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Acute Bronchitis
What is acute bronchitis? When you have acute bronchitis, the air passages between your windpipe and your lungs are swollen and irritated. You have a bad cough and pain in your chest when you breathe deeply or cough. Acute bronchitis is most often caused by a virus, like the cold or flu. Occasionally it can also be caused by bacteria. How do you get Bronchitis? From being exposed to someone with the virus. You can avoid catching it if you are careful to stand at least an arms length away from a person with a cough, washing your hands frequently, and being careful not to touch items someone with the virus may have used. What are the symptoms? You may: Have a deep cough with yellowish or greenish phlegm. Feel pain behind your breastbone when you breathe deeply or cough. Wheeze or feel breathless. Have a fever or chills. Have a headache or sore muscles. You may have other viral symptoms such as: Sore throat Sinus congestion Nasal congestion or runny nose Should I see the doctor? Although most bronchitis is caused by viruses, and antibiotics will not help, there are other medications that the doctor can prescribe which can help reduce the symptoms. Also, it is important to make sure that you do not have peumonia or a secondary infection such as strep throat or a sinus infection. Some people also develop reactive airway disease which is similar to asthma. How is it treated? Bronchitis only rarely needs antibiotics, since antibiotics do not affect viruses. However, there are other medications that your doctor can give you to help with the symptoms: Tessalon Perles – a cough suppressant Nasal steroids – help dry up drainage and runny nose as well as help with congestion. Non-sedating antihistamines – which help dry up drainage and runny nose, but won’t make you sleepy. Narcotic cough syrup – helps with really bad coughs that interfere with sleep. However, most people still feel groggy the next morning so it is better to use it only if nothing else helps. Over the counter, you can find cough medicine with different combinations of: Guaifenesin (such as Robutussin) – an expectorant which helps to thin mucous and make it easier to cough out. Dextromethorphan – a cough suppresant Antihistamines – which help dry up drainage and a runny nose. Over the counter there is diphenhydramine (Benadryl), chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), brompheniramine (Dimetap), and clemastine (Tavist). These all can make you sleepy. Your doctor can write a prescription for a non-drowsy antihistamine. Decongestants – help relieve nasal and sinus congestion. Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) and phenylephrine. Ibuprophen/Acetaminophen – for fever and bodyaches. Here are other ideas that can help: Drink plenty of liquids. Rest in bed. Eat healthy foods. Hot tea with lemon and honey – one medical study showed improvement in symptoms. The honey is thought be a natural cough suppresant, the lemon thins mucous, and the hot tea decongests. How long does it last? Bronchitis can last several days to up to two weeks. It can occasionally last longer, but if you are coughing more than two weeks you should see your doctor. Call your health care provider if: You have trouble breathing. You have a fever over 101°F (38.3°C). You cough up blood. The cough suddenly gets a lot worse. You have any symptoms that worry you. Courtesy of MoonFamilyPractice
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