Introduction

 People with bronchitis have swelling and

inflammation in their bronchial tubes, the air
passages that link the mouth and nose with the
lungs.
 Bronchial tubes are the airways that carry air
into your lungs. When these tubes get infected,
they swell. Mucus (thick fluid) forms inside
them. This narrows the airways, making it
harder for you to breathe.
 Definition
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the lining of
bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from
lungs. 
 causes
ACUTE BRONCHITIS
 A virus, for example, a cold or flu
virus
 a bacterial infection
 exposure to substances that irritate
the lungs, such as tobacco smoke,
dust, fumes, vapors, and air
pollution
People have a higher risk of
developing acute bronchitis if they:
 experience a virus or bacteria that
causes inflammation
 smoke or inhale secondhand smoke
 have asthma or an allergy
CHRONIC BRONCHITIS
 repeated irritation and damage
to the lung and airway tissues
 Smoking
 long term exposure to air
pollution, dust, and fumes from
the environment
 genetic factors
 repeated episodes of acute
bronchitis
 a history of respiratory disease
or gastroesophageal reflux
disease (GERD)
Acute bronchitis
Acute bronchitis lasts for a specific length of time. It
commonly follows a similar pattern to a viral infection, such as
a cold or the flu, and it may stem from the same virus.
The person may have:
 a cough with or without mucus

 chest discomfort or soreness

 fever

 a mild headache and body aches

 shortness of breath

Symptoms usually go away after a few days or weeks.

Chronic bronchitis
 Chronic bronchitis has similar symptoms to

acute bronchitis, but it is an ongoing illness.

 One definition states that a person has chronic

bronchitis if they have a daily, productive

cough for at least 3 months of the year
 Clinical features
 Signs and symptoms of both acute and chronic
bronchitis include:
 a persistent cough, which may produce mucus
 wheezing
 a low fever and chills
 a feeling of tightness in the chest
 a sore throat
 body aches
 breathlessness
 headaches
 a blocked nose and sinuses
Transmission
If bronchitis is due to a viral or bacterial
infection, it is possible to transmit the infection to
another person through droplets when coughing.
 To reduce the risk of passing on an infection, a

person should:
 wash their hands often

 cough into a tissue

 take extra care around young children, older

people, and those with a weakened immune

system
 Diagnosis
A doctor will carry out :-
 physical examination, using a stethoscope to listen for unusual sounds

in the lungs.
 They may also ask an individual about:

 symptoms, and especially the cough

 medical history

 any recent exposure of cold or flu

 whether they smoke

 exposure to secondhand smoke, dust, fumes, or air pollution

 sputum swab to test for bacteria or viruses in the lab

 check the oxygen levels in the person’s blood

 recommend a chest X-ray, pulmonary lung function test, or blood tests

 Treatment
A doctor may advise a person with bronchitis to:
 rest

 drink fluids

 take over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as ibuprofen

Taking OTC medication will help relieve a cough and

ease any accompanying pain.
In time, acute bronchitis will go away, often without treatment.
 Using a humidifier: This can loosen mucus, improve

airflow, and relieve wheezing.

 Bronchodilators: These open the bronchial tubes and may

help clear out mucus. e.g. albuterol, epinephrine,

ipratropium, aminophylline etc.
 Mucolytics: These loosen or thin mucus in the
airways, making it easier to cough up sputum.
 Anti-inflammatory and steroid drugs: These
can help reduce inflammation that can cause
tissue damage.
 Oxygen therapy: In severe cases, a person may
need supplemental oxygen to ease their
breathing.
 Prevention

 It is not always possible to prevent acute or chronic

bronchitis, but several things can reduce the risk.
 These include:
 avoiding or quit smoking
 avoiding lung irritants, such as smoke, dust, fumes,
vapors, and air pollution
 wearing a mask to cover the nose and mouth when
pollution levels are high
 washing the hands often to limit exposure to germs and
bacteria
 asking about vaccinations to protect from pneumonia and
the flu
 Complications
 The most common complication of bronchitis is
pneumonia.
This can happen if the infection
spreads further into the lungs. In a person with
pneumonia, the air sacs within the lungs fill with
fluid.