Acute bronchitis is one of the most common respiratory diseases. Approximately 80 out of 100,000 people per week fall ill with this inflammation of the bronchial mucosa. This number can even double during the winter months. Here you will find everything about the causes, symptoms and course of acute bronchitis.
What is acute bronchitis?
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the branches of the trachea (bronchi). A distinction is made between febrile acute bronchitis and chronic bronchitis. The disease occurs most frequently in cold, damp weather, such as in spring, autumn or winter, and is usually accompanied by inflammation of the trachea (tracheitis). Most often, the disease is a result of a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract.
Causes of acute bronchitis
Very often, acute bronchitis occurs when the affected person has previously been exposed to wetness, humid climate or hypothermia. Such influences weaken the body’s resistance and cause increased susceptibility to pathogens, with viruses being the most common cause of acute bronchitis. Viruses are contagious and are passed on via droplet infection. They pave the way for subsequent infection with bacteria. Sometimes acute bronchitis is also caused by chemical irritants (for example, inhalation of smoke or acids). In addition, acute bronchitis may develop as a concomitant disease of some infectious diseases, such as influenza, measles, or whooping cough.
Acute bronchitis: especially common in children
Infants and children in particular often develop acute bronchitis. However, as long as there is no identifiable, serious cause behind it, this is not worrying. Children generally suffer from infections or colds more often than adults.
Symptoms, course and duration of acute bronchitis.
These are the signs of viral bronchitis:
- Uncomplicated viral bronchitis initially begins for a short time with rhinitis, hoarseness, sore throat, headache, aching limbs and a general feeling of illness as a sign of an upper respiratory tract infection.
- Subsequently, dry cough with initially clear, viscous sputum appears, especially in the morning, which soon becomes whitish and mucopurulent.
- Often the patient complains of chest pain or a burning sensation in the chest.
- Fever above 39 ° C is rare.
- In addition, the throat is reddened.
- When listening to the lungs, the doctor hears few, so-called rales.
At the latest after the onset of mucous sputum, it is advisable to see a doctor. Because a long-lasting cough and settling mucus can damage the mucosal layers in the long run and put a lot of stress on the body. In addition, the mucus is an ideal breeding ground for viruses and bacteria – which is another reason why measures should be taken, if necessary, to remove the mucus. Normally, acute viral bronchitis subsides within a few days and usually heals on its own.
Bacterial bronchitis
However, if bacterial bronchitis occurs – also as a result of a viral infection – the sputum changes and becomes yellowish or greenish and mucopurulent. Often the affected person suffers from breathing noises and sometimes also from shortness of breath. In this case, a cure is usually only possible through treatment with antibiotics. Without treatment, the bacterial infection of the bronchial tubes can spread to the surrounding lung tissue in a focal form. Pneumonia then develops. For this reason, a doctor should always be consulted if the symptoms do not disappear on their own after a few days or if traces of blood are visible in the coughed-up mucus.
Diagnosis of acute bronchitis
A thorough examination should be performed in any case of acute bronchitis. Listening to the lungs is particularly important to detect the first signs of pneumonia in time. If there is a suspicion that bronchopneumonia is behind the illness, a chest x-ray should be ordered. In addition, the blood can be examined. As signs of acute inflammation, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and white blood cell count increase. At the stage of mucopurulent sputum, it should be examined for bacterial germs. After the examination, an antibiotic that is only effective against these bacteria can be administered specifically.
