Acute bronchitis is one of the forms of diffuse inflammation of the bronchi, in which there is a violation of their patency and increased production of bronchial secretions..

Acute bronchitis code according to ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision) - J20.

How to treat acute bronchitis, which medications should be taken, depends on the cause of the development of the pathological process, the symptoms present and the severity of the course of the disease.. The decision to recognize the temporary disability of a patient with an acute form of bronchitis is made in accordance with the relevant standards..

The acute form of bronchitis is accompanied by a strong cough due to inflammatory exudate in the bronchi Types of acute bronchitis.

In the acute form of bronchitis, inflammation in most cases is diffuse in nature, and a segmental inflammatory process is much less common (usually as part of another local inflammatory process).

Depending on the level of damage to the lower respiratory tract, the disease is divided into tracheobronchitis, bronchitis, in which medium-sized bronchi are predominantly affected, bronchiolitis.

In acute bronchitis, you should not take any medication without consulting a doctor..

Depending on the nature of the exudate, bronchitis can be catarrhal or (less often) purulent, which is usually observed in the case of streptococcal and / or viral infection..

Causes and Risk Factors Bronchitis can be infectious, non-infectious, or mixed or unknown..

Often the cause of the development of an acute form of bronchitis are viral diseases (influenza and parainfluenza, acute respiratory viral infections, rubella, measles), less often the disease occurs against the background of a bacterial infection, while the pathogens can be staphylococci, pneumococci, chlamydia.

Infectious agents can enter the respiratory tract by air, as well as by the hematogenous or lymphogenous route..

Primary bronchitis of bacterial etiology is recorded quite rarely, usually a bacterial infection is secondary..

The cause of the development of an acute form of bronchitis of non-infectious etiology may be inhalation of dust, smoke, hot dry or cold air, acid fumes, alkalis, ammonia, chlorine, hydrogen sulfide. The disease can also occur with a combination of infectious and physico-chemical factors..

Acute allergic bronchitis usually develops when the patient has a genetic predisposition.

Risk factors include hypothermia, occupational hazards, bad habits, chronic infectious diseases of the upper respiratory tract, impaired nasal breathing, malnutrition, stagnation in the pulmonary circulation. The acute form of the disease is more often observed in children and in elderly patients..

Symptoms of acute bronchitisSymptoms of acute bronchitis depends on the cause and nature of the pathology. The onset of the disease is usually acute, the patient has signs of damage to the upper and lower respiratory tract, intoxication. Acute infectious bronchitis often begins with signs of an acute respiratory viral infection..

In the acute form of bronchitis, inflammation in most cases is diffuse in nature, segmental inflammation is much less common..

Acute bronchitis is characterized by hyperemia and edema of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, degeneration of the ciliary epithelium with a decrease in its barrier function, infiltration of the submucosal layer, an increase in the number of goblet cells.. Due to the increased production of mucus in the acute form of bronchitis, obstruction of the bronchi of small caliber and bronchioles is noted.. Serous, mucous or mucopurulent exudate is detected on the inner surface of the bronchi. In the acute form of the disease, inflammation of the bronchial mucosa is usually noted, however, in the severe course of the disease, the submucosal and muscle layers may be involved in the inflammatory process..

Clinically, this is manifested by the following symptoms: discharge from the nasal cavity, nasal congestion, sore throat, hoarseness, excessive sweating, muscle pain, shortness of breath, bronchospasm, fever, headache, weakness and fatigue. With a mild form of bronchitis, the temperature may not rise.

One of the main symptoms of the disease is a dry cough, which usually develops at the beginning and persists throughout the entire period of the disease.. The cough may be paroxysmal, barking. During bouts of coughing, the patient develops a burning sensation behind the sternum. Due to excessive tension of the pectoral muscles and contraction of the diaphragm during coughing attacks, pain in the chest and abdomen is observed.

Sputum at the beginning of the disease is viscous and is separated in a small amount, with the progression of the pathological process, it departs more easily, becoming less viscous. In allergic bronchitis, the patient produces light glassy sputum..

With the development of an acute form of bronchitis against the background of childhood infections, its symptoms are combined with signs of the underlying disease..

The cause of the development of an acute form of bronchitis of non-infectious etiology may be inhalation of dust, smoke, hot dry or cold air, acid fumes, alkalis, ammonia, chlorine, hydrogen sulfide.

In the case of bronchitis against the background of inhalation of toxic substances, laryngospasm develops, there is a feeling of lack of air, tightness in the chest.

