Chronic Bronchitis Clinical Characteristics

Written by Hu Bai Yu
Pulmonology
Updated on November 16, 2024
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Chronic bronchitis often presents with symptoms of coughing, which are long-term, recurrent, and progressively worsen. Coughing is a very prominent manifestation of this condition. For mild cases, symptoms typically flare up during the winter and spring seasons, especially noticeable upon waking in the morning, with less coughing during the day. In the summer and fall, the coughing may lessen or disappear. In severe cases, patients may experience coughing throughout the year. It's crucial to take note and, under a doctor's guidance, use corresponding anti-inflammatory and anti-infection medications, along with cough suppressants and expectorants to alleviate symptoms. Another characteristic is the presence of phlegm, typically white mucous sputum or serous foamy sputum. It's advised to use expectorants for treatment. During treatment, avoid smoking and alcohol, and maintain a light diet. Additionally, if there are symptoms of asthma or wheezing, it may be necessary to take medications to alleviate these symptoms. (Note: The answer is for reference only; medication should be administered under the guidance of a professional physician and should not be taken blindly.)

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
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Does chronic bronchitis hurt?

Chronic bronchitis, commonly known as "chronic bronchitis", generally does not involve pain. The main symptoms of chronic bronchitis are coughing and expectorating phlegm, which may or may not be accompanied by wheezing. The coughing and expectorating in chronic bronchitis are typically long-term and gradual, with recurrent episodes. The symptoms are usually more pronounced in the morning, characterized by white, sticky phlegm, and generally do not involve chest pain or pain in other areas. If a patient with chronic bronchitis experiences pain in various parts of the body, it is typically considered that they might have other concurrent illnesses.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
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Causes of Chronic Bronchitis

The causes of chronic bronchitis are not yet very clear. It is currently speculated that it may be the result of multiple factors interacting over a long period. The factors most closely associated with the occurrence of chronic bronchitis primarily include smoking, cigarette smoke, dust, and irritants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, chlorine, ozone, etc. Additionally, some infectious factors may also be somewhat related to the occurrence of chronic bronchitis, with the most common possibly being infections by mycoplasma, bacteria, or viruses. Furthermore, chronic bronchitis may be related to age, climate, and other factors. Overall, the triggers of chronic bronchitis are not very clear at present, and it is advised to eliminate these risk factors as much as possible if present.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
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What are the symptoms of chronic bronchitis?

Chronic bronchitis is also colloquially known as "old chronic bronchitis." From this name, we can tell that patients usually develop the disease slowly with a long duration, lasting for years, even decades. The symptoms, such as coughing and expectoration, can acutely worsen repeatedly. Most patients cough and produce phlegm mostly when indoors, particularly noticeable upon waking in the morning and also possibly at night. The phlegm is typically white, sticky, or serous and foamy; occasionally, it may be blood-streaked. During acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis or when accompanied by an infection, pus-like yellow phlegm or green bloody sputum may appear. Additionally, a small number of patients may experience wheezing, also known as asthmatic bronchitis.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
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Is chronic bronchitis contagious?

Chronic bronchitis refers to some chronic non-specific inflammation of the bronchial mucosa and surrounding tissues. Its main symptoms are coughing and expectoration, so many people are concerned about the contagion from patients with chronic bronchitis. However, chronic bronchitis itself is not a contagious disease and is not considered for acute infectious disease management. This means that most of the time, it is relatively safe to be in contact with patients suffering from chronic bronchitis. Nonetheless, there are some exceptions, such as certain cases where a chronic bronchitis patient might also be afflicted with mycoplasma infections or certain viral infections, such as H1N1 influenza, H3N2 influenza, or other infections like tuberculosis. In such cases, the chronic bronchitis patient may potentially be infectious.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
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How is chronic bronchitis diagnosed?

Chronic bronchitis: how is it diagnosed? First, we need to understand what chronic bronchitis is defined as. It refers to the chronic nonspecific inflammation of the trachea, bronchial mucosa, and surrounding tissues. We emphasize the chronic process, and currently, diagnosis is primarily based on clinical symptoms. This means the patient must exhibit symptoms such as coughing and expectoration, and these symptoms must persist for more than three months for at least two consecutive years. Additionally, it is crucial to exclude other diseases. Any organic disease that presents with symptoms of coughing, expectoration, and wheezing must be ruled out, such as tuberculosis, pneumoconiosis, lung abscess, lung cancer, heart disease, bronchiectasis, bronchial asthma, gastroesophageal reflux, and pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, among others.