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Bronchitis or acute
bronchitis
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- Bronchitis is an infection in the lungs caused either by a virus or a bacterium. The infection causes inflammation of the lung tissue. In general, viral and atypical bacterial infections will have either a dry cough, or a cough with white or light-yellow phlegm, while traditional bacteria will result in a cough with dark yellow or green phlegm. Untreated, bacterial Bronchitis can turn
into pneumonia.
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- Cough
- Phlegm
- Fever
- Chest pain worsens with deep
breaths or coughs
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- Viral -- adenovirus, Influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, paraInfluenza, and others
- Atypical bacteria (e.g.,
Mycoplasma)
- Bacterial
- Fungi
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- Upper airway rhonchi (i.e.,
continuous sound produced in the throat; snorelike)
- Test may also include a chest X-Ray, Pulmonary function tests, blood count, and sputum
culture.
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- Viral
- Symptomatic treatment only
- Atypical bacteria -- Erythromycin, Doxycycline, Biaxin, Levaquin
- Bacterial -- many antibiotics work (some recommended are Ceftin, Augmentin, Levaquin)
- Drink plenty fluids, rest, stopping smoking, and use
vaporizers. These are all part of effective therapy plans.
Bronchodilators, in the form of inhalers (aerosolized
medications), may be prescribed. Steroid inhalers may also
be prescribed to reduce inflammation in the
airways.
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