Purulent bronchitis: treatment, symptoms, causes
The content of the article:
- Causes of occurrence
-
Symptoms of purulent bronchitis
- Cough with phlegm
- Dyspnea
- Intoxication symptoms
-
Purulent bronchitis treatment
- Muco- and bronchodilators, what are they and how do they differ?
- How to treat purulent bronchitis in a child?
- Is bronchitis with purulent sputum contagious or not?
- Video
Purulent bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tree without involvement of the lung tissue in the process, in which the patient is worried about a cough, accompanied by the separation of purulent or purulent-mucous sputum.
The disease can be both acute and chronic. In the first case, it lasts an average of 10-12 days. After recovery, the symptoms disappear quickly enough, respiratory discomfort is eliminated, the patient does not present any complaints. In the chronic course of bronchitis, cough with phlegm bothers the patient for at least 3 months a year, while the disease lasts at least 2 years. Exacerbations alternate with periods of well-being (remission). Their frequency is individual and depends on the severity of the process: from 2-3 times a year to continuous recurrence. In this case, the symptoms of the disease can persist even without exacerbations.
When bronchitis is accompanied by the discharge of purulent sputum, it is called purulent.
Bronchitis with purulent sputum can occur with obstruction symptoms, then it is called obstructive, or without - simple bronchitis. An obstructive process involves a violation of the patency of the bronchi. This is due to swelling of the mucous membrane, impaired formation of bronchial secretions, which become abundant, viscous and viscous, and the development of bronchospasm. At the same time, respiratory failure gradually appears: the efficiency of breathing is significantly reduced, oxygen starvation of organs and tissues occurs.
Causes of occurrence
Several external and internal circumstances are responsible for the formation of the disease: infection with pathogenic bacteria or viruses, a decrease in local immune protection, systematic exposure to risk factors, the presence of chronic diseases of other organs and systems, genetic predisposition, etc.
The activity of the ciliated epithelium of the bronchi decreases. Normally, the cilia sweep away mucus with dust particles, allergens, and bacteria adhering to it. With the development of the disease, the mechanism for excreting bronchial secretions becomes untenable. The mucus stagnates, becomes thick and difficult to separate. Pus in the sputum appears as a result of the attachment of a secondary bacterial infection.
The most significant risk factors:
- chronic infections of the throat, nose and sinuses, ear;
- active or passive smoking;
- abuse of alcoholic beverages;
- frequent pharyngitis, laryngitis, tracheitis;
- hereditary predisposition (failure of local immunity, features of the anatomical structure of the bronchi, etc.);
- living in regions with aggressive climatic conditions (high air humidity combined with low temperatures, an extremely dry climate with a high ambient temperature) or unfavorable environmental conditions;
- industrial hazards (contact with varnishes and paints, gasoline vapors, agricultural chemicals, industrial poisons, work at mining and processing plants, in mines, hot workshops).
Bronchitis with purulent sputum can form as a complication or be an independent disease. In any case, for the appearance of pus in the bronchial mucus, the attachment of pathogenic microorganisms must occur, therefore, antibacterial drugs must be included in the therapy of the disease.
Symptoms of purulent bronchitis
The symptomatology of the disease is formed from the main manifestations that are characteristic of bronchitis of any form, and from additional, which are caused by the influence of pathogenic bacteria.
Cough with phlegm
They are the main manifestations of the disease, have different characteristics depending on the type of bronchitis.
If the disease is of a simple acute nature and is not accompanied by bronchial obstruction, the cough will initially be drier, gradually transforming into a wet one. In this case, the patient coughs up greenish-yellow phlegm, often with an unpleasant odor. Its amount is different - from a few milliliters to 200-250 ml with active inflammation. As you recover, the intensity of the cough decreases, although residual effects in the form of periodic coughing may bother you for several more weeks.
With obstructive bronchitis, the cough is more painful, hacking, paroxysmal. The patient has difficulty passing sputum: it is not possible to clear his throat for a long time, sometimes up to an hour. The amount of sputum is less than in the usual process, it is thick, viscous, yellow-green, sometimes brownish-green. Breathing becomes hard, wheezing, dry rales are heard.
