The Difference between Viral and Bacterial Bronchitis

Posted by admin | Posted in bronchitis | Posted on 23-02-2009

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People suffer from illnesses or diseases due to viruses and bacteria; but sometimes, environmental factors also play an important role in triggering such illnesses. When a person becomes ill, his life is naturally affected. And this includes his relationship with his family, colleagues, and friends. That is why, may experts stress the need for a healthy lifestyle in order to prevent these illnesses.

Inflammation of your bronchial tubes is a condition called bronchitis. This illness can be caused by viral infections, bacterial, and allergens. There is a great difference between a viral bronchitis and a bacterial bronchitis. Most people may not be able to distinguish between the two, and only a professional can evaluate and diagnose a person’s condition.

The most common cause of bronchitis is viral infection. If the bronchitis is viral in nature, you may experience several symptoms like wheezing, burning pain, difficulty in breathing, headache and other symptoms. Bronchitis caused by viruses is not that serious, and can disappear without medications. Usually, home remedies are enough to relieve bronchitis symptoms.

If the illness is caused by a virus, you may only have mild fever and you don’t feel that sick. You might cough up with little or even no mucus at all. While with bacterial bronchitis, you will have higher fever and cough (with discolored, dark, and thick mucus).

Bronchitis can become serious if you’re suffering from another disease like asthma, cystic fibrosis, or COPD. If this is the case, home treatments are not enough.

Your doctor knows the right treatment suited for your condition. By performing the necessary physical examination and considering your symptom’s history, an accurate diagnosis can be obtained. If you’re only suffering from a mild condition, using the stethoscope is enough to examine your lungs, but with severe or prolonged symptoms, the best way is to have your chest x-rayed.

Treatment of bronchitis also differs between one that is caused by a virus and that of bacteria. Viral bronchitis can be resolved without undergoing any treatment. But this doesn’t mean that you will take your condition for granted. You can do simple things like increasing your fluid intake; this helps in reducing congestion especially when you have fever. You must also take a rest and if you feel muscle pains, you can use acetaminophen. If you can’t withstand the symptoms, you can purchase cough expectorants and suppressants to thin the mucus. Having a steamy shower can also open your airways thereby allowing mucus expulsion.

If you’re bronchitis is caused by bacteria, your doctor will usually prescribe an antibiotic like erythromycin, tetracycline, and amoxicillin. The antibiotic prescribed is dependent on the type of bacterial infection. You can experience side effects such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. There are certain bacteria that are resistant to drugs, and just recently, FDA approved a drug suited for these kinds of bacteria. The drug is called gemiflaoxacin mesylate. This is a tablet that needs to be taken orally once a day for five days. If you use this drug, you may experience rashes, diarrhea, and nausea.

Remember that a viral bronchitis can’t be treated with antibiotics because your condition might become worse. Don’t just use any medication without consulting first with your doctor to ensure that you’re on the safe side.

It is essential that you rest to make exertion of the mucus easier. Later on, you can do cardio respiratory exercises moderately as this can help regain the normal functions of your lungs, and expel remaining mucus.

A good way to avoid viral and bacterial bronchitis is to have good hygiene. Getting immunizations can also lessen the risk of getting bronchitis. Make sure that you also avoid cigarettes, smoke, fumes, and other environmental factors that might trigger bronchitis. This way, your lungs can filter the pollutants easily.

You can get sick every now and then especially if you have many unhealthy habits and if you live in a polluted environment; and this can happen whether you like or not. This is the sad reality that many people have to bear. Strive to be healthy and while you’re alive and kicking, try to save some money so that in the event you get sick, you can handle the medical costs without worrying.

Salt Therapy, a Natural Cure for Bronchitis

Posted by admin | Posted in diagnosis | Posted on 16-02-2009

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Many illnesses annoy millions of people around the globe. Getting sick is very costly especially nowadays. Medicines are expensive, especially those that are used for treatment regimens. And it’s very sad to note that not all individuals are capable of paying their medical bills. In fact, many people die from different illnesses because they don’t have enough money to pay for consultation fees or even buy medicine.

