Acute Bronchitis

 

Components of the Respiratory System


What is bronchitis?
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the large breathing tubes (airways) that are called bronchi, which causes increased production of mucus and other changes. Although there are several different types of bronchitis, the two most common are acute and chronic (primarily affects adults).

What is acute bronchitis?
Acute bronchitis is the inflammation of mucous membranes of the bronchial tubes.

What causes acute bronchitis?
Acute bronchitis is usually caused by infectious agents such as bacteria or viruses. It may also be caused by physical or chemical agents - dusts, allergens, strong fumes, and those from chemical cleaning compounds, or tobacco smoke. (Acute asthmatic bronchitis may happen as the result of an asthma attack, or it may be the cause of an asthma attack.)

In children, the most common cause of bronchitis is a virus, although in children over 6 years of age, it can be caused by bacteria. Acute bronchitis is usually a mild condition.

Acute bronchitis may follow the common cold or other viral infections in the upper respiratory tract. It may also occur in children with chronic sinusitis, allergies, or those with enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Pneumonia is a complication that can follow bronchitis.

What are the symptoms of acute bronchitis?
The following are the most common symptoms for acute bronchitis. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
  • Runny nose, usually before a cough starts.
  • Malaise (an overall body discomfort or not feeling well).
  • Chills.
  • Slight fever.
  • Back and muscle pain.
  • Sore throat.

In the earlier stages of the condition, children may experience a dry, non-productive cough which progresses later to an abundant mucus-filled cough. Younger children may have some vomiting or gagging with the cough. The symptoms of bronchitis usually last seven to 14 days, but may also persist for three to four weeks.

The symptoms of acute bronchitis may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Consult your child's physician for a diagnosis.

How is acute bronchitis diagnosed?
Bronchitis is usually diagnosed solely on the history and physical examination of the child. Many tests may be ordered to rule out other diseases, such as pneumonia or asthma. In addition, the following tests may be ordered to help confirm diagnosis:

  • Chest x-rays - a diagnostic test which uses invisible electromagnetic energy beams to produce images of internal tissues, bones, and organs onto film.

  • Blood tests. 

  • Pulse oximetry - an oximeter is a small machine that measures the amount of oxygen in the blood. To obtain this measurement, a small sensor (like a Band-Aid) is taped onto a finger or toe. When the machine is on, a small red light can be seen in the sensor. The sensor is painless and the red light does not get hot.

  • Sputum cultures.

  • Lung tests.

Treatment for acute bronchitis:
Specific treatment for acute bronchitis will be determined by your child's physician based on:

  • Your child's age, overall health, and medical history.  

  • Extent of the condition. 

  • Your child's tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies.  

  • Expectations for the course of the condition. 

  • Your opinion or preference.

In many cases, antibiotic treatment is not necessary to treat acute bronchitis, since most of the infections are caused by viruses. Even children who have been coughing for longer than eight to 10 days usually do not need antibiotics. Most of the treatment is supportive of the symptoms your child may have, and may include:

  • Analgesics, such as acetaminophen (for fever and discomfort).  

  • Cough medicine.  

  • Increased fluid intake.

  • Cool mist humidifier in the room may be helpful.

Antihistamines should be avoided, in most cases, because they dry up the secretions and can make the cough worse.

Antibiotic overuse
Antibiotic overuse in children has become a common problem, aggravated by parental pressure for the medication, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). In 1980, 4.2 million prescriptions were written for amoxicillin, an oral antibiotic to treat ear infections. In 1992, the number of prescriptions had grown to 12.3 million (194 percent increase). Use of another antibiotic to treat ear infections, cephalosporins, increased from 876,000 prescriptions in 1980 to 6.8 million in 1992 (a 687 percent increase).

Overuse of antibiotics is leading to strains of diseases that are becoming resistant to the medication, making it harder to treat patients. All too often, antibiotics have been prescribed for conditions such as colds, fluid in the middle ear, or bronchitis, which do not respond to antibiotics, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Antibiotics are only effective in treating bacterial infections.

The key to preventing overuse of antibiotics is education of the parents and physicians in the appropriate use of antibiotics, according to the AAP. Some tips to remember when taking antibiotics, according to the American Medical Association (AMA), include the following:

  • Take the antibiotics as prescribed.
  • Finish the full course of antibiotics, as prescribed.
  • Do not save or reuse antibiotics.

Always consult your child's physician for more information.

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