Bronchitis-Signs And Treatment.
Bronchitis is an infection of the bronchi or tube that carry air to the lungs. It causes a noisy cough, often with mucus or phlegm.
Bronchitis is usually caused by a virus, so antibiotics do not generally help. Use antibiotics :
- Only if the bronchitis lasts more than one week and is not getting better
- If the person shows signs of pneumonia
- If he or she already has a chronic lung problem.
Occasionally, roundworms may be responsible. Try giving mebendazole.
Chronic bronchitis usually occur due to smoking or living in a dusty place.
BRONCHITIS SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
- A cough, with mucus that lasts for months or years. Sometimes the cough gets worse and there may be fever. A person who has this kind of cough, but does not have another long term illness such as tuberculosis or asthma , probably has chronic bronchitis.
- It occurs most frequently in older persons who have been heavy smokers, and these are the ones most likely to develop emphysema if they continue to smoke.
- Emphysema is a very serious condition of the lungs and the damage done is permanent. A person with emphysema has a hard time breathing, especially with exercise. In some, the chest becomes big like a barrel.
- Emphysema can result from chronic asthma, chronic bronchitis or smoking.
BRONCHITIS TREATMENT
- Stop smoking and try to avoid dusty environments.
- Try an anti asthma medicine with ephedrine or theophylline.
- Persons with chronic bronchitis should use ampicillin or tetracycline every time they have a cold or flu with a fever.
- If the person has trouble coughing up sticky phlegm, have him breathe hot water vapors and then help him or her with postural drainage.
NOTE : If you have a chronic cough or you want to prevent a chronic cough, you should avoid or stop smoking entirely.
‘Smokers are liable to die young’.
