Tracheobronchitis
Tracheobronchitis, what means?
Tracheo-bronchitis is an common inflammation affecting the lower respiratory tract (windpipe and bronchi), composed of tracheitis and bronchitis. Usually, the tracheo-bronchitis is in association with virus and bacterial infections, and sometimes, chemical or physical irritants, and allergic antigens aspiration can also play a role.
What causes bronchitis? Infection is the main cause leading to bronchitis, e.g. Viruses, bacteria. The cold is often as a trigger factor to reduce the body's resistance. Irritating gases, including smoke, is also a cause of bronchitis. Allergic reactions often cause allergic bronchitis.
Tracheo-bronchitis symptoms
Cough is a prominent respiratory symptom of tracheo-bronchitis, characterized by dry cough and nonproductive initially, later coughing up phlegm. If the inflammation progresses to a severe bacterial infectious bronchitis, purulent sputum is present and occasionally flecked with blood. Fever is another symptom about 38 degrees Celsius, and will persist 3 to 5 days. In addition to these symptoms, acute tracheo-bronchitis is marked by sudden onset and initiated with the symptoms of acute upper respiratory infection.
The common signs and symptoms of bronchitis include fever, cough, sputum, rhonchi (dry rales) and moist rales. Bronchitis complicated with bronchospasm causes shortness of breath.
Tracheobronchitis causes and epidemiology
Infectious tracheobronchitis occurs most commonly during the winter months, and often secondary to upper respiratory infection. The causes of tracheobronchitis include mainly viruses, bacteria, cold air, dust, and irritating gas, and Anaphylaxis-allergens.
What causes bronchitis? Infection is the main cause leading to bronchitis, e.g. Viruses, bacteria. The cold is often as a trigger factor to reduce the body's resistance. Irritating gases, including smoke, is also a cause of bronchitis. Allergic reactions often cause allergic bronchitis.
Tracheobronchitis treatment
Tracheobronchitis usually refers to the acute inflammation of trachea and bronchi, that maybe last for 2 to 3 weeks until self-recovery. But also, inflammation may develop into chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchopneumonia.
How to deal with it? Having a rest, keeping warm, drinking water and supplying enough energy. If having a prominent cough, a medical measure will be taken by doctor to relieve cough and/or sputum. Antibiotic therapy can be used for a predominant tracheitis, or with purulent sputum, and antipyretic analgesics are for fever.
Assuming that bacterial bronchitis is generally treated with antibiotics. Common use of amoxicillin. In cases of asthma inhalers are often used to prevent asphyxia-bronchodilator-or inflammation-steroids. For cuts in breathing (dyspnea) due to bronchospasm, often use a rescue inhaler albuterol, Ventolin, Salbutomal. There are other inhalers that can be prescribed for daily use.
Source: Tracheobronchitis.org
Last update: 2011-12-15