subject: Bronchitis In Adults [print this page] Bronchitis is a term that means inflammation of the lining of the trachea and bronchi which are the tubes leading from the throat to the lungs. Bronchitis occurs when the lining of your bronchial tract becomes infected, usually developing from a cold or flu or allergies. Then your bronchial tubes become swollen and start producing mucus. The mucus causes (difficulty in breathing,) wheezing and a nasty cough. Bronchitis commonly occurs in the adults. In this disorder the large airways in our body get inflamed. Bronchitis refers to the infants with their airways inflamed between their chest & the lungs. This term is coined from the word bronchioles, a part of the bronchi of the infants that is naturally smaller than that of an adult. Therefore the infections in this case are easily plugged & viruses enter very easily.
There is a vast difference between acute bronchitis and COPD. Antibiotics are often used to treat the latter condition. Using antibiotics to treat acute bronchitis is not recommended because many cases of acute bronchitis are viral. Purulent sputum, a characteristic of viral bronchitis, provides ample proof that the condition is definitely viral in nature and is not bacterial. Acute bronchitis can also be the consequence of bacterial infections. Common bacterial agents responsible for causing acute bronchitis are: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Bordatella pertussis, Bordatella parapertussis and Branhamella catarrhalis.
In the disease of bronchitis, the air passages amidst the child's lungs & nose swell up owing to the viral infection. This affects the child's bronchi. Bronchi refer to the tubes where in the air passes through in to & out of the child's lungs. Many a times, the tracheas & windpipe are also affected by this inflammation. Since antibiotics are useless in killing viruses, the key is to manage your symptoms. Expectorants to help you bring up phlegm, ibuprofen or acetaminophen, and sometimes an inhaler will help reduce your symptoms. Keep in mind though that your cough will probably be the last thing to clear up. While most of us take easy breathing for granted, those that struggle for breathe, come to realize the value of healthy respiration. The majority of bronchitis cases stem from viral infections and lung irritants on which antibiotics have no effects.
Bronchitis treatments for chronic forms of the illness often include bronchodilators such as albuterol and ipratropium. These are inhaled medicines that eliminate the excess mucus responsible for obstruction of the respiratory tract and shortness of breathing. Physicians will sometimes prescribe a bronchodilator or other medication typically used to treat asthma. These medication are used help to relax and open the bronchial tubes to make breathing easer. Nebulizers and inhalers can loosen the mucus lining the bronchiole tubes, thus allowing the patient to cough up the mucus allowing air to pass more freely through the airways. Treatment depending on the symptoms and cause, may include: Antibiotics to treat acute bronchitis that appears to be caused by a bacterial infection or for people who have other lung diseases that put them at a greater risk of lung infections, Bronchodilators, which open up the bronchi, may be used on a short-term basis to open airways and reduce wheezing, Cool-mist humidifiers or steam vaporizers can be helpful for wheezing or shortness of breath.