With the transition of the inflammatory process from bronchi to bronchioles (bronchiolitis), the process is more difficult, has a protracted course. The patient's condition deteriorates sharply, fever, shortness of breath, excruciating cough, pallor and / or cyanosis of the skin are observed, blood pressure may decrease and the pulse becomes more frequent..

The disease may be accompanied by asthmatic bronchitis, respiratory and heart failure (more often in elderly patients). With frequent relapses, the disease becomes chronic, such patients have a high risk of developing bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema.

Diagnosis of the acute form of bronchitis Before starting treatment for bronchitis, the patient is sent for examination. To make a diagnosis, data obtained from the study of the medical history, the collection of complaints and anamnesis, physical examination, laboratory and instrumental studies are used.. A general and biochemical blood test, an immunological blood test, a general urinalysis, sputum culture for microflora (with determination of sensitivity to antibacterial drugs, if necessary), a study of the functions of external respiration, bronchoscopy, X-ray examination of the lungs, if necessary, electrocardiography, echocardiography, etc..

During auscultation of the chest, hard breathing, dry rales. With the accumulation of secretions in the bronchi of a patient, moist, finely bubbling rales can be heard, which disappear after coughing up sputum..

One of the main symptoms of the disease is a dry cough, which usually develops at the beginning and persists throughout the entire period of the disease.. The cough may be paroxysmal, barking.

In a blood test with this form of bronchitis, an increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, neutrophilic leukocytosis, an increase in the number of eosinophils (with allergic bronchitis).

Differential diagnosis is carried out with bronchopneumonia, miliary tuberculosis.

Treatment of acute bronchitis in adults and children In acute bronchitis, do not take any medication without consulting a doctor.

In most cases, patients with acute bronchitis do not require hospitalization, treatment takes place on an outpatient basis. Hospitalization in the pulmonology department is carried out in case of severe and complicated course of the disease (with the development of pneumonia, the presence of an obstructive syndrome).

At elevated body temperature, the patient is shown bed rest, dieting, drinking plenty of water.. It is recommended to drink hot tea with honey, lemon, raspberry jam, linden tea, warm alkaline mineral water (in the absence of contraindications).

Patient with bronchitis should stop smoking. The room in which there is a patient with an acute form of bronchitis should be well ventilated, maintain optimal humidity..

With the development of the disease against the background of an acute respiratory viral infection, analgesic, antipyretic drugs are prescribed (usually a group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in a short course), drinking plenty of water.

Drug treatment for bronchitis is prescribed and supervised by a doctor Sulfonamides and antibiotics are indicated when a bacterial infection is attached.

Expectorants, mucolytic drugs, alkaline steam inhalations can be used to thin sputum..

In the presence of bronchospasm, antispasmodics, antiadrenergics, and in some cases steroid hormones may be prescribed..

Sputum at the beginning of the disease is viscous and is separated in a small amount, with the progression of the pathological process, it departs more easily, becoming less viscous. In allergic bronchitis, the patient produces light glassy sputum..

For the treatment of acute allergic bronchitis, antihistamine drugs, glucocorticosteroids are used..

From folk remedies for the treatment of the disease at home, infusions and decoctions of medicinal herbs are effective (breast collection, dry raspberry tea, marshmallow, thermopsis). After acute bronchitis, natural adaptogens (eleutherococcus, echinacea, ginseng) can be used to stimulate recovery processes..

Physiotherapeutic procedures can be indicated after the subsidence of acute inflammation in the convalescence stage, especially if there is a risk of chronicity of the pathological process. Assign ultra-high-frequency therapy, diathermy, inductothermy, ultraviolet irradiation, as well as physiotherapy exercises, vibration massage. Such patients may be recommended sanatorium treatment.

With timely diagnosis and properly selected treatment, uncomplicated bronchitis usually lasts 1-3 weeks, functional indicators are restored within a month. Treatment of protracted bronchitis can be 1-1.5 months. With the development of purulent bronchitis, bronchiolitis, the prognosis worsens.

PreventionIn order to prevent the development of an acute form of bronchitis, it is recommended to avoid occupational hazards, give up bad habits, timely treatment of diseases that can lead to the onset of a pathological process, increase immunity, and proper nutrition.. According to clinical guidelines, personal hygiene (especially frequent hand washing and minimizing hand contact with eyes and nose) is of no small importance, since many infectious agents are transmitted through household contact..

With frequent relapses, the disease becomes chronic, such patients have a high risk of developing bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema.

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