Usually, the government offers health programs for the needy. You can search your locality for institutions or organizations that offer free medical services to less fortunate people.

Sometimes, taking a lot of medications can be harmful to the body. And that is probably why many people resort to going back to natural cures. Bronchitis, together with other respiratory diseases can be cured using the natural way.

Have you heard of Halotherapy? This is also called salt therapy or speleotherapy. In Europe, this therapy is highly documented. In the early part of the 19th century, speleotherapy was practiced in salt mines. And today, specialists are trying to replicate speleotherapy by using dry aerosol salt particles and minerals. These things are utilized to treat various types of respiratory diseases.

People who worked in salt mines don’t get lung diseases, and this was noticed by Felix Botchkowski. He was a health official who wrote a book about salt dust during the 18th century. He had a successor named M. Poljakowski who founded his own Salt Spa near Krakow. In World War II, salt mines were used as shelters; and it was noted that people suffering from asthma felt better there. As of today, salt sanatoriums can be found in Hungary, Austria, Romania, Poland, Russia, and European countries.

Salt therapy is a non-invasive and non-drug treatment of respiratory diseases including bronchitis. Drug therapy has its own advantages as well as disadvantages, and for people who want to stick with the natural means can make use of salt therapy. Medical researchers from Soviet Union are developing physical therapies to cut down on medicine costs and avoid side effects. Presently, Russia leads the development of physical therapies. A lot of clinical trials focused on salt therapy to treat chronic bronchitis and asthma. It is even proven clinically that salt therapy is very effective in treating all respiratory tract disorders.

The major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide are respiratory diseases. Drug therapies usually have palliative effects; and drugs with steroids or corticoids have considerable side effects. And so there is a great need for a natural cure like salt therapy.

Here is a list of countries that acknowledge the use and effectiveness of salt therapy:

- Romania
- Poland
- Germany
- Austria
- Armenia
- Bulgaria
- Hungary
- Belarus
- Russia
- Ukraine
- Slovenia

These countries believe that salt therapy is a very important treatment fro chronic bronchitis and other respiratory diseases. It works well if you’re taking a medication or not and there are no side effects. Asthmatic patients and pregnant women can use the therapy. In European countries, salt therapy is usually covered by public medical systems, making it easier for the less fortunate to avail of the therapy at a minimal or no cost at all.

The salinity differs from one sanatorium to another. There are also salt lakes with different salinity ranging from 9g per 1 to 320g to 1.

Now, it is possible to have the natural cure even in your own homes. An inventor from Romania developed a certain device that can reproduce salt therapy in a home environment. This device is very convenient and affordable. People having bronchitis and other respiratory diseases can hope for a better and natural way of treating their condition at home. The device is called air salinizer that uses natural salt.

Using salt therapy does not entail any risk and can be adapted to your living space. But remember, natural cures are not substitutes for any medical treatment. Consult your doctor first. Natural cures like salt therapy can greatly improve the life of a patient having bronchitis. With it, you can reduce antibiotics, steroids or corticoids, and decrease hospitalizations.

This is an alternative that you might want to try yourself. If your medications are not enough to address bronchitis and other respiratory diseases, then you can try the natural cure.

Is Bronchitis Contagious: Clearing Your Mind from Doubts

Posted by admin | Posted in bronchitis | Posted on 15-02-2009

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Learning about the issues concerning chronic and acute bronchitis progression can answer your question if it is really contagious.

Chronic bronchitis is the infection and inflammation of mucosal membranes and bronchial tubes, which generates excessive mucus production. These high levels of mucus production in the person’s respiratory tract are only the inflammatory response of the body to the bronchial infection and irritation. Excess mucus disturbs the normal respiratory process by reducing significant amounts of air going to the lungs. The chronic bronchitis symptoms include difficult breathing, breath shortness, wheezing, discomfort, chest pain, and cough produced by mucus.

