Introduction
Acute bronchitis is one of the most common diseases of the lower respiratory tract and usually refers to an inflammation of the bronchi (bronchitis) or the windpipe (tracheitis) caused by viruses. In some cases, both levels, i.e. the bronchi and trachea, can also be affected. This type of inflammation is then called tracheobronchitis.
What are the symptoms of bronchitis?
The symptoms of acute bronchitis differ depending on the pathogen. In most cases, adeno- or rhinoviruses are the causative agents of acute bronchitis. Generally, the disease begins with a dry, barking cough.
The inflammation of the windpipe can lead to severe sore throat. If the larynx is also inflamed, the patients get a hoarse speech. After a few days the dry cough turns into a productive cough with mucus in the bronchi and sputum.
In addition to these specific symptoms, general symptoms such as fever, fatigue or aching limbs appear. If a bacterial superinfection develops on the floor of a viral infection, the colour of the sputum changes to greenish and the amount of sputum increases significantly. Complications arise when the bacterial infection turns into pneumonia.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the sense of chronic bronchitis is mainly associated with the symptom of shortness of breath. After heavy coughing and sputum in the morning, many patients are symptom-free for the rest of the day, provided that COPD has not yet progressed far. The lack of oxygen makes itself felt in the form of cyanosis.
This initially leads to bluish discoloration of the lips, hands and feet. If COPD worsens, there is initially a constant stress-related shortness of breath. In later stages, the symptoms of shortness of breath also occur at rest.
An acute worsening of the situation can be recognized by increasing shortness of breath, increased coughing, significantly increased sputum when coughing and a feeling of tightness in the chest. In acute bronchitis, but more frequently in chronic bronchitis, there is not only coughing and sputum, but also possible exhaustion and pain in the limbs as well as shortness of breath (medical dyspnoea). If respiratory distress occurs in acute bronchitis, it usually occurs during a coughing attack.
In the chronic forms, shortness of breath does not usually cause severe symptoms at first. In the course of time, however, it is quite possible that attacks of shortness of breath initially only occur during severe physical exertion, but later also in less strenuous everyday situations or even at rest. This is due to the inflammatory irritation of the airways, especially the bronchi.
On the one hand, the inflammation causes a cramping of the bronchial musculature (the so-called “bronchospasm”) and increased swelling of the mucous membrane; on the other hand, however, it also leads to increased mucus formation, through which the body tries to free itself from the pathogens. Both constrict the bronchial tubes, which in turn increases the cramping and makes breathing worse. Here, medicines, expectorants and inhalations help to reduce the swelling in the bronchial tubes.
Coughing is a typical symptom of bronchitis. In acute bronchitis, secretions are often coughed up and the cough is therefore described as productive. If the coughing irritation is too tormenting, so-called “cough suppressants” can be used.
However, it is better to liquefy the tough mucus by mucolytic agents and sufficient drinking to make coughing up easier. The expectoration of the secretion plays an important role in the therapy of bronchitis. Cough blockers should only be taken if the cough is unproductive (very dry, without sputum) and night sleep is extremely impaired by painful cough attacks.
Coughing in chronic bronchitis tends to be dry and the coughing up of whitish, transparent secretions usually only occurs in the early morning hours. The expectoration of secretions is a common occurrence and is also known as sputum. Although the chronic cough in chronic bronchitis is rather dry, affected patients often have whitish, tough sputum in the morning hours.
If the respiratory tract is infected with an already existing chronic bronchitis or with acute forms of bronchitis, the sputum can take on a different colour. If the secretion is yellowish or greenish, this indicates a bacterial infection. If the secretion is whitish or transparent, there is more likely a viral cause for the acute bronchitis.
In the case of serious illness, it is possible for a laboratory to carry out a precise pathogen diagnosis on the basis of the coughed up secretion. With the help of this, under certain circumstances a targeted therapy of the infection can be initiated. Repeated severe coughing can often lead to tension in the intercostal muscles, which are involved in breathing as auxiliary muscles.
These tensions can spread to neighbouring shoulder and back muscles, resulting in severe back pain during and after coughing. This back pain is harmless in most cases, however, and can be alleviated by applying heat or massages. Like coughing, pain behind the breastbone and sputum (yellowish in bacterial infection) when coughing, aching limbs and possibly fever, headaches are also typical symptoms of acute bronchitis.
Often the pathogens are not only found in the bronchial tubes but also in the upper respiratory tract. The swollen mucous membranes and rhinitis there can cause a feeling of pressure in the head or headaches. This headache can be aggravated by a strong blowing of the nose, sneezing or even coughing. As the bronchitis heals, the headache usually subsides. – Headaches
- Sinusitis ̈ndung
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