Acute bronchitis is inflammation of the lung bronchi that lasts from 1 to 3 weeks, causing symptoms such as coughing with or without phlegm, wheezing when breathing, chest pain or excessive tiredness, for example.
Acute bronchitis is more common in children under 5 years of age, but it can affect anyone at any age, being caused mainly by viral infections, such as the flu or the common cold, but can also arise from bacterial infections or contact with allergenic substances.
The treatment of acute bronchitis is carried out by a pulmonologist, pediatrician or general practitioner, and generally involves hydrating the body or using analgesics, anti-inflammatories, antitussives or bronchodilators to alleviate symptoms.
Symptoms of acute bronchitis
The main symptoms of acute bronchitis are:
- Dry cough or phlegm;
- Clear, yellowish or pus-filled phlegm;
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing;
- Chest pain or discomfort;
- Wheezing in the chest when breathing;
- Excessive tiredness.
Furthermore, acute bronchitis may be accompanied by symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections, such as sore throat, feeling of a runny or stuffy nose, low-grade fever and general malaise. Check out other symptoms of bronchitis.
It is important to consult a pulmonologist, pediatrician or general practitioner whenever symptoms of acute bronchitis appear, so that the most appropriate treatment can be diagnosed and initiated, in order to avoid complications such as pneumonia, for example.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of acute bronchitis is made by a pulmonologist, pediatrician or general practitioner through the assessment of symptoms, health history and auscultation of the lungs, with the aim of identifying any changes in breathing.
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In addition, the doctor must evaluate vital signs, such as oxygen saturation in the body using a finger oximeter, heart and respiratory rate, and body temperature.
Generally, when vital signs are normal, additional tests are not necessary, but if they are altered or the doctor suspects pneumonia, tests may be requested, such as a chest X-ray, complete blood count or spirometry. See how spirometry is done.
These tests also help to rule out other health conditions with similar symptoms, such as asthma, acute or chronic sinusitis, viral pharyngitis or bronchiolitis, for example. Know how to identify the symptoms of bronchiolitis.
What is the difference between acute and chronic bronchitis?
The main differences between acute and chronic bronchitis are the duration and the causes.
While acute bronchitis lasts 1 to 3 weeks, in chronic bronchitis the inflammation of the lung bronchi lasts 3 months or more, or is considered chronic when there are many repeated episodes of bronchitis during the year.
Furthermore, the cause of acute bronchitis is mainly viral infections, and chronic bronchitis is typically caused by prolonged and frequent exposure to cigarette smoke, exposure to pollution, toxic substances or allergens, or repeated viral or bacterial infections. Understand better what chronic bronchitis is and its causes.
Possible causes
Acute bronchitis is caused by irritation or inflammation in the lung bronchi, causing them to increase in volume and produce more phlegm, which reduces air flow in the lungs, making breathing difficult.
The main factors that can cause acute bronchitis are:
- Virus infections, such as flu and colds;
- Bacterial infections;
- Smoke inhalation, including cigarette smoke, or polluted air;
- Allergenic substances, such as dust or cleaning products;
- I work with exposure to irritating substances, such as textiles or grains.
Furthermore, another cause is gastroesophageal reflux, which causes gastric contents, including stomach acid, to return towards the mouth, and when it is intense or constant, it can lead to throat irritation, increasing the risk of acute bronchitis. .
How the treatment is carried out
The treatment of acute bronchitis must be carried out under the guidance of a pulmonologist, pediatrician or general practitioner, with the aim of relieving symptoms, as it is a self-limiting disease.
Thus, the following may be recommended by the doctor:
1. Hydration
Keeping the body hydrated is essential to help the body fight infections and avoid dehydration, as well as fluidizing phlegm, facilitating its elimination.
Therefore, you should increase your intake of water, juices or teas, such as anise tea, mallow tea or garlic tea, for example. See how to prepare teas for bronchitis.
2. Medicines
The use of medication may be recommended by your doctor to help alleviate the symptoms of acute bronchitis, the main ones being:
- Antipyreticssuch as paracetamol, to reduce fever;
- Anti-inflammatoriessuch as ibuprofen, to combat inflammation of the bronchi and relieve sore throat, body pain or malaise;
- Throat lozengessuch as flurbiprofen, to relieve a sore throat or cough;
- Corticosteroidssuch as prednisone, to reduce inflammation of the bronchi in some cases;
- Inhalation pumpsuch as salbutamol, to relieve wheezing and improve breathing.
Additionally, the doctor may recommend the use of cough syrups, such as dextromethorphan, for example. Check out the main syrups for bronchitis.
In cases where acute bronchitis was caused by bacteria, the doctor may also recommend the use of antibiotics.
3. Nasal wash
Nasal washing with 0.9% saline helps eliminate excess secretions from the upper respiratory tract, as it makes the phlegm more liquid, making it easier to eliminate, which helps to alleviate the symptoms of a blocked or runny nose.
To wash your nose, fill a syringe with approximately 10 to 20 mL of sterile 0.9% saline solution, tilt your body forward and your head slightly to the side. Then, position the syringe at the entrance to one nostril and press until the serum comes out of the other nostril.
It is important to keep your mouth open and also breathe through your mouth while washing with the serum, in addition to not breathing in the serum, and blowing your nose immediately afterwards. See how to wash your nose correctly.
4. Use a humidifier
Humidifying the environment may also be recommended by the doctor to relieve nasal congestion, as when breathing water particles from the environment, the airways become more hydrated and less irritated, facilitating the elimination of phlegm and relieving the discomfort of acute bronchitis.
To humidify the air, you can place a basin or bucket with warm water inside the rooms of the house or use a humidifier device, for example. Check out all the ways to humidify the environment.
Home treatment for acute bronchitis
Home treatment for acute bronchitis can be done using homemade syrups, such as thyme syrup or watercress and pineapple syrup, as they help eliminate phlegm more easily and reduce inflammation in the bronchi. See how to prepare homemade syrups for bronchitis.
Furthermore, it is important to eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and nuts, which are rich in antioxidant substances that help strengthen the immune system, accelerating recovery from acute bronchitis. See how to follow a bronchitis diet.
Home treatments for acute bronchitis can be used to complement medical treatment, and do not replace medications and care prescribed by your doctor.
