumatic tachography. Identification of the causes of difficult passage of air through the bronchi.
Traditional treatment
Each patient's disease proceeds depending on individual characteristics. Therefore, a singlethere is no treatment regimen. Initially, the doctor will determine what factors triggered asthmatic bronchitis. Symptoms and treatment in adults with folk remedies and medicines are completely dependent on the sources of the pathology.
Depending on the characteristics of the disease, the pulmonologist prescribes appropriate therapy for each patient:
- Viral bronchitis. Antivirals are prescribed.
- Allergic pathology. Antihistamines are recommended.
- Infectious disease. A course of antibiotics is prescribed.
In addition, everyone without exception is prescribed bronchodilators, inhalations with alkaline and sodium chloride solutions.
Therapy with folk remedies
But remember that only a doctor should prescribe you the drugs with which you will treat asthmatic bronchitis.
Treatment with folk remedies can also be carried out, but as directed and under the control of a pulmonologist. Such activities can support the body and prevent the occurrence of asthma.
There are various recipes:
- As a mucolytic agent and antibiotics, you can take 1 tsp. turnip juice with honey (ratio 1:1) 4 rubles/day.
- A decoction of the leaves of St. John's wort, coltsfoot, nettle and motherwort (1 tablespoon of the collection is poured into a glass of hot boiled water and infused for 30 minutes). The decoction should be drunk for a month.
- To prevent coughing fits, it is recommended to drink a glass of milk with the addition of 15 drops of propolis tincture.
- Inhale with baking soda. 1 tsp dilute soda in a glass of water, boil the solution in a kettle. Steam is inhaled for 10 minutes through a paper tube put on the spout of the kettle.
- Whey also has a mucolytic effect. It should be drunk 2-3 times a day, warmed up or at room temperature.
- Infusion of clover flowers or St. John's wort with honey. The product is prepared and consumed like regular tea. Recommended to improve sputum expectoration.
However, remember that this is a rather complex pathology - asthmatic bronchitis. Folk remedies are effective and efficient. However, they cannot replace the medications prescribed by a specialist. But at the same time they are a great addition to the main treatment.
