Chronic Bronchitis Clinical Characteristics

Written by Hu Bai Yu
Pulmonology
Updated on November 16, 2024
00:00
00:00

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.)

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Xiao Li
Pulmonology
54sec home-news-image

Symptoms of chronic bronchitis

The symptoms of chronic bronchitis primarily include coughing, expectorating phlegm, or accompanied by wheezing. Coughing generally occurs mainly in the morning, with bouts of coughing or expectoration during sleep. The sputum is white, viscous, or serous foamy, and is more prevalent in the morning. Getting up or changing body position can stimulate expectoration. In patients with prominent wheezing symptoms, it is referred to as asthmatic bronchitis, and some may also develop bronchial asthma. However, the presence of emphysema can manifest as shortness of breath after labor or activity. If the condition persists for three months each year, for two consecutive years or more, it can be clinically diagnosed as chronic bronchitis.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
1min 51sec home-news-image

Can chronic bronchitis be treated?

Chronic bronchitis, commonly known as "chronic obstructive bronchitis," is treatable. The primary symptoms of chronic bronchitis are coughing and expectoration. If the disease occurs for more than three months each year, for two consecutive years, while excluding other organic diseases, chronic bronchitis can be diagnosed. Treatment for chronic bronchitis is divided into two parts. During acute exacerbations, which typically present with worsened coughing and expectoration, increased sputum volume, or the presence of purulent sputum and possibly accompanied by wheezing and fever, the main treatment is anti-infection. The primary medications for anti-infection are antimicrobial drugs, which include macrolides, quinolones, cephalosporins, etc. Additionally, treatment can be aimed at alleviating symptoms of coughing and expectoration and might include expectorants and cough suppressants, such as ambroxol. For wheezing, medications like aminophylline or nebulized treatments may be necessary. Most of the time, patients with chronic bronchitis are in a remission phase. The primary treatment here initially involves addressing known triggers, such as insisting smokers quit and minimizing exposure to dust or harmful gases at work. Chronic bronchitis patients are encouraged to exercise moderately, strengthen their physique, and prevent colds. For patients who experience repeated respiratory infections, vaccination or immune modulators, such as BCG, may be considered. Always follow a physician’s guidance regarding specific medication use.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
1min 18sec home-news-image

How to cure chronic bronchitis completely?

At present, there is no cure for chronic bronchitis, and most treatments are mainly aimed at alleviating its symptoms. The treatment is mainly divided into two parts, one is the treatment during the acute exacerbation phase, which means that if a patient with chronic bronchitis experiences acute worsening of symptoms such as coughing and expectoration, or if accompanied by wheezing, fever, etc., then the main treatment methods might include anti-infection measures, expectorants to relieve cough, or treatments to alleviate wheezing. Most patients with chronic bronchitis are likely in the remission phase most of the time, and the primary treatment during this phase is initially to address factors that might trigger chronic bronchitis, such as insisting that patients who smoke quit smoking, and for those who have been exposed to dust or smoke, it is crucial to resolve triggering factors and avoid contact with harmful gases or inhalation of harmful particles. The next step is to enhance physical fitness and prevent colds. Chronic bronchitis patients can engage in appropriate physical exercise based on their condition, and those who suffer from long-term recurrent infections might consider pursuing immunotherapy.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
1min 31sec home-news-image

Chronic bronchitis chest X-ray manifestations

Patients with chronic bronchitis may have completely normal chest X-rays or lung CT scans in the early stages, meaning that if a patient exhibits symptoms of chronic bronchitis, such as coughing and expectorating for more than three months continuously or over two consecutive years, they can still be diagnosed with chronic bronchitis even if their chest X-ray appears normal. Additionally, as chronic bronchitis progresses over time, some patients may develop thickening of the bronchial walls or interstitial inflammation in the small bronchioles and alveoli, etc. These conditions can manifest on chest X-rays as coarse, disordered lung textures in a net-like or strip-like pattern, or as patchy shadows, which are generally more evident in the lower fields of both lungs. Observing these changes on a chest X-ray can assist in diagnosing chronic bronchitis. Furthermore, as the disease progresses, some patients with chronic bronchitis may develop into chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or pulmonary heart disease, and corresponding changes might be observable on chest X-rays. Additionally, patients with chronic bronchitis often experience acute exacerbations or concurrent infections, which may lead to patchy exudates visible on the chest wall.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
57sec home-news-image

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.