Bronchitis
June 2018
- 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..
Latest update on July 23, 2013 at 12:38 PM by Jeff.