What are the symptoms of bronchitis?

Bronchitis is one of the factors that cause colds. It often manifests as coughing up phlegm in the throat, wheezing, and severe cases may cause hoarseness. There are many ways to treat it, such as drinking more water or taking medicine. Bronchitis may affect normal work and life. Therefore, we should know the symptoms of bronchitis and then find treatment methods. Here we will introduce to you the symptoms of tracheal inflammation.

1. Cough

Long-term, recurrent, and gradually worsening cough is the prominent manifestation of this disease. In mild cases, the disease only occurs in winter and spring, especially in the early morning before and after getting up, and there is less coughing during the day. In summer and autumn, the cough is relieved or disappears. Severe patients cough in all seasons, which is aggravated in winter and spring. They cough day and night, especially in the morning and evening.

2. Coughing up phlegm

The sputum is usually white, mucous and foamy, and is more common in the morning. It is often difficult to cough up due to its viscosity. After infection or cold, symptoms rapidly worsen, sputum volume increases, viscosity increases, or becomes yellow purulent sputum or is accompanied by wheezing. Occasionally, there is blood in the sputum due to severe coughing.

3. Asthma

When combined with respiratory tract infection, asthma (wheezing) symptoms may occur due to congestion and edema of the bronchiolar mucosa, sputum obstruction and bronchial lumen stenosis.

4. Recurrent infection

Recurrent respiratory tract infections are likely to occur in cold seasons or when the temperature changes suddenly. At this time, the patient's asthma worsens, the amount of sputum increases significantly and becomes purulent, accompanied by general fatigue, chills, fever, etc. There are moist sounds in the lungs and an increase in the white blood cell count in the blood.

5. There are usually no special signs in the early stages of this disease

A few moist or dry gurgling sounds may be heard at the lung base. Sometimes it disappears temporarily after coughing or expectoration. During an attack of asthmatic chronic bronchitis, widespread wheezing may be heard, which disappears after the wheezing eases.

6. Acute attack

There are often scattered dry and moist rales in the lungs. During the attack period of chronic asthmatic bronchitis, wheezing and prolonged exhalation can be heard in the lungs. If accompanied by infection, the rales will increase.

Treatment

1. If the patient has systemic symptoms, he should rest and keep warm.

The goals of treatment are to relieve symptoms and improve body function. People often require fluids and antipyretic drugs. Antitussive drugs can be used appropriately. When the sputum is large or sticky, expectorants can be used.

2. Patients with acute bronchitis

There is no obvious therapeutic effect of antibacterial drugs, and the abuse of antibacterial drugs should be avoided when treating patients with acute bronchitis. However, if the patient has fever, purulent sputum and severe cough, it is an indication for the use of antibacterial drugs. Patients with acute bronchitis should be treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics against Chlamydia pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae, such as erythromycin, can be used. Clarithromycin or azithromycin can also be used. During influenza epidemics, anti-influenza treatment measures should be applied if there are symptoms of acute bronchitis.