•Bronchitis •By bhumi senta •Type •Acute •Chronic •Definition: •Acute infection of mucous membrane of trachea and •bronchi produced by viruses, bacteria or external irritants. •Causes •Precipitating causes– • (i) Infection – Either bacterial or viral, or descending infection from nasal sinuses or throat. •(ii) Complicating other diseases – e.g. measles, whooping cough. •(iii) Physical and chemical irritants – Inhaled dust, steam, gases like SO2, ether. •(iv) Allergic bronchitis – following inhalation of pollens or organic dusts. •Symptoms •1. Toxaemic– Malaise, fever, palpitation, sweating, etc. •2. Irritative – Cough with expectoration, at first scanty •viscid sputum, later more copious and mucopurulent; •substernal pain or raw sensation under the sternum. •3. Obstructive – Choked up feeling, paroxysms of dyspnoea particularly following spells of coughing relieved with expectoration. •Signs •In early stages few abnormal signs apart from occasional •rhonchi. After 2 or 3 days diffuse, bilateral rhonchi, often •with rales at the bases, prolonged expiration and an expiratory wheez •Treatment •Appropriate antibiotics •Bronchodilator in patients with chronic air flow limitations •Therapeutic medicine •Aconite •Belladonna •Ipecac •Rumex •Ferrum Phos Silicea •Chronic bronchitis •Causes: •1. Infections, such as acute bronchitis or infections in the upper respiratory tract. •2. Smoking, especially cigarettes. •3. Air pollution from industrial fumes and dust. •4. General illnesses that weaken the immune system, like obesity, alcoholism, and chronic kidney disease. •Symptoms: •1. Persistent cough, usually worse in winter or when exposed to cold winds. •2. Mucus production, which can be thin and mucoid or thick and sticky •3. Difficulty breathing, especially in advanced cases. •4. Fever is usually absent, except during acute exacerbations. •5. Occasionally, streaks of blood may be present in the coughed-up mucus. •Signs: •1. Short and stocky build. •2. Rare bluish discoloration of the skin (cyanosis). •3. Signs of airway obstruction, such as prolonged expiration, pursing of the lips, and inward movement of the chest during inhalation. •4. Wheezing sounds during breathing, usually more pronounced during exhalation. •5. Crackling sounds at the bases of the lungs in patients with excessive mucus production. •Management: •1. Remove the cause if possible, like avoiding air pollution and quitting smoking. •2. Prevent acute exacerbations by avoiding overheated rooms, damp environments, tight clothing, overeating, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption. •3. Slow down the progression of the disease by improving the patient's resistance through a nutritious diet and weight reduction if needed. •4. Regular physical exercise in fresh air, deep breathing exercises, and coughing techniques can help. •5. Medicine • - Antitussives for a dry cough. Mucolytics and inhalation of medicated steam to loo