Chronic bronchitis can generate time-persistent and recurrent symptoms which can intensify as its progresses. Chronic bronchitis displays characteristics of productive coughs, greater susceptibility to respiratory tract’s viral and bacterial infections, and little responsiveness when treated by medications. Chronic bronchitis can last for tree months or more and reoccurs after two years. Today, there is still no specific treatment for chronic bronchitis.

Compared to sufferers of acute bronchitis, patients who are diagnosed with chronic bronchitis never respond to antibiotics treatments that well. The excess mucus in the bronchial tubes can facilitate bacterial proliferation and other organisms which causes infections. The disease can become very severe on the area where infections occur. Cilia barriers or the respiratory system’s natural defenses are ineffective to antibiotics for curing chronic bronchitis completely. Thus treating chronic bronchitis is focused on relieving the existing symptoms to prevent further development of other complications.

Patients in their incipient stages of chronic bronchitis perceived symptoms usually at night or in the morning. Patients who have advanced chronic bronchitis suffer from inflamed respiratory tract because of mucus obstruction. This condition generates persistent and intense cough or also known as the “smokers cough”. Sufferers of chronic bronchitis can also acquire pulmonary problems and may develop severe lung diseases such as emphysema and pneumonia.

As time goes on, patients with chronic bronchitis may experience poor blood oxygenation and hypoventilation or accelerated, shallow breathing. Complicated chronic bronchitis may also result to cyanosis or a condition wherein the skin turns bluish suggesting that pneumonia or emphysema is present.

Smoking alone cannot be considered as the main cause of developing chronic bronchitis. However, the illness occurs in most cases on regular smokers. Keep in mind that smoking contributes greatly on bacterial proliferation slowing down the process of healing the respiratory organs and tissues. Sometimes, asthma is often linked with chronic bronchitis due to similarities of symptoms. But patients who suffer both from chronic bronchitis and asthma may experience relapse of symptoms and shows unresponsiveness to medical treatments.

In some cases, chronic bronchitis becomes the consequences of mistreated or untreated acute bronchitis and other diseases associated with respiratory system. Chronic bronchitis is also caused by too much exposure to airborne pollutants such as chemicals and dusts.

Acute bronchitis is general are caused by infections of the lungs. Ten percent of these infections are bacterial in origin, ninety percent are viral. However, chronic bronchitis is caused by more than one factor. Acute bronchitis which repetitively attacks a person can irritate and weaken the bronchial airways resulting to chronic bronchitis.

Another culprit of chronic bronchitis is industrial pollution. Higher rates of patients are metal molders, grain handlers, cola miners, and works with continuous exposures to dusts. High sulfur dioxide concentrations present in the atmosphere also worsen chronic bronchitis symptoms. However, if it is an asthmatic bronchitis, it is not contagious.

Bronchitis can be contagious if the bacteria and viruses are transmitted to another person by indirect or direct contact. The fluid from the nose or mouth of the infected person can spread out by coughing, sneezing, sharing the same utensils and drinking glasses, and touching handkerchiefs or tissues. 

Bronchitis caused by viral colds is not considered contagious because the virus can finish its cycle for a few days. But patients with bronchitis, who still display cold symptoms, can be contagious. If the person is sick for more than ten days, then you don’t have to worry since it is only the aftermath resistance of bronchitis. But if the condition never yet exceed the ten day period, then it is contagious. Beware of catching particles when the patient coughs because you can be inflicted with the virus. The viral infection caused by flu and colds are contagious. Healthy people should never worry but needs extra care.

Update: Pneumonia

Posted by admin | Posted in pneumonia | Posted on 27-01-2009

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Hey guys! I missed you so much. I’m sorry it took me a while to get up to making a video again but I’m feeling a lot better now and I figured I should let you guys know I’m not dead or anything just real close lol

Thanks so much for all your kind words of support and encouragement. It meant so much to me to see kind words while I was sick. God Bless you all! :D
Oh and for anyone wondering what color the hair dye was in case you missed it it was:
Revlon ColorSilk in Medium Ash Brown

Can’t wait to hear from you guys! Love you! :D

Duration : 0:7:41

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Bronchiolitis: The Bronchitis Version in Infant

Posted by admin | Posted in bronchitis | Posted on 26-01-2009

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No parent will get a good night sleep when his baby is persistently coughing and breathing for him is difficult. You think that it is no ordinary cold or cough. It is something else. You may want to check if your baby is suffering from Bronchiolitis.

