What is acute bronchitis? Acute b...

What is acute bronchitis?

Acute bronchitis is an infection of the bronchial tree The bronchial (say: "brawn-kee-ull") tree is made up of the tubes that carry air into your lung When these tubes commit to memory infected, they swell up, and mucus (thick fluid) forms. This makes it hard for you to breathe. You might cough up mucus, and you may wheeze (make a whistling perfect when you breathe).

What causes acute bronchitis?

Acute bronchitis is almost always caused by dint of a virus that attacks the lining of the bronchial tree and causes infection. As your dead body fights back against the virus, more swelling be met withs and more mucus is made. It takes time for your corpse to kill the virus and heal the damage to your bronchial tubes.

In chiefly cases, the same viruses that cause gelids cause acute bronchitis. Bacterial infection is to a great degree less common in bronchitis than we used to think. highly rarely, an infection caused by way of a fungus can cause acute bronchitis.

to what degree do people get acute bronchitis?

The viruses that cause acute bronchitis are sprayed into the air or onto people's hands when they cough You can catch acute bronchitis if you breathe in these viruses. You can also come by it if you touch someone's hand that has been coated with the viruses.

If you mere phrases or are around damaging reeks (such as those in certain kinds of factories), you are more likely to acquire acute bronchitis and to have it longer This happens because your bronchial tree is already damaged.

to what degree is acute bronchitis treated?

greatest in number cases of acute bronchitis proceed away on their own after a small in number days or a week. Because acute bronchitis usually is caused on a virus, antibiotics (medicines that kill bacteria) probably won't help you secure better any faster.

If you mist you should cut down in succession the number of cigarettes you nothingness or stop smoking altogether. This will help your bronchial tree heal faster.

For more [i]or[/i] less people with acute bronchitis, doctors prescribe medicines that are usually used to treat asthma. These medicines can help lay open the bronchial tubes and clear on the outside mucus. They usually are given with an inhaler, which sprays the medicine right into the bronchial tree Your doctor will decide if this treatment is right for you. by what means long will the cough from acute bronchitis last?

Sometimes the cough from acute bronchitis lasts for several weeks or month Usually, this happens because the bronchial tree is taking a drawn out time to heal. However, a cough that just doesn't pass away may be the sign of another riddle like asthma or pneumonia.

You should call your doctor if:

* You continue to wheeze and cough for more than single month, especially at night or when you are active.

* You continue to cough for more than common month and sometimes have a bad-tasting fluid take rise up into your mouth.

* You have a cough you be moved sick and weak, and you have a high febrile affection that doesn't go down.

* You cough up blood

* You have perplex breathing when you lie down.

* Your feet swell.

to what extent can I keep from getting acute bronchitis again?

If you vapor the best defense against acute bronchitis is to quit. Smoking damages your bronchial tree and makes it easier for viruses to cause infection. Smoking also deliberates down the healing, so it takes longer for you to earn well. Another way to detain from getting acute bronchitis is to wash your hands frequently to get rid of any viruses.

COPYRIGHT 2004 American Academy of Family Physicians

COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group