Acute bronchitis: cough, runny nose, hoarseness

Definition

Bronchitis refers to the inflammation of the mucous membrane of the lower respiratory tract. It is usually triggered by viruses and occurs as part of a cold. Symptoms usually go away on their own within a few weeks and do not require treatment. Nevertheless, caution is advised, as simple bronchitis can be confused with serious diseases such as pneumonia.

Symptoms of bronchitis

Coughing occurs a few days after infection. This may be dry at first and be accompanied by whitish-glassy sputum after a few days. In addition, there is often fever, headache and body aches as well as a sore throat.

Causes of bronchitis

Acute bronchitis is caused by viruses in 90% of cases. This is why antibiotics only have a limited effect in therapy, since they are not directed against viruses but against bacteria. Only very rarely are bacteria the cause of acute bronchitis.

Risk of infection with bronchitis

The viruses and bacteria that cause bronchitis are contagious. A healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, regular exercise and enough sleep helps you to strengthen your immune system. Frequent hand washing, including after going to the toilet and before preparing food, can prevent infection. Incidentally, you cannot protect yourself from the virus by regularly taking vitamin preparations, for example. Nevertheless, you should make sure you have a good supply of vitamin D and vitamin C, as both vitamins play a role in fighting off infections.
If you are already suffering from the symptoms, you should always cough/sneeze into the crook of your arm and wash your hands afterwards. This is how you can help to protect your fellow human beings from infection.

Duration and course of bronchitis

Cold symptoms usually go away on their own within two weeks. The cough can often continue for a few weeks after the cold has gone away. After two months at the latest, however, it should disappear completely. In exceptional cases, a long-lasting bronchitis can develop into a bacterial pneumonia. The doctor speaks of a bacterial superinfection that requires antibiotic treatment.

Chronic bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis is defined as a cough with sputum in two consecutive years for three months. Smokers in particular tend to develop chronic bronchitis, which in turn can progress to COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). This refers to a chronic lung disease that is associated with a narrowing of the airways. There are also some professional groups who tend to develop chronic bronchitis as a result of inhaling dust for many years. In some cases, genetic causes can be identified as possible reasons for chronic bronchitis. If you have a chronic cough for more than two months, it is advisable to contact a doctor. The doctor can start with the physical examination, blood gas analysis,

When to the doctor?

Acute bronchitis usually resolves on its own. Still, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish it from pneumonia. You should consult a doctor, especially if you have a persistent high fever, chest pain, shortness of breath, red sputum and a severely reduced general condition. Particular caution is also required in the case of pre-existing lung diseases or immunodeficiency.

Diagnosis by the doctor

The doctor decides whether it is acute bronchitis based on a few specific questions:

• How long has the cough been there?
• Do you have a fever, sputum, weakness, night sweats, or weight loss?
• Do you also have a pre-existing lung disease such as asthma?
• Do you smoke?
• Have you ever been exposed to potentially lung damaging dust?

In addition, he will ask you a few questions about your living environment, for example to rule out allergic asthma or mold exposure. If the suspicion is substantiated by the questions, he may arrange for further investigations to rule out pneumonia, for example.

therapy

Since acute bronchitis heals on its own, medication is only of limited use in the treatment of bronchitis. You can support the healing process well with physical rest, a balanced diet and a sufficient amount of fluids of around two to three liters a day. The mucus should be coughed up well, which is why cough suppressants should be avoided. In selected cases, however, it can make sense to take cough suppressants, especially in the case of nocturnal coughing attacks. If the mucus is very thick, antitussives can help. The use of herbal medicines can also bring relief. Steam inhalation can help liquefy the thick mucus and help you cough it up:

• Fill a pot with hot water and place the container on the table.
• Sit in front of it and place a towel so that it covers your head and the container.
• Ideally, the water vapor can be collected under the towel.
• Please keep a sufficient distance to the hot water.
• Now you can breathe in the resulting vapors deeply through your mouth and nose.
• The inhalation should last ten to twenty minutes.

If possible, cigarette smoking should be reduced or stopped altogether. Decongestant nasal sprays can be used for short-term relief of symptoms. In addition, pain and fever-reducing medication can be used for severe body aches and fever.

Antibiotics are not useful in therapy since the triggers are usually viruses.

Bronchitis in children and infants

Children often suffer from acute bronchitis. The course of the disease is similar to that in adults, and the symptoms also resolve on their own without drug therapy. Experts recommend resting your body, drinking plenty of fluids and eating a balanced diet.
In children, there are some warning symptoms that require a visit to the doctor:

• Difficulty breathing, rapid or noisy breathing
• Cough with colored sputum (yellow/red/green)
• High fever
• Vomit
• The cough does not improve or gets worse
• Your child is showing erratic behavior

A visit to the pediatrician is always recommended if the baby is coughing heavily. Bronchitis in infants can often be confused with bronchiolitis. Bronchiolitis is triggered by respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV) and manifests itself with high fever, coughing and shortness of breath. If your baby is breathing much faster or even turning bluish, you should urgently go to a hospital.

How can Med-Healths help?

The Med-Healths doctors can help you with the diagnosis in a conversation. Is there acute bronchitis? Or could there be another cause of the cough? They can also give you treatment tips and prescribe medication. In addition, they will help you recognize warning symptoms and respond appropriately – if necessary, as part of a referral for a physical examination. It is also possible to issue a certificate of incapacity for work if the symptoms are very difficult for you.