While bronchitis commonly happens to adults as their large airways inflame, bronchiolitis is a term referred to infants with inflamed airways between the chest and the lungs. The term bronchiolitis is coined since the bronchioles of infants are smaller than those of an adult. Thus it is easily plugged and viruses can easily enter. 

Who are at risk?

When your baby reaches the age of six months, he is more likely to be prone on developing bronchiolitis. It occurs until the second year of your baby. 

Infants are more susceptible to the illness during the winter and early spring season. Moreover, infants who are exposed to cigarette and belch smokes are also at high risk of obtaining the said illness. A crowded environment also causes onset symptoms of bronchiolitis. 

When you have a male infant, then he is most likely to acquire bronchiolitis. Studies also showed that male infants who are formula-fed are most likely to develop the said illness especially if they have not been breast-fed during the first six months of an infant.

What causes bronchiolitis? 

A viral infection, commonly known as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the main culprit behind bronchiolitis. Studies show that RSV is the major cause of sickness to young children especially infants. Other viruses which cause the said illness are the following:
? Parainfluenza virus – medical studies show that this kind of virus brings pediatric respiratory infections to most infants. 
? Mycoplasma – this type of virus is an imperative cause of pneumonia and other disorders in the respiratory system. 
? Adenoviruses – a virus which commonly causes conjunctivitis and other illnesses in the respiratory system
? Influenza virus – this type of virus strikes human’s respiratory tract which leads for an individual to suffer from cough, cold or to some extent bronchitis. 

What are the symptoms?

Your infant will begin to have a stuffy and runny nose with a meek cough. That is the primary symptom of an infant who develops bronchiolitis. He will then begin to suffer from breathing difficulties both in inhaling and exhaling.

After a day or two, your baby will then have an increase in breathing difficulty with rapid wheezing and cough. If you will observe, by this time his heartbeat has increased as well.

Other probable indications which may be accompanied by the above-mentioned symptoms are fever or cooler body temperature and reduced appetite. 

How can bronchiolitis be diagnosed?

If the above-mentioned symptoms are apparent to your baby, then it is highly recommended that you bring him to his pediatrician. The pediatrician after assessing the infant’s medical history and after taking physical examination may advise for the following tests to further prove that the illness is indeed bronchiolitis: 
1. Chest x-ray
2. Pulsoximeter 

What are the recommended treatments? 

There are helpful first-aid cure to give temporary relief to your baby. The most important step you need to undertake is to supply him a lot of non-caffeinated fluids. By doing so, dehydration will be prevented.

The use of humidifier or saline nose drops may also be done to allow the mucus to lighten. 

Sometimes it is recommended for parents or caregivers to bring the infant to the hospital so that he may be well-supervised in terms of giving him fluids, oxygen which is humidified and most importantly a thorough observation. 

Can bronchiolitis be prevented? 

Once an infant has been cured from bronchiolitis, you cannot risk another instance to experience the same illness. Hence, you need to undertake some preventive measures:
? During winter or early spring season where bronchiolitis is receptive, keep an infant away from individuals who have colds, cough, and flu. 
? As the parent or caregiver, make it a habit to wash your hands before handling an infant. 
? If you are to cough or sneeze, make sure that you cover your mouth with a tissue or handkerchief. Parents or caregivers who are likely to become sick should temporarily ask someone to take over their responsibility.

Why do I start coughing every time after eating?

Posted by admin | Posted in coughing | Posted on 24-01-2009

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Every time I eat I start coughing AFTER I have finished my meal. You know the feeling when you are starting to get sick and there is stuff in your throat and it makes you cough?

This is how it feels after eating. I can actually feel something in my throat and I cough and have to clear my throat for about an hour after every meal. It is VERY annoying!

What is this? How do I make it go away?

