Bronchitis Treatment & Prevention - OmniMedicalSearch.com, Acute & Chronic Bronchitis

Conditions & Diseases: Lung & Respiratory Diseases & Disorders

Bronchitis

Treatment & Prevention

Treatment for acute bronchitis
For cases of acute bronchitis caused by a virus without a secondary bacterial infection, antibiotics are not useful and should not be prescribed. Antibiotics are only useful against bacteria and may be prescribed if a secondary bacterial infection has occured.

Acute bronchitis will usually clear up on it's own in seven to 14 days without significant intervention. However, care should be take so secondary symptoms do not occur. The backbone of this care is usually bed rest, increased fluid intake, and medications to alleviate symptoms which include non-prescription medication for fever, sore throat or expectorant cough medicine, and a humidifier or steam inhaler to improve breathing and productive coughing. Coughing that brings up mucus from your bronchial tubes is helpful since it removes irritants from your lungs and air passages. Acute bronchitis sufferers should also avoid smoking, second hand smoke or air pollutants from their workplace or environment. If you cannot avoid time off from work, consider wearing a breathing mask to shield your lungs from harmful pollutants.

If conditions have not improved after 10-14 days, visit with your doctor. If you have asthma, or your symptoms do not improve, your doctor may prescribe an inhaler and/or other asthma related medications (bronchodilators) to reduce inflammation and open narrowed passages in your lungs.

Treatment for chronic bronchitis
Because smoking is the major cause of chronic bronchitis, the most important step to be taken is to quit. Since this is easier said then done for many smokers, patients should research local and national smoking cessation associations, programs, and assistance groups. Nicotene patches, gum and inhalers can reduce cravings and improve the chances for success. The earlier chronic bronchitis is diagnosed and smoking stops, the better the chance the patient has to reduce or reverse the damage done to their lungs.

Since chronic bronchitis is a type of Chronic Obstructive Pulminary Disorder (COPD), similar to asthma and emphysema, your doctor may prescribe a bronchodilator to open constricted air passages and help clear mucus. Bronchodilators can be taken by pill, orally through an inhaler, or through the nose via a nebulizer machine.

In addition to quitting smoking, and bronchodilators, your doctor may prescribe respiratory therapy which will include physical activity and breathing exercises. In severe cases where lung damage cannot be reduced or treated, home oxygen might be a patient's only hope for relief.

It is important to note that the treatments for acute bronchitis, when applied to chronic bronchitis, will only temporarily ease the symptoms at best and mask a serious, underlying health issue at the worst.

Severe cases of untreated chronic bronchitis can also lead to pneumonia. For this reason, your doctor may recommend annual flu and pneumococcal vaccines.

In those cases where air pollutants are the cause of chronic bronchitis, patients will have to consider changing their environment or line of work in order to achieve recovery.

Prevention

Taking certain precautions can reduce your chances for coming down with acute and chronic bronchitis. These precautions include:

Washing your face and hands freqently during "cold and flu" season.
Avoiding second hand smoke or air pollutants. If your job requires you to work in an environment where industrial prevention is present, consider wearing a protective mask.
Get an annual flu vaccine.
Talk to your doctor about getting a pneumonia shot.
Dress warm when seasons change and during cold and damp periods.

Article by Jason L Morrow
Founder & Editor
OmniMedicalSearch.com

Sources:

Bronchitis, Mayo Clinic, Mayo Clinic Staff, April 20, 2007.
Bronchitis, National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, updated by Allen J. Blaivas, DO, August 3, 2007.
Respiratory Diseases & Disorders, US Army Medical Subcourse MDO568 manual, 2006.
Chronic Bronchitis, American Lung Association, November 2004.
Bronchitis, KidsHealth.org, The Nemour Foundation, October 2007
Acute Bronchitis, College of Family Physicians of Canada, Canadian Family Physician, Dr Graham Worrall, February 2008, p. 238–239.