All Topics  
Chronic bronchitis

 

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Chronic bronchitis
 
 
  Topics Chronic bronchitis Topic Home

Chronic bronchitis is a chronic
Chronic

Chronic may refer to:* Chronic , a persistent and lasting disease or medical condition, or one that has developed slowly* Chronic toxicity,* The Chronic, a 1992 album by Dr....
 inflammation
Inflammation

Inflammation is the complex biological response of Blood vessel tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. It is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli as well as initiate the healing process for the tissue....
 of the bronchi
Bronchus

A bronchus is a caliber of airway in the respiratory tract that conducts air into the lungs.No gas exchange takes place in this part of the lungs....
 (medium-size airways) in the lung
Lung

The lung is the essential respiration organ in air-breathing animals, including most tetrapods, a few fish and a few snails. In mammals and the more complex life forms, the two lungs are located in the chest on either side of the heart....
s. It is generally considered one of the two forms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is defined clinically as a persistent cough
Cough

A cough , in medicine, is a sudden and often repetitively occurring defense reflex which helps to clear the large breathing passages from excess secretions, irritants, foreign particles and microbes....
 that produces sputum
Sputum

Sputum is matter that is expectorated from the respiratory tract, such as mucus or phlegm, mixed with saliva, which can then be spat from the mouth....
 (phlegm) and mucus, for at least three months in two consecutive years.
chitis may be indicated by an expectorating cough
Cough

A cough , in medicine, is a sudden and often repetitively occurring defense reflex which helps to clear the large breathing passages from excess secretions, irritants, foreign particles and microbes....
 (also known as a productive cough, i.e.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Chronic bronchitis'
Start a new discussion about 'Chronic bronchitis'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


Chronic bronchitis is a chronic
Chronic

Chronic may refer to:* Chronic , a persistent and lasting disease or medical condition, or one that has developed slowly* Chronic toxicity,* The Chronic, a 1992 album by Dr....
 inflammation
Inflammation

Inflammation is the complex biological response of Blood vessel tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. It is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli as well as initiate the healing process for the tissue....
 of the bronchi
Bronchus

A bronchus is a caliber of airway in the respiratory tract that conducts air into the lungs.No gas exchange takes place in this part of the lungs....
 (medium-size airways) in the lung
Lung

The lung is the essential respiration organ in air-breathing animals, including most tetrapods, a few fish and a few snails. In mammals and the more complex life forms, the two lungs are located in the chest on either side of the heart....
s. It is generally considered one of the two forms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is defined clinically as a persistent cough
Cough

A cough , in medicine, is a sudden and often repetitively occurring defense reflex which helps to clear the large breathing passages from excess secretions, irritants, foreign particles and microbes....
 that produces sputum
Sputum

Sputum is matter that is expectorated from the respiratory tract, such as mucus or phlegm, mixed with saliva, which can then be spat from the mouth....
 (phlegm) and mucus, for at least three months in two consecutive years.

Signs and symptoms

Bronchitis may be indicated by an expectorating cough
Cough

A cough , in medicine, is a sudden and often repetitively occurring defense reflex which helps to clear the large breathing passages from excess secretions, irritants, foreign particles and microbes....
 (also known as a productive cough, i.e. one that produces sputum
Sputum

Sputum is matter that is expectorated from the respiratory tract, such as mucus or phlegm, mixed with saliva, which can then be spat from the mouth....
), shortness of breath (dyspnea
Dyspnea

Dyspnea or dyspnoea , from Latin language dyspnoea, from Greek language dyspnoia from dyspnoos, shortness of breath) or shortness of breath is perceived to be difficulty of breathing or painful breathing that a patient is aware of....
) and wheezing. Occasionally chest pain
Chest pain

In medicine, chest pain is a symptom of a number of serious conditions and is generally considered a medical emergency. Even though it may be determined that the chest pain is non-cardiac in origin this is often a diagnosis of exclusion made after ruling out more serious causes of pain....
s, fever
Fever

Fever is a frequent medical sign that describes an increase in internal body temperature to levels above normal. Fever is most accurately characterized as a temporary elevation in the body's thermoregulatory set-point, usually by about 1?2 ?C ....
, and fatigue
Fatigue (physical)

Fatigue is a weariness caused by exertion. It can describe a range of afflictions, varying from a general state of wikt:lethargy to a specific work-induced burning sensation within one's muscles....
 or malaise
Malaise

Malaise is a feeling of general discomfort or uneasiness, an "out of sorts" feeling, often the first indication of an infection or other disease....
 may also occur. Mucus is often green or yellowish green and also may be orange or pink, depending on the pathogen causing the inflammation.

Causes

Tobacco smoking
Tobacco smoking

Tobacco smoking is the inhalation of smoke from burned dried or cured leaves of the tobacco plant, most often in the form of a cigarette. People may smoke casually for pleasure, habitually to satisfy an addiction to the nicotine present in tobacco and to the act of smoking, or in response to social pressure....
 is the most common cause.. Pneumoconiosis
Pneumoconiosis

Pneumoconiosis is an occupational lung disease caused by the inhalation of dust....
 and long-term fume inhalation are other causes.

