The main causes and symptoms of acute bronchitis

Acute bronchitis is one of the most common diseases of the respiratory system, which complicates the course of ARVI in the period of epidemics.

Clinically, the picture of this disease is manifested in the inflammation of all bronchial membranes, primarily the mucosa with the formation of an inflammatory secretion( sputum).

Symptoms of acute bronchitis may be different, but unchanged - a cough caused by damage to the bronchi and clumps of mucus in them.

The disease is aggravated against allergies of any type, infectious acute diseases or colds.

The main symptoms of acute bronchitis

With this disease, cough can be both dry and wet. It is not uncommon for cases when one type of coughing is transformed into another in time. The first days of acute bronchitis without a cough can proceed almost like a banal viral infection of the upper respiratory tract.

A sick person can feel some fatigue, weakness, heaviness in the chest. But after a few days, coughing and wheezing, noticeable when breathing, still appear, and the cause of their occurrence are the attempts of the bronchi to purify themselves of phlegm.

It is quite common in our time to ask whether acute bronchitis is contagious. There is no exact answer to this question, since it is not always possible to establish unambiguously the true cause of the recurrence of the disease.

If the main cause of the disease is an allergic reaction to the regular inhalation of harmful substances, it is almost impossible to get infected from a sick person.

If cough attacks appear after the temperature and against the background of manifestations of rhinitis, in communication with the patient it is necessary to observe reasonable care - the probability of transmission of an acute viral infection of the respiratory ways is available.

In those cases when the patient develops acute bronchitis - pathogenesis is associated more with physical processes( localized edema of bronchial mucosa).

The inflammatory process takes place with the edema of bronchial mucosa, and much less affects the muscular layer of the bronchi - after swelling and development of limited edema of the affected bronchus, a profuse secretion of mucous masses begins.

In their composition they differ significantly from the normal secretion of the bronchi, and its congestion causes an abnormal contraction of the musculature, which can be observed in the form of a cough.

Differences in acute and chronic form

When diagnosing, do not confuse acute and chronic bronchitis. Chronic disease is characterized by annual exacerbations, and it may take months to completely eliminate its symptoms.

Acute bronchitis is a one-time disease, with the successful treatment of which you can very soon forget about it, and if you follow simple rules of prevention, you will never remember it again.

However, acute catarrhal bronchitis may have more serious manifestations than a wet cough. Occasions of purulent sputum formation are common. In the absence of appropriate treatment, partial occlusion of the upper bronchi, sputum stasis is possible.

What is the danger of the disease?

Acute bronchitis can always develop into a more serious respiratory disease. The most common complication is chronic bronchitis.

But it is not uncommon for cases when the disease passes into pneumonia or respiratory failure. Common complications of acute bronchitis caused by allergies are bronchial asthma.

But even acute bronchitis without complications can permanently deprive the patient of working capacity. Coughing attacks are exhausting, significantly complicate breathing and disrupt oxygen exchange.

In the absence of viral diseases, it is for this reason that weakness and fatigue can appear. Despite the fact that even doctors often argue about whether the disease is contagious or not, the patient is recommended to limit contacts with healthy people.

To the greatest extent this relates to communication with persons at risk and who have weak immunity.

The main cause of the development of the disease and prevention

In order to minimize the likelihood of the appearance of an illness, one must take care of one's own immunity. It is much more useful than to test by experience, infectious acute bronchitis, minimize the likelihood of infection - how to spend less time in public places during epidemics.

Help to avoid this disease will help and diet - you need to provide the body with the necessary amount of fluid and vitamins. In the cold season, you also need to minimize the risk of colds.

To do this, avoid supercooling the body, perform warming activities immediately after coming home from the street, whenever possible, give time to hardening. If the first symptoms of a cold or a viral disease have already appeared, measures should be taken without delay.

Treatment products should be selected according to the symptoms, but it is worth remembering that the doctor's consultation will not hurt even with acute bronchitis - after examination the doctor will be able to diagnose and prescribe a treatment that can effectively eliminate the symptoms of the disease.