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What is chronic Bronchitis? Types of bronchitis, symptoms, etiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of bronchitis.


DEFINITION :

It’s a chronic pulmonary disease which is said to be present when there is a persistent cough for at least three consecutive  months in at least two consecutive years.

·        Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, the airways that carry air to your lungs.

·        It causes a cough that often brings up mucus. It can also cause shortness of breath, wheezing, a low fever, and chest tightness.

·        There are two main types of bronchitis: acute and chronic.

·        Chronic bronchitis is one type of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

·        The inflamed bronchial tubes produce a lot of mucus.

·        This leads to coughing and difficulty breathing.



TYPES :

1.SIMPLE CHRONIC BRONCHITIS :

  Its characterized by productive cough with mucoid sputum but there is no airflow obstruction .

2.CHRONIC MUCOPURULENT BRONCHITIS :

Its characterized by productive cough with purulent sputum .

3.CHRONIC ASTHMATIC BRONCHITIS :

  Its characterized by productive cough with episodic asthma .

4.CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE BRONCHITIS :Its characterized by productive cough and airway obstruction .





SYMPTOMS  / CLINICAL FEATURES :


Chronic bronchitis fills your airways with thick mucus. The small hairs that normally move phlegmout of your lungs are damaged. That makes you cough. As the disease goes on, it’s harder for you to breathe.

Other signs of chronic bronchitis may include:


Your symptoms may be worst in the winter, when humidity and temperatures drop.



ETIOLOGY :

Cigarette smoking is by far the No. 1 cause of chronic bronchitis. More than 90% of people with the disease smoke or used to smoke.

  • Secondhand smoke
  • Dust
  • Certain fumes, like hairspray if you work in a hairsalon or house paint if you’re a building contractor
  • Air pollution, welding fumes, engine exhaust
  • Coal, fire smoke

DIAGNOSIS :


Your doctor will ask about your smoking history and listen to your lungs with a stethoscope. You may take tests, including:

Pulmonary function tests: 

This is a series of measurements of how much air your lungs can hold while breathing in and out.

Chest X-ray: 

Uses radiation to make a picture of your lungs to rule out heart failure or other illnesses that make it hard to breathe.

Computed  tomography: 

This CT scan give a much more detailed look at your airways than a chest X-ray.

CHRONIC BRONCHITIS TREATMENT :

Treatment may include:

·         Bronchodilator Medications :

 Inhaled as aerosol sprays or taken orally, bronchodilator medications may help to relieve symptoms of chronic bronchitis by relaxing and opening the air passages in the lungs.

·         Steroids  :

Inhaled as an aerosol spray, steroids can help relieve symptoms of chronic bronchitis. Over time, however, inhaled steroids can cause side effects, such as weakened bones, high blood pressure, diabetes and cataracts. It is important to discuss these side effects with your doctor before using steroids.

·         Antibiotics :

Antibiotics may be used to help fight respiratory infections common in people with chronic bronchitis.

·         Vaccines :

 Patients with chronic bronchitis should receive a flu shot annually and pneumonia shot every five to seven years to prevent infections.

·         Oxygen Therapy 

      :As a patient's disease progresses, they may find it increasingly difficult to breathe on their own and may require supplemental                                                   oxygen. Oxygen comes in various forms and may be delivered with different devices, including those you can use at home.



·        Surgery  :

Lung volume reduction surgery, during which small wedges of damaged lung tissue are removed, may be recommended for some patients with chronic bronchitis.

·        Pulmonary Rehabilitation :

 An important part of chronic bronchitis treatment is pulmonary rehabilitation, which includes education, nutrition counseling, learning special breathing techniques, help with quitting smoking and starting an exercise regimen. 





REFRENCES :






Textbook  of pathology , Ihsaan Danish , 3rd edition , 165 page.


Comments

  1. Doc Hajirah MApril 11, 2020 at 4:40 PM

    Very nice information 👍🏾

    ReplyDelete
  2. Zakootax.comApril 19, 2020 at 1:16 AM

    Thank you for give us information

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownApril 22, 2020 at 6:44 PM

    Great amazing work

    ReplyDelete
  4. PrettySamApril 28, 2020 at 5:47 AM

    Nice article

    ReplyDelete
  5. Steve AncApril 28, 2020 at 5:47 AM

    Thanks for this article. It reveals lots of things to me. Though I have not heard of
    CHRONIC BRONCHITIS before, but the post did justice to it. It explains types and treatments. Great work bro

    ReplyDelete
  6. Pooja GargApril 28, 2020 at 2:28 PM

    Well written post.Good to gather knowledge on chronic bronchitis..

    ReplyDelete
  7. Aditya Prakash PandeyApril 28, 2020 at 3:14 PM

    many many thanks for this article it is really intriguing

    ReplyDelete

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