Purulent inflammation of the bronchi is caused by pathogenic bacteria
In the chronic course of bronchitis, purulent sputum appears during an exacerbation of the inflammatory process or outside exacerbations, when exposed to aggressive external or internal factors (respiratory infectious diseases, acute stress or chronic psychoemotional overstrain, seasonal decrease in immunity activity, hypothermia, etc.).
Dyspnea
In some cases, breathing difficulties may not be, this symptom is most actively manifested in the presence of bronchial obstruction. In this case, exhalation becomes difficult, and the frequency of respiratory movements increases. Some patients complain of a feeling of unsatisfactory breathing, congestion and heaviness in the chest.
Dyspnea is most pronounced during exercise, although with an intense inflammatory process it can be disturbing even at rest.
Intoxication symptoms
These include: sweating, fever, chills, headache, dizziness.
The appearance of these complaints indicates the activity of inflammation in the bronchial tree. Its severity can vary from mild to very intense. Some patients report mild sweating during exertion, while others experience pouring sweat at rest. The body temperature also rises from subfebrile numbers to 38-39 ° C, can be easily stopped by antipyretics or be persistent.
In addition, patients complain of unmotivated weakness, a feeling of fatigue, drowsiness, and intolerance to habitual stress.
Purulent bronchitis treatment
When the disease is accompanied by the appearance of signs of purulent inflammation, therapy is carried out with the obligatory use of antibacterial drugs.
Typically, in the treatment of bronchitis of any form and etiology, drugs are used that help eliminate cough and improve sputum discharge:
- mucolytics;
- bronchodilators;
- reflex expectorants.
Muco- and bronchodilators, what are they and how do they differ?
Mucolytic drugs help to thin the phlegm, which speeds up and facilitates its discharge from the bronchi. While taking these funds, it is recommended to change the usual drinking regimen: increase the amount of fluid consumed by 1-2 liters per day. Recently, a new generation of mucolytics - mucoregulators - has been widely used. They liquefy thick bronchial secretions without increasing its amount, in addition, they stimulate the cilia of the ciliated epithelium and have anti-inflammatory and local immunostimulating activity.
Bronchodilators expand the lumen of the bronchi, which is especially important in the presence of obstruction. At the same time, phlegm is much more actively evacuated from the lumen of the bronchial tree.
An obligatory component of pharmacotherapy of a purulent process is the use of antibacterial drugs. Preference is given to medications that are capable of creating a high concentration in the tissues of the bronchopulmonary zone. The following groups are most commonly used:
- semi-synthetic protected penicillins;
- second and third generation cephalosporins;
- macrolides and azalides;
- fluorinated quinolones.
In addition to these drugs, multivitamins, adaptogens, and immunostimulants are used in complex therapy. For intoxication symptoms, antihistamines and antipyretic drugs are used; as well as vasoconstrictor with a cold, pain relievers for headaches, glucocorticosteroid inhalations with severe inflammation.
Self-medication of bronchitis in children is strongly discouraged.
How to treat purulent bronchitis in a child?
If a child's cough is accompanied by a separation of yellow-green sputum, you should immediately contact your doctor. Children are characterized by a high activity of the inflammatory process and the rapid development of complications, therefore, in this case, antibiotic therapy should be started as early as possible.
Doing it yourself, at home, without prior consultation with a specialist is highly discouraged. The selection of the drug, its dosage and route of administration, the determination of the duration of treatment and the frequency of administration can be made only by a doctor after assessing the individual characteristics of the child and the severity of inflammation.
Is bronchitis with purulent sputum contagious or not?
In contact with a sick person, the probability of infection actually exists. In this case, it is necessary to understand that it is not the disease itself that is transmitted, but pathogens, its pathogens, which are released into the environment when sneezing, coughing, remain in saliva particles on cutlery or dishes. The risk of infection is determined by the consistency of the contactee's immune defense.
Video
We offer for viewing a video on the topic of the article.
Olesya Smolnyakova Therapy, clinical pharmacology and pharmacotherapy About the author
Education: higher, 2004 (GOU VPO "Kursk State Medical University"), specialty "General Medicine", qualification "Doctor". 2008-2012 - Postgraduate student of the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, KSMU, Candidate of Medical Sciences (2013, specialty "Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology"). 2014-2015 - professional retraining, specialty "Management in education", FSBEI HPE "KSU".
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