It sounds like you have acid reflux. The digestive fluids in your stomach go back thru the cardiac [ valve from esophagus to stomach ] sphincter to your esophagus, causing that gagging, coughing feeling.
Try:
1] smaller, more frequent meals
2] don't lie down after eating - wait 4 hrs before going to bed
3] wear looseclothes [ waistbands, belts ]
4] loose weight if you are too heavy
5] elevate the head ofyour bed
6] a spoonul of vinegar works
IF this doesn't help, see your doctor, before it progresses to cause damage to your esophagus.

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More Cures for the Bronchitis Condition

Posted by admin | Posted in bronchitis | Posted on 23-01-2009

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Bronchitis conditions are usually viral infections and are known for being contagious since it can be acquired through contact with a person suffering from such infection and it can travel by air. This infection can be a stepping stone for other branching infections or complications such as pneumonia and emphysema, not to mention that it can also lead to lung cancer should an individual not be treated and further exposed to factors that may worsen the condition of the patient.

This kind of respiratory disease is where the mucus membrane in the lungs’ bronchial passageway is inflamed. This causes the membrane to become irritated which will grow and swell thicker. In turn, the lungs’ tiny airways narrows down and/or shuts off, which results in breathlessness and coughing spells that is usually associated with thick phlegm.

There are a couple of treatments that are used to cure this condition, however because of the fast advancement of our technology, nowadays, the cure can now be found in just capsules or inhalers provided that you use the cure within the prescribed duration and should not be used without the consent of your doctor.

Some doctors advice their patients to use Albuterol and Ipratropium inhalers, these drugs are both by prescription. If the patient has fever and discolored phlegm, then the doctor may advise antibiotics. However, some persons who has experience such condition recommend a Z pack. It is usually taken 5 pills a day for not less than 5 days. It should stop the congestion but a cough will still be there so your doctor may write you a cough syrup that will help you get rid of the left cough and get you some rest.

Another solution to bronchitis is that if you are smoking the best treatment to the condition is to stop smoking although it is easier said than done, your doctor may also give you some Mucinex it is an over the counter kind of medicine at any drugstore and you will also have to take in more fluids like water, even sodas and juice will do but not coffee. Should a cough occur with your bronchitis, Codeine will help you stop it but if you are sick of tablets and capsules, you should try mixing lemon juice and honey, it works, not as well as Codeine though.

Meanwhile, if you have chronic bronchitis, what helps a lot is to have a cool mist steamer running while sleeping. You may also try some Chinese food remedies like the following:

1. 500 mg unpeeled pear or radish (crushed and soaked in honey).
2. Make a soup out of boiled licorice in water over low heat.
3. Put a peeled grapefruit inside the chicken cavity. Cook by steaming the chicken in a pan by adding a little water. Drink the chicken broth and eat the chicken.
4. For older patients with chronic bronchitis, It is recommended that they should eat seafoods and yam.

According to some sources there are so many ways to cure it, like by drinking onion juice mixed with honey, or onion decoction which is said to give relief from coughing that is usually associated with bronchitis. You can also try boiling pepper powder in milk and then drinking it or you can also lick pepper powder mixed with ghee and sugar. Bronchitis can also be cured by drinking a mixture of 2 teaspoons of green ginger juice and 1 teaspoon of honey.

Bronchitis is also cured by drinking roasted asafetida mixed in warm water. One should also try the combination of raisins and sugar kept ion mouth while sucked.

The condition can also be treated by sucking on pomegranate fruit skin. Eating some dates while drinking warm water can dilute and remove the cough, thereby relieving the symptoms of bronchitis. One should also try drinking mint juice or licking approximately one half tola honey up to four times a day; or drinking tulsi juice along with sugar. Tea also has its own curing substance that acts as bronchodilator. Here are more natural ways to cure bronchitis. Put warm castor oil planet leaves on a pan. Cool and spread on the chest for the night (Caution: castor oil planet is poisonous). You can also try mixing mustard powder and equal amount of flour and water, and then smear it on the chest. However some people may have sensitive skin that applying mustard might sting, test on a small area first to know whether you have sensitive skin or not.

