Bronchitis Symptoms

 

Bronchitis symptoms, or acute bronchitis, is very common and usually caused by viruses. Cough is the main symptom. Bronchitis symptoms usually goes away by itself. Contact the clinic if the symptoms get worse or not gone over from one to two weeks. Turn to the emergency room if you get a high fever or difficulty breathing.

What is bronchitis?

Bronchitis is a common cold in the air tubes that go down from the nose and throat to the lungs. Mucosa of the bronchi swell and become irritated. Cough is the most common symptom and can sit for up to three weeks. You may also have fever, sore throat and runny nose. Bronchitis symptoms caused by viruses or bacteria. In most cases, the disorder itself.

Why do you cough?

The cough is troublesome, but is your body's way of protecting the lungs. By coughing mucus removed instead of being stored in lung tissue where it can cause trouble. Mucus and sputum also act as a barrier that captures up dust and germs that we breathe. Since your cough is part of the body's defense, it is likely that the is precisely the trouble that lasts the longest before becoming completely healthy. The cough may persist for a long time due to swelling and irritation of the bronchial tubes heal slowly and cough are therefore retained even after the infection has cleared.

Should I be treated with antibiotics?

Antibiotics are only effective against bacteria and do not kill viruses. At bronchitis do not need antibiotics for people who are otherwise healthy lungs, although it could be caused by bacteria or mycoplasma. You will not be healthy more quickly. It's not good to take antibiotics unnecessarily. The beneficial bacteria you're carrying the wayside. Antibiotics can cause side effects such as diarrhea. In addition, antibiotics that bacteria are most resilient (resistant).

Sometimes, however, antibiotics may be required, for example, for people with respiratory disease. If you have received antibiotics it is important that you eat throughout the course of treatment .

What can I do to relieve bronchitis symptoms?

Paracetamol or salicylic acid can relieve fever and chest pain. Remember to drink plenty of fluids. The cough usually affected very little by the different cough medicines. You will of course have to stop smoking.

Is there anything I should look out for?

Often it takes two to three weeks before you will be fine. If you are doing well apart from the cough, you do not have to worry about, especially not while you slowly improving. If you experience new or worsening bronchitis symptoms, if you start coughing blood or feel short of breath, contact your doctor again. Cough persists longer than 4-5 weeks, or you experience frequent persistent cough several times a year you should contact the health center for a lung examination.

What Is Pneumonia?

Pneumonia means that the lungs become inflamed. These affect the so called alveoli, they are tiny air-filled sacs in the inner parts of the lungs. Pneumonia is usually caused by infection by bacteria or viruses. Most common are bacteria infections and especially of the so called pneumococci (these account for more than 50% of lung inflammation). The infection that causes pneumonia comes through the common entry points for bacteria and viruses that breathe, hands and so on. Pneumonia affects mostly people with poor immune systems, small children, elderly or as a complication of other diseases. In the past, pneumonia, a serious disease, but today is treated pneumonia effectively with mainly antibiotics and most people recover.

Treatment of pneumonia

Diagnosis by the doctor examining the lungs of anticipated pneumonia. The sound often typical parasitic sound. Sometimes chest radiograph is performed. Most people who get pneumonia receive antibiotics, most commonly penicillin. In severe cases, breathing problems can require intensive care. It can often take one or a few weeks to fully recover.

It is important to rest and avoid physical exertion and tobacco smoke. It is better to rest in a sitting position. One can also take fever-reducing medicines and cough medicine to relieve symptoms. Most people recover, but a certain proportion dies and especially among the elderly and multiple illnesses.

It is good to drink a lot if you have fever and cough and. Fever and cough medicine can relieve symptoms. Because the lungs function better in an upright position, it is better to sit than to lie down. When you sleep, it is good to have several pillows under your head. Remember that even second hand smoke can be irritating to the airways and worsen the cough.

Preventing pneumonia

If you belong to a risk group, you should get vaccinated against flu, because flu can develop into pneumonia. Influenza vaccination must be repeated each year to provide protection. For risk groups included mainly people over 65 or who have a heart or lung disease or other serious illnesses. You should in such cases also get vaccinated against pneumococcus.

A healthy life with the right amount of exercise, good eating and sleeping habits and not smoking enhances the body's defense against infections in general.