Bronchitis in adults: symptoms in different forms

Most often bronchitis develops against the background of colds such as flu, ARVI, but it can also occur under the influence of chemical, physical stimuli, for example, acetone, dust, petrol vapors, and also at the influence of atypical factors. In most cases, the nature of the disease is contagious (viral or bacterial). Infection leads to a diffuse inflammatory process in the bronchial mucosa, and this causes the appearance of a characteristic symptom - a painful cough.

Weakening of the immune system is the main condition necessary for developing bronchitis in adults. Symptoms of the disease will not appear in a person whose immunity is resistant to various infectious agents. Reduction of protective forces can occur for many reasons. So, this is promoted by chronic diseases, alcohol abuse, smoking, work in harmful production, hypothermia, constant fatigue and much more. Adverse factors can also be attributed to age - the older the person, the more he is susceptible to any disease, including infectious.

Bronchitis in adults: symptoms and forms

The disease can occur acutely and chronically. In the first case, the inflammation develops rapidly in the form of simple, obstructive, obliterating bronchitis, bronchiolitis. If the disease in acute form is not cured to the end and repeats in a year two or three times over two or more years, it becomes chronic. The disease that occurs in this form is accompanied by a constant moist cough.

Acute bronchitis in adults: symptoms

At the initial stage of the development of the disease there are nonspecific symptoms: malaise, headache, fatigue. After one or two days, the signs of bronchitis in adults become more pronounced: behind the sternum there is burning, pain, heaviness, cough begins, first nasal, dry, without spitting out. Coughing attacks lead to increased pain, perspiration is felt constantly in the throat. There may be a temperature increase, but not more than 38 degrees.

After a lapse of two or three days, sputum appears, and the person feels relieved, since a wet cough no longer causes such painful sensations. First, mucous sputum is excreted, clear, transparent. But soon it becomes purulent-mucous, which indicates the attachment of bacterial microflora. Such pronounced symptoms usually persist for no more than two to three weeks. In the event of a disturbance of the respiratory function, which can occur with bronchial obstruction due to the clogging of their lumens or spasms, coughing can be complicated by shortness of breath.

The main sign of obstructive bronchitis is a paroxysmal cough with a difficult separation of sputum. Cyanosis of the face and limbs may appear, which is especially noticeable with exhalation. If the inflammation passes to the bronchioles, bronchiolitis occurs. Symptoms of this condition are even greater temperature increase, increased respiration. In the absence of adequate treatment, there is a threat of the development of pneumonia.

Chronic bronchitis in adults: symptoms

Usually, the disease begins to develop in youth, and clearly pronounced chronic nature gets closer to forty or fifty years. During the remission period, the condition is satisfactory, but a wet cough with mucopurulent, easily separated sputum is present all the time. In times of exacerbation, the peak of which occurs in the winter, the person's health worsens, the temperature rises, sweating, and shortness of breath appear.

Treatment

Bronchitis is a serious disease that can be complicated by severe pathology of the pulmonary system. Self-medication usually leads to the flow of inflammation into a chronic form. Man alone can not determine the nature of the disease, and therefore, and literate therapy can not be done without the help of a doctor. So, for example, antibiotics for bronchitis in adults are effective only if there is a bacterial infection. Nevertheless, many people immediately start taking them when symptoms of the disease appear, without thinking that in the case of the development of bronchitis as a result of the effects of viruses, it is completely useless.