Definition

     Bronchitis is an inflammation of the main air passages to the lungs. Bronchitis may be short-lived (acute) or chronic, meaning that it lasts a long time and often recurs.

Causes

• Viral -- adenovirus, Influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, paraInfluenza, and others

• Atypical bacteria (e.g., Mycoplasma)

• Bacterial

• Fungi

Symptoms 

Screening and Diagnostics

• Rales (abnormal sounds in the lungs) or other abnormal breathing sounds may be heard by your doctor on lung examination with a stethoscope.

• Pulmonary (lung) function tests provide information useful for diagnosis and prognosis.

• Pulse oximetry is a device connected to your finger that displays the amount of oxygen in your blood.

• Arterial blood gas is a more exact (but more painful and invasive) measurement of oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.

• Chest x-ray 

• Sputum samples  may be taken, to check for evidence of inflammation or bacterial infection .

Treatment

• Viral

• Symptomatic treatment only

• Atypical bacteria -- Erythromycin, Doxycycline, Biaxin, Levaquin

• Bacterial -- many antibiotics work (some recommended are Ceftin, Augmentin, Levaquin)

• Drink plenty of fluids, rest, stop smoking, and use vaporizers.  These are all part of effective therapy plans.  Bronchodilators, in the form of inhalers (aerosolized medications), may be prescribed.  Steroid inhalers may also be prescribed to reduce inflammation in the airways.

Complications 

     Pneumonia can develop from either acute or chronic bronchitis. If you have chronic bronchitis, you are susceptible to recurrent respiratory infections. You may also develop:

• Right-sided heart failure or cor pulmonale

• Emphysema

• Pulmonary hypertension

Prevention

• Wash your hands (and your children's hands) frequently to avoid spreading viruses and other infections.

• DO NOT smoke.

• Get an annual flu vaccine and a pneumococcal vaccine as directed by your doctor.

• Minimize exposure to air pollutants.