Obstructive bronchitis: symptoms and treatment

Bronchial obstruction consists in narrowing the lumen of the bronchi from the inside. This condition is triggered by three main mechanisms: edema, spasm and increased sputum secretion. It is the main sign of such a disease as obstructive bronchitis. This disease is a kind of acute bronchitis. Often the causative agents of this disease are: parainfluenza virus, rhinoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, adenoviruses and to a lesser degree: influenza virus, viral-bacterial associations, mycoplasma pneumonia. How to identify obstructive bronchitis, symptoms and treatment read on.

Symptoms of obstructive bronchitis

The disease can be determined on the basis of the following symptoms. Difficult breathing, accompanied by a noisy whistle during exhalation, as well as the application of muscular efforts during the breathing process are visible signs that may indicate the presence of the disease. High temperatures are not typical for this disease. But, nevertheless, the temperature is slightly raised to 37-37.5 degrees. Cough can be both dry and containing phlegm. Often, coughing attacks are characteristic of the night time of the day. Another symptom is shortness of breath. As a rule, it is of an expiratory nature. That is, it is accompanied by difficulties on exhalation. On exhalation, it is because inhaling is an active act. When you exhale, no muscles should be involved if the person is healthy. Ill person due to narrowed lumens of bronchi should make efforts and for exhalation. What causes fatigue. It turns out that some kind of valve mechanism is created. This is manifested in the fact that air enters the lungs well and has difficulty in exiting, which leads to stretching and swelling of the lungs. This effect is called emphysema.

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If cough can be a sign of various diseases, then such dyspnea is characteristic just for bronchial obstruction. In the most difficult cases, the chest widens in its upper parts. In the lungs, a combination of various wet wheezes and whistling dry sounds are heard, the nature of which changes after coughing. These rattles can be heard from a distance.
In order to determine the symptoms and treatment of bronchitis, it is necessary to consult a doctor for diagnosis. The doctor conducts in such cases certain studies in order to detect the causative agent of the disease.

  • Firstly, it is a virological study based on the method of immunofluorescence, in which prints from the nasal mucosa are made.
  • Secondly, serological - the disease is determined by increasing the titer of antibodies during the study of paired sera.
  • Thirdly - a bacteriological study based on the use of smears from the larynx mucosa for sowing. The material is collected using a catheter.

Define the disease according to the following indices:

  • The number of leukocytes and lymphocytes in the blood decreases.
  • The X-ray shows high transparency of the lungs, the shadows of the vessels and bronchi are separated from each other and narrow.
  • Sometimes, tautness and strengthening of the broncho-vascular basal pattern are visible.

Treatment of obstructive bronchitis

If you have been diagnosed with obstructive bronchitis, a doctor should prescribe the treatment. One of the main points in the treatment of this disease is a set of ways to combat bronchial obstruction. To restore patency of the upper respiratory tract, often prescribed procedures such as sucking mucus with a rubber can or an electric pump. Also, vibrational massage and postural drainage do not interfere. All this will free you from the accumulated mucus. As a distraction therapy often prescribed hot baths, both general and foot. Also recommendations are given in terms of drinking abundant warm drinks and expectorant potions based on Ipecacuanas, altea root, Senegia grass, breastfeeding, ammonium chloride solution, thermopsis, iodine salt and ammonium anise drops. Aerosol inhalations are the standard means of reducing the swelling of the mucous membranes of bronchioles and bronchial tubes and diluting sputum. Also, for this disease, vitamin therapy is prescribed at age-related dosages. Necessary vitamins: ascorbic acid, calcium pangamate, pyridoxine, cocarboxylase.
Treatment of a disease that occurs in its severe form in children of the early age group is carried out with the help of sulfonamide drugs and antibiotics. Children from two years old are also assigned bactrim. The course of treatment with Bactrim is 5-10 days. Babies are assigned a suspension. But sulfonamide drugs are used only for treatment, not applying as a preventive measure.
There are some features in the treatment of obstructive bronchitis in children, in contrast to simple bronchitis. If the child has severe heart failure, treatment is carried out in the hospital, and if necessary, oxygen therapy is carried out.
Also an important recommendation is the need to comply with bed rest in such a position that the head was raised. It is recommended during the illness fractional feeding mainly liquid food and comply with the vegetable-milk diet. If a patient has obvious respiratory failure, he is strongly recommended inhalation. Also appoint bronchodilators in inhalations, and intravenously. The effect of properly administered inhalations should be a reduction in dyspnea( 1 minute per 10-15 breaths), a decrease in abundant wheezing during auscultation, and remote senses should also disappear. If this effect is not present, then after inhalations of b 2-agonists, after 30 min. Steroids are administered prednisolone 3-5, dexamethasone 0.6 mg / kg. If the effect occurs, supportive therapy with euphyllin and / or b-agonists is carried out at 4 mg per kg per day for 1-1.5 weeks. Antiviral drugs used in obstructive bronchitis are interferon, algir, arbidol, remantadine.
Considerable attention is paid to the use of drugs that increase immunity.