Bronchitis

• Bronchitis:

  • an umbrella term for a chest infection
  • characterised as an infection that effects your upper respiratory system, primarily the bronchus/bronchioles
  • can be mild and resolve independently or progress to a severe pneumonia
  • acute bronchitis is a significant medical condition among adults on a large scale
  • risk factors include lung disease and/or smoking
• Causes:

  • virus
  • bacteria
  • fungal
  • post-surgery
• Pathophysiology of Bronchitis:

  • cells that line the bronchus become infected
  • the body responds by sending more blood to the area to deliver white blood cells to fight the infection
  • the area becomes inflamed and thickens; cells become deformed and are exposed to pathogens
• Signs and symptoms:

  • tachycardia
  • pyrexia
  • headache
  • muscular aches and pains
  • fatigue
  • productive cough with yellow/green sputum
  • difficulty breathing
• Diagnostic tools:

  • sputum sample to examine which pathogen is causing the infection
  • chest x-ray to look at where the infection is and the extent of it
  • blood tests to determine what type of pathogen is present
• Treatment:

  • rest
  • fluids
  • positioning, sleep upright
  • Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, or Aspirin - to reduce pyrexia and relieve muscular aches and pains

  Antibiotics:

  • Doxycycline 200mg for 1st day, then 100mg once a day for 4 days
  • Amoxicillin (preferred for pregnany) 500mg 3 times a day for 5 days
  • Clarithromycin 250mg - 500mg twice a day for 5 days
  • Erythromycin (preferred for pregnancy) 250mg - 500mg 4 times a day or 500mg - 1000mg twice a day for 5 days