Bacterial Bronchitis

Bronchitis is the inflammation of the membranes of the bronchi. It is a respiratory disease caused by a particular virus, bacteria, or other pathogens. Bronchitis can be acute as well as chronic. As the symptoms of viral and bacterial bronchitis are more or less the same, only a doctor can differentiate between the two. Here we will see more on bacterial bronchitis.

Bacterial Bronchitis
The inflammation of the bronchi in the respiratory system caused due to bacteria results in bacterial bronchitis. Bacterial bronchitis is rarer than viral bronchitis. Acute bronchitis is mostly caused due to viruses. Only in rare cases acute bronchitis is caused by bacteria. One of the major difference between viral and bacterial bronchitis is that viral bronchitis is very contagious, whereas bacterial bronchitis is not. As one cannot differentiate between these two types of bronchitis easily, it is recommended to stay away from the person suffering from any kind of bronchitis. Bronchitis is highly contagious within the first week when the symptoms are visible. Bacteria like mycoplasma pneumoniae, streptococcus, bordatella pertussis and chlamydophila pneumoniae cause bronchitis in human beings. Let us take a look at the other causes of bacterial bronchitis.

Bacterial Bronchitis Causes
Weaker immunity is the most prominent cause of any of the respiratory diseases. On the other hand, if common cold or influenza (flu) are left untreated, they can result in chronic bronchitis. Similarly, if a person is suffering from GERD or any other respiratory illnesses, there is an increased risk of bronchitis. Constant exposure to air pollution, industrial smoke, cigarette smoke, etc can also cause bacterial bronchitis in people. On the other hand, if a person constantly has allergy attacks, he is more susceptible to bacterial bronchitis.

Bacterial Bronchitis Symptoms
The symptoms of bacterial bronchitis differ from person to person. Most of the bacterial bronchitis symptoms are similar to that of other illnesses caused due to bacterial infections. The symptoms of bacterial bronchitis can continue for weeks together. The following are the signs and symptoms of bacterial bronchitis.

• Slight fever
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Cough with yellowish mucus
• Hoarseness
• Backache
• Chills
• Wheezing
• Tiredness

Bacterial Bronchitis Treatment
As mentioned above, the symptoms of bacterial bronchitis are similar to many other medical conditions and hence diagnosis of this disease becomes very difficult. Therefore, if one notices these symptoms present for more than a couple of days, he should consult a doctor immediately. Chest x-rays, blood tests, nasal culture, etc. will be helpful in diagnosis of the disease. Antibiotics have proven to be helpful for treating bacterial bronchitis. The doctor may also prescribe other medications to alleviate cough, fever and other symptoms of bronchitis. It is very necessary to continue taking the medicines regularly up to the stipulated time because if acute bronchitis is left untreated, it can result in chronic bronchitis. In order to reduce the discomfort caused due to symptoms of bacterial bronchitis, you should try to avoid exposure to cold and dry air. You should try to keep the air moist and humid. You can even make use of vaporizers and other products that help in breathing freely. Hot baths and complete rest is also very helpful in treating bronchitis. It is also recommended to keep the body well hydrated by drinking adequate amounts of water.

Bacterial bronchitis can be prevented by following certain precautions. If you are wondering how to prevent bronchitis, then you should remember some simple things. You should stay away from any allergens that lead to allergic attacks. You should not ignore colds and other bacterial infections, but get them treated as soon as possible. On the other hand, you should also try to save yourself from pollution and cigarette smoke. Lastly, do not ignore any of the respiratory disease symptoms as they can be signs of serious diseases.

By Madhura Pandit