Understanding Bronchitis and Its Treatment
Bronchitis, an upper respiratory infection, often lasts longer than a common cold but usually doesn’t need antibiotics or medical treatment. While adults get several colds each year, bronchitis, or “chest colds,” are less common, affecting about 5% of adults annually. The persistent cough that comes with bronchitis makes it seem more serious, leading many to visit their primary care provider.
What is bronchitis?
Bronchitis is the inflammation of the bronchi, the tubes that carry air from the windpipe to the lungs. It often starts as an infection in the nose, sinuses, ears, or throat and then moves to the bronchi.
The main symptom is a cough, which can be dry or produce phlegm that may be yellow or green, indicating your body is fighting the infection. Other symptoms include fatigue, sore throat, chest discomfort, wheezing, or shortness of breath. Like a cold, bronchitis usually resolves on its own, but symptoms can last up to three weeks. You might feel better in a week, but the cough can linger for another two weeks or more.
Treating Bronchitis
Treat bronchitis similarly to a cold: rest, drink plenty of fluids, and take acetaminophen for pain. Inhaling steam from a vaporizer or hot water, or taking a hot shower, can help loosen phlegm. Over-the-counter cough suppressants can help you manage symptoms during the day and sleep better at night.
When to See a Doctor
If you have chills or a low fever with bronchitis, it’s usually not a concern. However, if your temperature exceeds 100°F with shaking chills or if you have trouble breathing, contact your doctor. A cough producing thick, bloody, or foul-smelling mucus also requires medical attention, as it could indicate pneumonia. Your doctor might prescribe an inhaler with a bronchodilator to open your airways or a medication to suppress your cough for better sleep.
If your cough with phlegm persists for more than a month, consult your doctor. You might have chronic bronchitis, a component of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and need further treatment.
Why Antibiotics Aren’t Effective for Bronchitis
In the past, doctors often prescribed antibiotics for acute bronchitis, mistakenly thinking they helped because the cough improved on its own within a few days. However, about 95% of bronchitis cases are caused by viruses, and antibiotics, which target bacteria, don’t work on viruses.
Using antibiotics for bronchitis not only fails to clear the infection but can also cause side effects like diarrhea. Additionally, unnecessary antibiotic use contributes to the development of drug-resistant bacteria, or “superbugs.
Photo credit: Lemono
Hello Melody :)
ReplyDeleteI'll keep this short ! I have never had bronchitis, so this is good advise. I do know however that practitioners prescribe antibiotics far too often when they really aren't needed.
Chronic bronchitis can also go into a progressive disease called bronchiectasis (which I have had for many years.) It cannot be treated, only managed with inhalers, medications that help produce mucus and in the event of bad flares, prednisone and periodic bronchoscopies to clear the lungs. It is similar to cystic fibrosis. So, if one has chronic bronchitis, it is probably prudent to have a pulmonologist or GP recommend a CT scan of the lungs to see if bronchiectasis has developed. (Antibiotics will only help in the event that pneumonia or other lung infections, such as pseudomonas or MRSA lung infections develop.)
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