Acute bronchitis
Acute bronchitis' is a transient inflammation of the large and medium airways. It may occur alone or as part of inflammation that also affects the surrounding lung parenchyma. It is very common in children.
Etiology
The causative agents are mainly viruses': parainfluenza and influenza, rhinoviruses, adenoviruses (the picture may be similar to pertussis), RSV, but also bacteria' (less frequently): pneumococcus, haemophilus, mycoplasma, ...
Clinical picture
The main symptom is cough'. The disease begins with fever or subfebrile malaise with a feeling of general malaise. The cough starts as dry', irritating, unproductive, and may be painful. Bronchitis is usually preceded by inflammation of the upper respiratory tract (rhinosinusitis, nasopharyngitis). The longer the cough lasts, the more likely it is to become productive. In uncomplicated bronchitis - children are not congested, the patient is subfebrile to afebrile, mucus production decreases and the cough disappears in 7-10 days.
Diagnosis
- Physical examination
- lung auscultation: grunts (rales) of large, medium and small bubbles, squeaks - in inspiration and exspiration,
- lung tapping is full and clear.
Laboratory examination': leucocytes are not elevated (if so, it is probably a bacterial infection).
Functional lung examination: some degree of obstruction.
Heart-lung X-ray: normal or mildly accentuated bronchovascular pattern.
Therapy
For uncomplicated bronchitis, supportive therapy: fluids, warm moist air, vitamins and antipyretics, bed rest. For dry exhausting cough - expectorants and antitussives. If bacterial infection is suspected - ATB.
Complications
Complications are rare and include otitis media, sinusitis, pneumonia.
References
Related articles
- Chronic bronchitis
- Obstructive bronchitis
- Recurrent bronchitis
- Asthma
- Bronchiolitis
- Acute laryngitis
- COPD
References used
- {{#switch: book
|book =
Incomplete publication citation. . Pediatrics. Prague : Grada, 2009. 4; 978-80-7262-438-6.
|collection =
Incomplete citation of contribution in proceedings. . Pediatrics. Prague : Grada, 2009. 4; {{
#if: 978-80-247-2525-3 |978-80-7262-438-6} }
|article =
Incomplete article citation. . 2009, year 2009,
|web =
Incomplete site citation. . Grada, ©2009.
|cd =
Incomplete carrier citation. . Grada, ©2009.
|db =
Incomplete database citation. Grada, ©2009.
|corporate_literature =
. Pediatrics. Prague : Grada, 2009. 4; 978-80-7262-438-6} }
- {{#switch: web
|book =
Incomplete publication citation. BENES,. Study Materials [online] . 2007. Also available from <http://jirben.wz.cz>.
|collection =
Incomplete citation of contribution in proceedings. BENES,. Study Materials [online] . 2007. Also available from <http://jirben.wz.cz>. {{ #if: |978-80-7262-438-6} } |article = Incomplete article citation. BENES,. 2007, year 2007, also available from <http://jirben.wz.cz>.
|web =
Incomplete site citation. BENES,. ©2007. <http://jirben.wz.cz>.
|cd =
Incomplete carrier citation. BENES,. ©2007.
|db =
Incomplete database citation. ©2007. <http://jirben.wz.cz>.
|corporate_literature =
Incomplete citation of company literature. BENES,. Study Materials [online] . 2007. Also available from <http://jirben.wz.cz>. legislative_document = Incomplete citation of legislative document. 2007. Also available from URL <http://jirben.wz.cz>.
