Chronic bronchitis is one of the most common respiratory diseases, manifested in diffuse inflammation of the bronchial mucosa. Its clinical significance cannot be underestimated. After all, the development of a number of chronic lung diseases is associated with bronchitis.
For what reasons does it arise? What are the signs and symptoms of chronic bronchitis? What is its treatment? These and many other questions should now be answered.
Reasons
Symptoms of chronic bronchitis occur when there is progressive diffuse inflammation in the bronchi. The disease proceeds sluggishly, and it occurs due to prolonged irritating effects on the mucous membrane.
The disease can be primary (independent) and secondary (a consequence of other diseases). If we talk about classification according to the type of flow, then obstructive and non-obstructive bronchitis are distinguished. In the first case, it is more difficult to cure the disease, since sputum clogs the bronchial lumen and disrupts its patency.
Reasonsthe occurrence of the disease is usually allocated to the following list:
- Infections. Almost all patients have a history of frequent influenza, SARS, and other diseases of the respiratory system. That is why, in order to avoid complications, it is necessary to treat all ailments in a timely manner.
- Hypothermia and colds. Against the background of a sharp change in weather conditions in many people, the symptoms of bronchitis are exacerbated.
- Nicotine abuse. Symptoms of chronic bronchitis in smokers are much more pronounced than those who do not smoke cigarettes. No wonder, because tobacco smoke destroys the mucous membrane of the bronchial tree. Treatment without giving up a bad habit is impossible.
- Pollutants. An inflammatory protracted process, as a rule, occurs in those people who work in industrial enterprises or live in polluted areas.
According to WHO criteria, the disease becomes chronic if a person coughs up sputum for more than 3 months (either in total for a year or in a row).
Signs
The symptoms of chronic bronchitis can be listed as follows:
- Frequent cough with mucopurulent sputum. Its total volume per day can reach an average of 100-150 ml.
- Constant rise in temperature from 37.1 to 38.0°C.
- Sweating.
- Unreasonable weakness and increased fatigue.
- Expiratory dyspnea.
- Whistling wheezing.
- Swelling of the veins in the neck when exhaling.
Over time, the cough becomes unproductive and whooping cough. If you start the condition, then bronchitis can drag on for many years. And the long-term course of the disease leads to the fact that the nails of the fingers and nail phalanges thicken.
Against the background of the exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, the symptoms of which are now being discussed, the manifestations of other concomitant diseases are also intensifying. Often there is decompensation of dyscirculatory encephalopathy, diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease.
Obstructive bronchitis
This is the name of diffuse inflammation of the bronchi of medium and small caliber, which is accompanied by sharp bronchial spasms and progressive impairment of lung ventilation. The reasons for its occurrence are:
- Viruses of respiratory syncytial nature.
- Flu.
- Rhinoviruses and adenoviruses.
- Parainfluenza of the third type.
- Viral-bacterial associations.
- Persistent infectious agents - chlamydia, mycoplasma and herpes.
There is one nuance that is worth noting, since we are talking about the causes and symptoms of chronic obstructive bronchitis. It is less common in adults than in children. Every child with a weakened immune system, genetic predisposition and allergies is at risk for this disease. And among older people, this type of ailment is most common in men.
Symptoms of chronic obstructive bronchitis in adults can be identified infollowing list:
- Severe headache.
- Subfebrile body temperature.
- Dyspeptic disorders.
- Participation in the breathing process of the abdominals, shoulder girdle and neck muscles.
- Long whistling exhalation, dry wheezes.
- Separation of a small amount of sputum. During the period of exacerbation, it becomes more, and it takes on a purulent appearance.
- Respiratory disorders. Mostly wet or dry compulsive cough with no relief.
- Inflating the wings of the nose while inhaling.
Developing the theme of symptoms and treatment of chronic bronchitis, exacerbations also need to be given special attention. More precisely, to talk about why they arise.