There are yet more ways to cure bronchitis however, if we do not take good care of our bodies and continue to do things that may weaken our immune system, infections such as bronchitis will always be there to threaten us.

What is the difference between pneumonia and bronchitis?

Posted by admin | Posted in pneumonia | Posted on 22-01-2009

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My doctor diagnosed me with bronchitis, but I think it is pneumonia. Isn’t a bronchitis cough dry and pneumonia causes a lot of phlegm?When I cough I get a rattling in my chest and my cough sounds like Rice Crispies in milk. I’ve been sick with a cough over a month. My doctor gave me an antibiotic but I don’t feel much better.

Bronchitis is the inflammation of the bronchial tubes and the bronchi that go into the lungs and pneumonia is in the lungs and where they fill with fluid. Your chest will feel heavy and hurt on movement and not just on breathing. Sometimes your chest will hurt on one side and feel”heavy” and you can definitely tell the difference.

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More Symptoms of the Bronchitis Condition: Knowing About the Different Signs and Symptoms of Bronchitis

Posted by admin | Posted in bronchitis | Posted on 21-01-2009

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Every year, you may suffer from a disease that can render you sick and disabled. Diseases that you cross paths with can immobilize you and can stop you from going to work to earn money, or will not allow you to go to school and catch up with the latest lessons. You have to consider that in order to get back to work or to school as soon as possible, you have to cure the disease in order to become a productive member of society again.

This is why you should be aware of the common diseases today and know about their symptoms so you can take the necessary action to prevent it from becoming worse. As soon as you notice the signs and symptoms, you can consult with your doctor immediately and will provide you with the medications and advice that you need in order to get cured as soon as possible.

First of all, one of the most common diseases affecting humans today is called bronchitis. You have to consider that there are two kinds of bronchitis where one is acute bronchitis, and the other is chronic bronchitis. In acute bronchitis, treatment is usually quick and will not require any special medications for it. This is because acute bronchitis is commonly caused by virus infection which can go away in a matter of 12 to 14 days.

However, it is still recommended that you should consult your doctor once the signs and symptoms of bronchitis. This is because bronchitis can also be caused by bacterial and fungal infection that will need medications, such as antibiotics and antifungal drugs. You have to consider that there is no way of knowing if the bronchitis is caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungus unless proper laboratory examination is done.

So, before your bronchitis becomes worse and do more damage to your lungs, you have to know what the signs and symptoms is associated with bronchitis in order to detect it early on. First of all, bronchitis is mainly the swelling of the bronchial tubes. Because of the swelling, the bronchial mucosa cannot get rid of mucus anymore. This will cause you to cough, and have difficulty in breathing.

Here are the other signs and symptoms of bronchitis and what you can do to relieve it:

• Coughing with thick phlegm
• Breathlessness
• Pain on the throat
• Tightness feeling around the chest
• Pain and swelling around the eyes
• Slight fever
• Difficulty in breathing

These are the signs and symptoms you should watch out for with bronchitis. Here are more signs and symptoms usually associated with bronchitis in order for you to identify if you have one and know when to consult a doctor:

• Headache
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Excessive sweating
• Chest pain

It is very important that you should pay close attention to the signs and symptoms associated with bronchitis in order for you to know when to visit the doctor immediately. You should also know that there are also other signs and symptoms associated with the chronic form of bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis can include all the symptoms associated with acute bronchitis but in a more severe form. There are cases where chronic bronchitis sufferers will suffer from coughing excessive mucus with blood due to the laceration of the bronchial tube.

Chronic bronchitis will require a long term treatment in order to completely cure it. This is because chronic bronchitis means that there is already a permanent damage to your respiratory system that can heal quite slowly. It will require inhaled medications, such as bronchodilators to open up the airways and let you breath properly, it will also require you to keep yourself away from dusty places.

It is recommended that you should humidify your room by installing a room humidifier or just have wet towels or blankets placed all over the room.

Always make sure that you are well-aware of the signs and symptoms of acute and chronic bronchitis. This is because if either acute or chronic bronchitis is caused by bacteria or fungus and is left untreated, it can lead to severe complication, which will include pneumonia.

