Sometimes, after suffering from ARVI, a person has symptoms of a cold for a long time: runny nose, chills, muscle weakness, hoarseness, etc. When you visit a doctor again, a specialist often diagnoses catarrhal bronchitis, which means that the transferred ARVI provoked the development of complications. In this case, the inflammatory process does not affect the lungs, it develops only in the mucous membrane of the branches of the windpipe. Treatment of catarrhal bronchitis involves taking medications. It is allowed to resort to herbal medicine, homeopathy and folk methods.
Pathogenesis
The penetration of the damaging agent into the trachea and bronchi occurs with the inhalation of air. In some cases, the pathogen enters the branches by the hematogenous route. Against the background of its active life, the development of the inflammatory process is launched. As a result, the mucous membrane swells, and a pathological secret begins to accumulate in the lumen of the branches.
Etiology
In most cases, catarrhal bronchitisIt is detected in adults, but sometimes it can be diagnosed in children. The main cause of the pathology is illiterate or untimely treatment of a cold. Most often, acute catarrhal bronchitis appears after SARS or influenza. If the disease is not treated, it can quickly become chronic and accompany a person for the rest of his life.
The following factors are also provocative:
- Tobacco smoking.
- Irregular or insufficient oral care.
- Diseases that cause degenerative changes in the lungs.
- Hypocooling of the body.
- Pathologies of an infectious nature.
Doctors refer catarrhal bronchitis to a mild form of inflammation of the ramifications. This is due to the fact that only the mucous membrane is affected, the deep layers of the tissue are not involved in the pathological process.
There are several types of catarrhal bronchitis: bilateral, unilateral, local and diffuse (obstructive). Pathology can occur in both acute and chronic forms.
Clinical manifestations
Symptoms of the disease and their intensity directly depend on the type of disease. Acute catarrhal bronchitis occurs very quickly. At the same time, the intensity of clinical manifestations is increasing every day. Symptoms in this case are very similar to those of acute bronchitis. The difference is that the patient has a large amount of sputum.
Chronic catarrhal bronchitis develops whenuntimely relief of the acute stage. Initially, there are no symptoms, sputum production practically does not occur. After a while, the symptoms of the disease return. The patient suffers from a painful cough, severe pain in the retrosternal zone and elevated body temperature. Large quantities of sputum begin to be produced again.
After a while, the exacerbation is replaced by a period of remission. There is little sputum, cough is still bothering, but mostly in the morning. Exacerbation of chronic catarrhal bronchitis occurs under the influence of any of the above provoking factors.
With a unilateral lesion, pain when coughing occurs only on the right or left, that is, in the area of localization of inflammation. Most often, bilateral catarrhal bronchitis is diagnosed.
The local form of the disease is considered the easiest. It is characterized by damage to only a small area of the mucosa. Catarrhal obstructive bronchitis is accompanied by spasm of smooth muscle cells. As a result, respiratory failure occurs, the internal organs do not receive the required amount of oxygen. With untimely treatment, the patient can also be diagnosed with chronic catarrhal-obstructive bronchitis.
Common signs of illness:
- Cough. It is long and exhausting. Cough as if tearing soft tissue from within. At the same time, it is accompanied by abundant sputum discharge.
- Pain in the sternum.
- General malaise.
- Drowsy.
- Increased body temperature.
- Nasal congestion.
- Increased tearing or, conversely, dry eyes.
If you experience symptoms of catarrhal bronchitis, you should consult a general practitioner or pulmonologist.
Diagnosis
During the appointment, the doctor must provide all the information regarding the existing alarming signs and the degree of their intensity. After taking an anamnesis, the specialist listens to the lungs with a phonendoscope. If wheezing is detected, the doctor may suspect catarrhal bronchitis.
To confirm the diagnosis, the specialist issues a referral for a comprehensive examination, including:
- X-ray. It is necessary in order to exclude the presence of neoplasms in the lungs, both benign and malignant. In addition, with the help of radiography, tuberculosis can be detected in a timely manner, a characteristic symptom of which is also a hacking cough.
- Bronchoscopy. The essence of the method is as follows: the doctor inserts into the patient's airways (through the oral cavity) a special tube equipped with a miniature video camera and a lighting element. During the study, the specialist gets the opportunity to assess the condition of not only the bronchi, but also the lungs and trachea. The disadvantage of this method is that it is associated with the occurrence of severe pain. In addition, it is almost impossible to breathe during a bronchoscopy.
If necessary, the doctor will order laboratory tests, such as blood tests andurine. To identify the pathogen, a study of sputum (micropreparation) is shown. Catarrhal bronchitis is an ailment that requires an integrated approach. Only on the basis of the results of the diagnosis, the doctor can choose further tactics for managing the patient.
