Bronchitis
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US- Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi in the lungs.
- Bronchitis is a frequent infection in children.
- It can be caused by a virus, sometimes bacteria and occasionally a fungus
- Bronchitis generally occurs after a respiratory tract infection
- Bronchitis symptoms
- See your GP
- Make an emergency appointment if
- Recurrent bronchitis
Bronchitis generally occurs after a respiratory tract infection
- It often appears after an upper respiratory tract infection
- Nasal secretions run down the back of the throat and finally reach the bronchi.
Bronchitis symptoms
Cough
- Cough: is the major symptom of bronchitis. It can persist for several days, even 2 weeks in certain cases
- A dry cough which loosens after a few days developing into a more productive cough with purulent phlegm.
- Rapid and difficult breathing
Other symptoms
- Congested nose
- Thick secretions from the nose or the throat
- Fever
- Thoracic pains and feeling of burns around the sternum
- Tiredness, achey
See your GP
- Consider having an X-ray of the lungs, still called chest X-ray
- Antibiotic treatment may be required
- In severe cases respiratory physiotherapy can be beneficial
- Reduce any fever
Make an emergency appointment if
- excessive coughing with violent episodes
- Productive cough and if the sputum contains blood
- Any difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath, signs and symptoms of wheeze.
- Signs of respiratory distress - blue lips, struggling to breath when feeding, or talking, use of the muscles in between the rib spaces and under the diaphragm
- A fever higher than 39 degrees
- If he is worn-out...
Recurrent bronchitis
Reoccurring episodes of bronchitis may raise concern and further investigations necessary to exclude any underlying cause such as asthma, allergy or lung disease..