Always remember that early detection of bronchitis will mean early diagnosis and early proper treatment and management which will prevent you from suffering from severe complications.

Bronchitis Can Be of Bacterial Cause

Posted by admin | Posted in bronchitis | Posted on 15-01-2009

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Whenever the word ‘bacteria’ is mentioned, most people will think about it negatively. The truth is there are bad bacteria as well as good bacteria. Bad bacteria often cause illnesses or diseases; and the good ones help in keeping the body healthy.
Did you know that the largest class of all creatures on earth is bacteria? They are single cells that eat and reproduce. Of all infecting agents, the bacteria are the most common cause of hospitalized illnesses and infections, especially in developing countries. Most short term illnesses are caused by bacteria, but with the right antibiotic, it can easily be stopped.
Most illnesses are caused by bacteria and viruses. In the case of bronchitis, it is most commonly caused by viruses which bring about acute or chronic bronchitis. Bacteria though can also cause bronchitis, but cases like this are not that common. Bronchitis is the irritation and inflammation of the respiratory passages. If you’re experiencing persistent cough, perhaps you need to consult a doctor because you might have bronchitis. Although this is just a mild to moderate illness, it needs proper treatment to avoid any complications and secondary bacterial infections.
If bronchitis is caused by bacteria, the treatment will include antibiotic use. There are a lot of bacteria that cause illnesses and diseases. Bronchitis is a very common disease among children and adults. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is said to cause bronchitis. It is a minute bacterium that belongs to Mollicutes class. Unlike other bacteria that have cell walls, this organism doesn’t have any. It is composed of a membrane that incorporates compounds. Antibiotics, particularly the beta-lactam, and penicillin disrupts cell walls; and so it can’t be used to treat mycoplasma pneumoniae since it lacks a cell wall.
These bacteria thrive as parasites just like viruses; they are not free-living. It has genomes with 816 kbs and proteome that are fully characterized. M. pneumoniae uses a distinctive genetic code like mitochondria and is unable to make essential compounds because it doesn’t have cellular machinery.
M. pneumoniae spreads through droplet transmission in the respiratory system. Once it is attached to the host organism, the bacteria extract nutrients and grow. It also reproduces through binary fission. The respiratory tract is the usual attachment site of these bacteria.
If your bronchitis is caused by M. pneumoniae, it can be easily identified because of the slow progression of the symptoms, blood test on cold-hemaglutinins with positive result, lacks bacteria in sputum sample (gram stained), and lacks blood agar growth.
The effective medications for this type of bacteria are macrolide antibiotics and quinolones (both second generation). Bronchitis caused by these bacteria is usually mild. Others experience moderate symptoms.
When bacterial infection occurs in a person with bronchitis, it is usually treated with antibiotics and should take the medication prescribed. The infection will return if the antibiotic is stopped. A lot of people stop antibiotics when they feel better; but this should not be done because the bacterial infection will just come back. You have to strictly follow what the doctor prescribed to kill all existing bacteria and prevent the disease from coming back.
Antibiotics used are usually:
- trimethoprim or sulfamethoxazole
- azithromycin
- clarithromycin
- for children: amoxicillin

Bacteria are life forms, and in order to stay alive, it performs chemical processes. They manufacture structural elements, digest nutrients, assimilate, and replicate themselves. They multiply and at the same time guard themselves against hostile elements. Antibiotics are able to hinder such processes to occur, thereby killing the bacteria.
Bad bacteria are a lot like poisons and acids. The body has its own defenses and when the bacterium irritates the system, it can go overboard. In this manner, the bacteria and host tissues are attacked, which is not that good so careful attention and medication must be given to patients with bacterial infections.
Illnesses and diseases are here to stay. And perhaps the lifestyle of many people has something to do with their getting sick. All individuals must live a healthy and clean lifestyle. With all medical costs soaring high nowadays, no one would want to get sick. So the best way is to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and other healthy foods. And if you do have symptoms of bronchitis, make sure that you consult your doctor immediately.