Provoking factors include exogenous injury, spontaneous pneumothorax, arrhythmia, respiratory infections, decompensated diabetes mellitus and exercise. With an exacerbation, all of the above symptoms intensify, and myalgia, fatigue, sweating and subfebrile condition also appear.
Treatment
Continuing the topic concerning the symptoms of chronic bronchitis in children and adults, it is necessary to talk about how this disease should be treated.
In the obstructive form, therapy is aimed not only at eliminating inflammation, but also at eliminating spasms of the bronchi and expanding them. As a rule, the doctor prescribes the following drugs:
- "Atrovent". This is a solution for inhalation and an aerosol that acts 10-15 minutes after application. Effectgood, but short-term - passes after 5 hours.
- "Berodual". A combined drug that inhibits the reflexes that the vagus nerve causes. That is, it calms the cough.
- "Spiriva". This is an M-holinoblokator, which has a long-term effect. Promotes smooth muscle relaxation in the airways.
- "Salbutamol". The action of this inhalation aerosol is aimed at preventing and stopping bronchial spasms.
- "Fenoterol". These tablets have bronchodilator, vasodilating and tocolytic effects.
- "Salmeterol". An effective bronchodilator that is approved for use even by patients suffering from cardiac pathologies.
- "Foradil". This drug has a bronchodilatory effect. Effective for both reversible and irreversible obstruction.
A few words should be said about the treatment of symptoms of chronic bronchitis in children. Treatment and prevention of babies can be carried out with the same drugs as in the case of adults, but only the dosage is determined differently.
However, there are also drugs indicated specifically for him. Clenbuterol, for example. This syrup has a bronchodilator and secretolytic effect, and it is also convenient to use.
Non-obstructive bronchitis
Of course, we should also talk about him. Enough has been said about the symptoms and treatment of chronic obstructive bronchitis. How are they different from each other?
The fact that in a non-obstructive form, inflammation affects the mucous membrane of large and medium bronchi. Also, according to the experts,the differences are seasonal. In non-obstructive disease, recurrence occurs in early cold spring. And in the previous case - for the last months of autumn.
The symptoms are similar, the following manifestations are observed:
- Hoarse voice.
- Violent bouts of coughing in the morning.
- Purulent profuse sputum.
- Weak shallow breathing.
- Shortness of breath.
It cannot be said that this is a specific disease that has clear differences from the previously described form of the disease. But it is most often found in adults. The proportion of people with non-obstructive bronchitis ranges from 8% to 20%.
Purulent bronchitis
There are varieties of the disease that deserve special attention. Purulent chronic obstructive bronchitis, the symptoms of which will now be discussed, are among those.
Two main characteristics of the disease are an increase in spasms that occur when there is a violation of the outflow of mucus from the lungs and swelling (this is called bronchoconstriction), and loss of patency due to the accumulation of sputum.
As a rule, the disease of this form manifests itself after SARS, influenza, acute respiratory infections, allergies, tracheitis and inflammation of the nasopharynx. This ailment is dangerous not only by inflammation, but also by the fact that it violates the bronchial mucosa, interfering with their proper ventilation. This manifestation is fraught with obstruction of sputum rejection and suffocation.
The main causes that provoke this disease are listed as follows:
- Dusty atmosphere and work insimilar conditions.
- High levels of silicon and cadmium in the air.
- Passive and active smoking (thought to be the main cause).
- Genetic syndrome.
- High concentration of vapors in the air.
If we talk about the specific symptoms of chronic obstructive bronchitis of a purulent type, we can note:
- Cough that causes discomfort and pain not only in the throat, but also in the abdomen.
- Painful expectoration.
- Pale skin. With complications, the usual skin color changes to cyanosis. Fingers, ears, nose, lips acquire an unhe althy shade.
- Constantly fluctuating temperature.
- Tachycardia.
- Epigastric pulsation (in the region of the ribs, closer to the heart).
- Difficulty breathing, especially when exhaling.
- Swelling of the lower extremities.
