Bronchitis

What is bronchitis?

• Bronchitis is an inflammation of the airways in the lungs which typically causes an annoying and ongoing cough and shortness of breath
• Acute bronchitis is often caused by cold and flu viruses and can last for a few weeks, while chronic bronchitis can lasts for months and often recurs annually.
• Chronic bronchitis is usually associated with smoking.

What are the symptoms of bronchitis?

• Symptoms of bronchitis include:
• Shortness of breath
• Coughing or wheezing
• Chest tightness
• Aches and pains
• Fever
• Elderly people, smokers and people with poor immunity or other existing respiratory conditions such as asthma are more prone to bronchitis.

What are the treatments of bronchitis?

• Many people with bronchitis will recover in a few weeks with time and rest and paracetamol for fever and aches.
• Antibiotics will not work on bronchitis caused by a virus, so follow your doctor’s advice on this.
• Inhaling steam can help, along with warm baths and drinking plenty of fluids to help thin the lung mucus.
• In more severe cases, bronchodilators open the bronchial tubes and clear out mucus, while mucolytics can be prescribed by your doctor to thin and loosen mucus.
  This will provide relief by making the mucus easier to cough up.