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Bronchitis(Upper Respiratory Tract Infection; Lower Respiratory Tract Infection)DefinitionThe bronchi are air passages of the lungs. Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi. It can make breathing difficult. It can also be painful. Bronchi of Lungs  © 2009 Nucleus Medical Media, Inc. There are different types of bronchitis, such as:
CausesThe inflammation may be caused by:
SymptomsSymptoms will depend on the type of bronchitis. Acute Bronchitis
Chronic Bronchitis
Bronchi and Air Sacs of Lungs  © 2009 Nucleus Medical Media, Inc. DiagnosisThe doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. Acute BronchitisTests are rare. The following may be recommended for severe or questionable cases:
Chronic BronchitisTests may include:
TreatmentAcute BronchitisTreatment is aimed at relieving the symptoms. It includes:
Antibiotics will not be helpful if the infection is viral. There are some concerns about the safety of over-the-counter cough and cold products. The concern is highest for children under two years of age. It is best to avoid these, especially in young children. Talk to your doctor about medicine options. Chronic BronchitisTreatment is based on:
Treatment may include:
If you are diagnosed with bronchitis, follow your doctor's instructions. PreventionTo reduce your chance of getting bronchitis:
CANADIAN RESOURCES: Canadian Family Physician The Canadian Lung Association References: Bishai WR. Macrolide immunomodulatory effects and symptom resolution in acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis and acute maxillary sinusitis: a focus on clarithromycin. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2006;4:405-416. Harrison TR, Fauci AS. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 14th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill;1998. Poole PJ, Black, PN. Mucolytic agents for chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006;3. Smith S, Fahey T, Smucny J, Becker L. Antibiotics for acute bronchitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009;CD000245. What is COPD. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Copd/Copd_WhatIs.html. Accessed July 7, 2008. 6/4/2007 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance: Nonprescription cough and cold medicine use in children. Medwatch: 2007 Safety Alerts for Drugs, Biologics, Medical Devices, and Dietary Supplements. US Food and Drug Administration website. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2007/safety07.htm#Cough. Accessed: September 4, 2007. 6/4/2008 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance: El Moussaoui R, Roede BM, Speelman P, Bresser P, Prins JM, Bossuyt PM. Abstract Short-course antibiotic treatment in acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis and COPD: a meta-analysis of double-blind studies. Thorax. 2008;63:415-422. Epub 2008 Jan 30. Review. 10/14/2008 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance: Timmer A, Gunther J, Rucker G, Motschall E, Antes G, Kern WV. Pelargonium sidoides extract for acute respiratory tract infections. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008;(3):CD006323. Last reviewed September 2009 by Christine Colpitts, CRT, MA Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2009 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.
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