Shortness of breath is the main manifestation of a disease that literally interferes with life. It accompanies the patient constantly, occurs even after waking up. And breathing can be so heavy that the patient has to sleep in a sitting position.
Atrophic bronchitis
Another type of disease that deserves attention. With an ailment of an atrophic form, a structural restructuring of the integumentary epithelium and depletion of the bronchial mucosa occur. The following symptoms indicate its presence:
- Prolonged dry cough.
- Unable to take a deep breath.
- Sputum with significantblood impurities.
- When the process aggravates, shortness of breath and hyperthermia appear, and the cough becomes wet.
It is necessary to make a reservation that in this form the disease often occurs without symptoms. Chronic bronchitis of the atrophic form may not manifest itself at all until the stage of exacerbation.
But that doesn't make him any less dangerous. On the contrary, this disease often leads to such consequences as pulmonary hypertension, respiratory failure, pulmonary emphysema, diffuse pneumosclerosis.
It is important to note that the onset of symptoms is often associated with psycho-emotional stress, past viral infections, the resumption of smoking and other provoking factors.
It should be noted that with this form of disease, coughing fits occur, and the reason for this is cold air, emotional stress, eating and even talking. The more insignificant the provocative factor seems, the stronger the sensitivity of the bronchial mucosa.
Other types of disease
Talking about the symptoms of chronic bronchitis and its varieties, it should be noted that there are still some forms of the disease that have not been mentioned. In addition to the atrophic and purulent type, there are such types of the disease:
- Catarrhal. With a disease of this form, only the upper layers of the mucous membrane are affected. Primary signs: nasal congestion and runny nose, muscle pain, hoarseness and chills. A few days after illnessthere is a rough, dry, throat-rending cough and an increase in temperature to 37.5 ⁰С.
- Fibrous. The disease of this form is characterized by the deposition of fibrin in the bronchial tree. The clinical picture is standard, but the sputum is different. With fibrous bronchitis, it is so thick that it looks like fibrous bands that look like casts of the bronchial lumen.
- Hemorrhagic. It occurs quite rarely. With this disease, there is a risk of hemorrhage in the bronchi. This is fraught with a decrease in the volume of functioning lung tissue, progression of respiratory failure and other consequences.
Sometimes there is a mixed type of disease. It is diagnosed when a person has symptoms of several of the diseases listed earlier.
Generic drugs
Of course, if a person is diagnosed with chronic bronchitis, then only a doctor prescribes treatment. Because the specialist takes into account the type of disease, the degree of neglect, the individual characteristics of the patient and much more. But some popular drugs are worth listing:
- Antitussives: Broncholitin, Paxeladin, Stoptussin. They are prescribed if a person has an unproductive, dry cough.
- Expectorants: Pectolvan, Muk altin, Pertussin, ACC, Bromhexine, Pectolvan, Flavamed, Lazolvan. Taking these drugs contributes to the rapid discharge of sputum from the walls of the bronchi.
- Combined: "Codelac Forte", "Gerbion", "Bronholitin", "Sinekod" and "Bronchicum". These medicines are notonly relieve inflammation in the bronchi, but also significantly improve the functioning of the respiratory system.
It is also obligatory to take mucolytics. These include drugs such as Fluimucil, Acestin, Ambrohexal, Deflegmin, Solvin, Mukodin, Fluifort, Linkas, Tussin, etc.
Steam inhalation
This is a well-known folk remedy that helps to cope with the symptoms of chronic bronchitis. And it also goes well with medication. Even doctors recommend regular inhalations.
They will be most effective if you add the following ingredients to the water:
- Peach, camphor, sea buckthorn or olive oil.
- Infusion of oregano, mint, coltsfoot, sage, raspberry leaf, lime blossom, elderberry.
- Essential oil of thyme, immortelle, ginger, cinnamon, eucalyptus, tea tree, lemongrass, rosemary, lavender, clove.
The main thing is not to make the water too hot. Otherwise, a person who is already suffering from such a serious illness will not warm up the airways, but will burn them. And this is fraught with complications.
