BronchitisWhat are the Symptoms and Treatments

In 1808, Charles Bedham described and named bronchitis. For many years this condition affected many people. But because of newer developments in the field of medicine, people now have more alternatives to treating the said condition.

Pulmonary disorders are quite common especially in children. But this doesn’t mean that adults can’t have the disorder. In fact, those that live in polluted cities, especially smokers, are prone to it. If your bronchi are inflamed, then you may have bronchitis, which is widely known as an obstructive pulmonary illness or disorder.

Bronchitis is divided into short-term or acute and the long-term or chronic types. How will you know if you have bronchitis? There are symptoms associated with the disorder including expectorating cough, dyspnea, malaise and/or fatigue, mild fever and chest pains, coldness, and vibrating chest.

People of all ages may have bronchitis. Those that have frequent flu and colds tend to have this condition. If your immune system is weak, you are at a greater risk to major complications like asthmatic and chronic bronchitis, and it would be a lot easier for pneumonia to settle in.

As mentioned earlier, bronchitis can be acute or chronic. To diagnose and treat bronchitis properly, the pulmonary specialist must be more detailed with their diagnosis and understanding of various diseases and illnesses.

As a responsible individual, you must be aware of the symptoms so that when you or a family member exhibits such symptom, you can identify them easily and seek the help of medical professionals. It is best to act on the condition at an early stage to avoid any complications.
 
Acute Bronchitis

Acute bronchitis has symptoms similar to flu and lasts for a short term only. People who have viral infections may be susceptible to acute bronchitis. Acute bronchitis is contagious and usually begins by having dry cough that occurs at night. In a matter of days, the cough will progress and the person can suffer from fatigue, fever, and headache. The cough might take several weeks; but for some it might even take months because the healing process is very slow in the bronchial tubes.

If you’ve been suffering the cough for over a month, your doctor can refer you to an ENT expert to find out if there are other causes of irritation. If your bronchial tubes are always irritated, it can lead to asthmatic conditions.

With acute bronchitis, the passageways constrict because of the infection caused by a virus or bacteria. If it is caused by a bacteria, then giving the right antibiotic regimen can make the person well. You must visit your doctor to get accurate diagnosis because administering any medicine without doctor’s prescription can make the disorder worse.

If you experience persistent wheezing and cough, then you might have acute bronchitis. If you have constricted bronchial tubes, you can hear a wheezing sound every time you breathe. The disorder clears up after a few days but it can also last for over a week. Make sure that you take a rest and drink lots of juices or water.

As a simple home remedy, you can put wet blankets and towels inside the house to increase humidity or you can opt for room humidifiers. Smokers who happen to have acute bronchitis should quit smoking to heal faster and don’t make his condition even worse. 

Chronic Bronchitis

This condition is ongoing. It can take months, or even years, for the condition to last. Due to environmental factors like exposure to smoke, fumes, odors, and dust can lead to chronic bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis has no cure; therefore patients having the condition must avoid the triggers and make considerable changes in their surrounding environment. You must be able to identify the ‘triggers’ and you can do this with the help of your doctor.

When you consult a doctor, several laboratory tests will be performed including chest x-rays, test for pulmonary function and blood gases in the arteries, and the sputum culture. Usually, these tests are also performed for patients with acute bronchitis.

Chronic bronchitis can be prevented only if you try to change some of your bad habits including smoking.

Nothing beats a healthy and active lifestyle. If you practice preventive measures, then you can avoid getting bronchitis or any other illness.

An antibiotic is a medicine. Its main goal is to destroy or put off the development of bacteria. There are specified uses of antibiotic depending on the type of infection which inflicts you.

Bronchitis is a condition where the air passageway between your nose and lungs inflames. You can be afflicted with either acute or chronic bronchitis. The latter is the worst condition of bronchitis. 

Some antibiotics can be good to treat not bronchitis itself, but the infections aggravating the symptoms. Medical findings state that antibiotics help in various ways such as lowering cough after one to two weeks or decreasing infections. 

Here are some known antibiotics for treating both acute and chronic bronchitis:

Ampicillin

Ampicillin can be used to treat infections developed due to acute bronchitis. If you are prescribed with this medication, make sure to take a glassful of water thirty minutes or two hours after taking your meal.

The possible general side effects include diarrhea, skin irritation, vomiting and soreness in the tongue or mouth.

Commonly, this type of medication is prescribed mostly for adults. 

Trimethoprim

Trimethoprim is an antibiotic which is commonly used to treat infections in the respiratory tract. It can also be utilized to treat urine and ear infections.

Some common side effects of this medication may consist of diarrhea, stomach pain, swollen tongue, and in some instances failure to properly eat.

Some examples of this antibiotic are Septra or Bactrim.

Azithromycin

Azithromycin is a type of antibiotic which is considered a good medication to treat some bacterial infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia. It can be taken through tablet form or by oral suspension.

You may develop the following side effects upon taking this drug:
? Irritated stomach
? Loose bowel movement
? Vomiting
? Pain in the stomach and abdomen
? Skin irritations such as rashes which is usually minor

Some common brand names of this antibiotic are Aztrin, Zitromax, and Zmax. 

Amoxicillin

Amoxicillin is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections. You can take this drug with a capsule, a tablet (chewable for children), pediatric drops and liquid suspension.

An irritated stomach, vomiting and diarrhea may occur as side effects once you take amoxicillin. When you are not vigilant when taking this medication, severe side effects can happen such as seizures, atypical bleeding, and too much fatigue.

This type of antibiotic with brand names Amoxil, Trimox or Sumox is mostly prescribed to young children who are inflicted with bronchitis.

Chronic bronchitis is a serious illness which needs more vital types of treatment. However, these days some medical practitioner prescribes the use of some antibiotic such as Telithromycin. 

Telithromycin

Telithromycin is a type of drug primarily used to minister mild to moderate infections in the respiratory system. “Ketek” is the brand name of this antibiotic. 

You can take this medication either as a tablet or through oral suspension. Some of the common side effects you may experience after taking this drug are: headache, lightheadedness, loose bowel movement, irritated stomach, blunt taste and unclear vision. 
Safety Precautions When Taking Antibiotics

There are safety precautions you need to undertake once you decide to take antibiotics if you are diagnosed with bronchitis:

1. Inform your physician about the severity of your bronchitis for him to determine the type of antibiotic you need to take. It is also pertinent to inform him if you have allergies with certain medicines or foods. 

2. Do not stop taking the medication in the middle of your prescribed date of treatment. Not being able to complete the medication will not entirely destroy the infection.

3. If you miss a dose, you need to take it as soon as possible and return to your normal dosing schedule.

4. You need to take extra care if you know or think that you are pregnant. A consultation with your OB-GYNE is highly recommended.

5. When side effects arise, it is best to consult your physician. He may decide to stop the medication and give you other alternative treatment.

Most drugs have its advantages and disadvantages. A positive effect of antibiotics may be reflected if you or a caregiver properly follows drug instructions as well as your physician’s prescription and advice.

Bronchitis or the infections which come with the illness may be relieved with specific and prescribed antibiotics.