BRONCHITIS

Q.What Is Bronchitis?

It is an inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, the airways that connect the trachea (windpipe) to the lungs. This delicate, mucus-producing lining covers and protects the respiratory system, the organs and tissues involved in breathing. When a person has bronchitis, it may be harder for air to pass in and out of the lungs than it normally would, the tissues become irritated and more mucus is produced. The most common symptom of bronchitis is a cough.

When you breathe in (inhale), small, bristly hairs near the openings of your nostrils filter out dust, pollen, and other airborne particles. Bits that slip through become attached to the mucus membrane, which has tiny, hair-like structures called cilia on its surface. But sometimes germs get through the cilia and other defense systems in the respiratory tract and can cause illness.

Q.Can it be Cronic?

Bronchitis can be acute or chronic. An acute medical condition comes on quickly and can cause severe symptoms, but it lasts only a short time (no longer than a few weeks). Acute bronchitis is most often caused by one of a number of viruses that can infect the respiratory tract and attack the bronchial tubes. Infection by certain bacteria can also cause acute bronchitis. Most people have acute bronchitis at some point in their lives.

Chronic bronchitis, on the other hand, can be mild to severe and is longer lasting — from several months to years. With chronic bronchitis, the bronchial tubes continue to be inflamed (red and swollen), irritated, and produce excessive mucus over time. The most common cause of chronic bronchitis is smoking.

People who have chronic bronchitis are more susceptible to bacterial infections of the airway and lungs, like pneumonia. (In some people with chronic bronchitis, the airway becomes permanently infected with bacteria.) Pneumonia is more common among smokers and people who are exposed to secondhand smoke

Q.what are the Cause of Bronchitis?

Bronchitis occurs most often during the cold and flu season, usually coupled with an upper respiratory infection.

•Several viruses cause bronchitis, including influenza A and B, commonly referred to as "the flu."
•A number of bacteria are also known to cause bronchitis, such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which causes so-called walking pneumonia.
•Bronchitis also can occur when you inhale irritating fumes or dusts. Chemical solvents and smoke, including tobacco smoke, have been linked to acute bronchitis.
•People at increased risk both of getting bronchitis and of having more severe symptoms include the elderly, those with weakened immune systems, smokers, and anyone with repeated exposure to lung irritants.

Q.What are the its symptoms?

Cough
Production of mucus (sputum), either clear or white or yellowish-gray or green in color
Shortness of breath, made worse by mild exertion
Wheezing
Fatigue
Slight fever and chills
Chest discomfort

Q. What are the dos and donts in it?

•Don't smoke.


•Don't allow others to smoke in your home.


•Stay away from or reduce your time around things that irritate your nose, throat, and lungs, such as dust or pets.


•If you catch a cold, get plenty of rest.


•Take your medicine exactly the way your doctor tells you.


•Eat a healthy diet.


•Wash your hands often.


•Do not share food, cups, glasses, or eating utensils.

Q.How Do I Know if I Have It?

Tests are usually unnecessary in the case of acute bronchitis, as the disease is easy to detect from your medical history and on examination. Your doctor will simply use a stethoscope to listen for the rattling sound in your lungs' upper airways that typically accompanies the problem.

In cases of chronic bronchitis, the doctor will almost certainly augment these procedures with an X-ray of your chest to check the extent of the lung damage, as well as with pulmonary function tests to measure how well your lungs are working.


Q.What Are the Treatments?

Conventional treatment for acute bronchitis may consist of simple measures such as getting plenty of rest, drinking lots of fluids, avoiding smoke and fumes, and possibly getting a prescription for an inhaled bronchodilator and/or cough syrup. In severe cases of chronic bronchitis, inhaled or oral steroids to reduce inflammation and/or supplemental oxygen may be necessary. Alternative choices, by and large, help relieve the accompanying discomfort but do not treat infections

Q.what are the test for this?

Use a stethoscope to listen for wheezing and other abnormal sounds in your lungs
Have you get a chest X-ray
Have you undergo blood tests
Analyze a sputum culture — a test that checks for the presence of bacteria in sputum produced when you cough
Have you take a pulmonary function test (PFT), to rule out other causes for your symptoms