Medicated treatment
The goal of therapy is to stop the acute phase and relieve the patient of unpleasant symptoms. The classical scheme of drug treatment of catarrhal bronchitis includes the following items:
- Reception of mucolytics. These are drugs whose active ingredients help to reduce the viscosity of sputum and facilitate its removal from the body. As a rule, doctors prescribe the following remedies: ACC, Lazolvan, Bromhexine, Flavamed, Muk altin.
- Taking antitussive drugs. Their appointment is advisable only at the initial stage of the development of the disease, which is not characterized by the release of a large amount of sputum. It is recommended to take drugs in the evening to improve the quality of night sleep. Examples of antitussives: Broncholitin, Glycodin, Tussin Plus, Bronchitusen Vramed.
- Taking antiviral drugs. Assigned upon detection of the corresponding pathogen. Examples of funds: "Remantadin", "Ingavirin", "Isoprinosine", "Kagocel", "Viferon", "Amiksin".
- Taking antibiotics. These are rather aggressive drugs that are prescribed only if catarrhal bronchitis is accompanied by a purulent complication. The main sign of exudate accumulation is green or yellow sputum. Typically, doctors prescribeLevofloxacin, Amoxiclav, Azithromycin or Macropen.
- Taking antipyretics such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen.
In the chronic form of the disease, bronchodilators are additionally prescribed. These include: Salbutamol, Atrovent, Troventol.
Physiotherapy
To increase the effectiveness of drug treatment, the doctor may prescribe a course of UHF, electrophoresis or inductothermy. In addition, all patients are advised to regularly engage in breathing exercises.
After a course of physiotherapy, recovery comes much faster. In addition, such treatment stimulates the immune system, due to which it quickly destroys pathogens that enter the body.
Homeopathy
The initial consultation with a specialist can last about three hours. This is due to the fact that the homeopath needs to prescribe only one remedy, the active components of which could cope both with all the symptoms at the same time, and with the root cause of the disease.
Most often, specialists in this field prescribe the following funds:
- "Belladonna". Indicated in the presence of a pronounced inflammatory process.
- Kalium Bichromicum. It is prescribed in the presence of viscous sputum, which is separated with great difficulty.
- Phosphorus-containing preparations. Indicated in severe cases where blood is found in the sputum.
- Arsenicum Iodatum. It is prescribed for predominantly nocturnalcoughing.
- "Bryony". The drug is indicated for exacerbation of chronic catarrhal bronchitis.
- Oscillococcinum. It is prescribed for the viral nature of the disease.
- Antimonium. Indicated for cough, accompanied by the discharge of a large amount of sputum.
- "Laurokerasus". It is prescribed for the development of complications of catarrhal bronchitis.
- Senego. The drug is prescribed mainly to the elderly.
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Doctor's appointment
Phytotherapy
In the chronic form of the disease, doctors allow taking infusions and decoctions based on medicinal plants.
Most Effective Recipes:
- Take equal amounts of podbela roots, St. John's wort, Shandra leaves and coltsfoot. Grind and mix the ingredients thoroughly. Take 1 tbsp. l. collection and pour it with 200 ml of boiling water. Let it brew for half an hour. Strain. Take 200 ml three times a day.
- Take equal amounts of elecampane and marshmallow roots, oregano leaves and birch buds. Chop and mix ingredients. Take 1 tbsp. l. mixture and pour it with 200 ml of boiling water. Put the container on fire. Simmer for 15 minutes. Cool, strain. Take up to 8 times a day for 1 tbsp. l.
It is important to remember that any plant is a potential allergen. If signs of an adverse reaction occur, herbal treatment should be discontinued.
Folk methods
Speed up recovery with warm compresses. Potato is recognized as the most effective. Action algorithm:boil a few tubers, mash them into a puree, add 40 g of baking soda to the resulting mass. Form two cakes from the resulting mixture and place them between the patient's shoulder blades. Keep until completely cool.
Consequences
With untimely treatment, most patients develop all sorts of complications. The following consequences are most often diagnosed:
- Frequent flare-ups.
- High susceptibility to cold.
- Endobronchitis. This is a condition in which purulent masses form, subsequently spreading throughout the body and clogging blood vessels.
- Heart failure.
In addition, the defense system is significantly weakened in all patients. Her recovery takes a very long time.
In conclusion
The term "catarrhal bronchitis" refers to a pathological condition in which the mucous membrane of the branches becomes inflamed. The disease is quite easy to treat, but if you do not see a doctor in time, all sorts of complications often develop.