Diagnosis

A physical examination
Physical examination

File:Reeve 978.jpgPhysical examination or clinical examination is the process by which a health care provider investigates the body of a patient for sign of disease....
 will often reveal decreased intensity of breath sounds, wheeze (rales
Rales

Rales, crackles or crepitations, are the clicking, rattling, or crackling noises heard on auscultation of the lung with a stethoscope during inhalation....
) and prolonged expiration
Exhalation

Exhalation is the movement of air out of the bronchial tubes, through the airways, to the external environment during Breath out.Exhaled air is rich in carbon dioxide, a waste product of cellular cellular respiration during the production of Adenosine_triphosphate....
. Most doctors rely on the presence of a persistent dry or wet cough as evidence of bronchitis.

A variety of tests may be performed in patients presenting with cough and shortness of breath:
  • Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT) (or spirometry
    Spirometry

    Spirometry is the most common of the Pulmonary Function Tests , measuring lung function, specifically the measurement of the amount and/or speed of air that can be inhaled and exhaled....
    ) must be performed in all patients presenting with chronic cough. An FEV1/FVC
    FVC

    FVC may stand for:* FIRST Vex Challenge, a mid-level robotics competition targeted toward high-school aged students.* Forced vital capacity, the amount of air a person can expire after a maximum inspiration...
     ratio below 0.7 that is not fully reversible after bronchodilator therapy indicates the presence of COPD
    COPD

    Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a group of diseases of the lungs in which the airways become narrowed. This leads to a limitation of the flow of air to and from the lungs causing shortness of breath....
    , that requires more aggressive therapy and carries a more severe prognosis than simple chronic bronchitis.
  • A chest X-ray
    Chest X-ray

    A chest X-ray, commonly Abbreviation CXR, is a projection radiograph , taken by a radiographer, of the thorax which is used to diagnose problems with that area....
     that reveals hyperinflation; collapse and consolidation of lung areas would support a diagnosis of pneumonia
    Pneumonia

    Pneumonia is an Inflammation illness of the lung. Frequently, it is described as lung parenchyma/alveolus inflammation and abnormal alveolar filling with fluid ....
    . Some conditions that predispose to bronchitis may be indicated by chest radiography.
  • A sputum sample showing neutrophil granulocyte
    Neutrophil granulocyte

    Neutrophil granulocytes, generally referred to as neutrophils, are the most abundant type of white blood cells in humans and form an essential part of the immune system....
    s (inflammatory white blood cells) and culture
    Microbiological culture

    A microbiological culture, or microbial culture, is a method of multiplying microbial organisms by letting them reproduce in predetermined culture media under controlled laboratory conditions....
     showing that has pathogenic microorganisms such as Streptococcus spp.
    Streptococcus

    Streptococcus is a genus of sphere Gram-positive bacterium belonging to the phylum Firmicutes and the lactic acid bacteria group. Cell division occurs along a single Coordinate axis in these bacteria, and thus they grow in chains or pairs, hence the name — from Greek language st?ept?? streptos, meaning easily bent or twisted,...
  • A blood test
    Blood test

    A blood test is a medical laboratory analysis performed on a blood sample that is usually extracted from a vein in the arm using a hypodermic needle, or via fingerprick....
     would indicate inflammation (as indicated by a raised white blood cell
    White blood cell

    White blood cells , or leukocytes , are cell of the immune system defending the body against both infectious disease and foreign materials....
     count and elevated C-reactive protein
    C-reactive protein

    C-reactive protein is a protein found in the blood in response to inflammation .CRP is produced by the liver and by fat cells . It is a member of the pentraxin family of proteins....
    ).
  • Neutrophils infiltrate the lung tissue, aided by damage to the airways caused by irritation.
  • Damage caused by irritation of the airways leads to inflammation and leads to neutrophils being present
  • Mucosal hypersecretion is promoted by a substance released by neutrophils
  • Further obstruction to the airways is caused by more goblet cells in the small airways. This is typical of chronic bronchitis
  • Although infection is not the reason or cause of chronic bronchitis it is seen to aid in sustaining the bronchitis.


Treatment


Antibiotics

For acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, if antibiotics are used, amoxycillin or doxycycline
Doxycycline

Doxycycline is a member of the tetracycline antibiotics group and is commonly used to treat a variety of infections. Doxycycline is a semi-synthetic tetracycline invented and clinically developed in the early 1960s by Pfizer and marketed under the brand name Vibramycin....
 is recommended.

Bronchodilators

For acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, a clinical practice guideline by the American College of Physicians
American College of Physicians

The American College of Physicians is a national organization of doctors of internal medicine , physicians who specialize in the prevention, detection and treatment of illnesses in adults....
 found that bronchodilator
Bronchodilator

A bronchodilator is a substance that Wiktionary:dilate#Verb the Bronchus and bronchioles, decreasing airway resistance and thereby facilitating airflow....
s may help.

Ipratropium is an example of a bronchodilator that may be useful for people suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, such as chronic bronchitis.

Corticosteroids

For acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, a clinical practice guideline by the American College of Physicians
American College of Physicians

The American College of Physicians is a national organization of doctors of internal medicine , physicians who specialize in the prevention, detection and treatment of illnesses in adults....
 found that corticosteroid
Corticosteroid

Corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex. Corticosteroids are involved in a wide range of physiology systems such as stress , immune system and regulation of inflammation, carbohydrate metabolism, protein catabolism, blood electrolyte levels, and behavior....
s may help.

Smoking cessation


External links