What are the symptoms of bronchitis?

Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
Updated on September 04, 2024
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Bronchitis is a common clinical disease, which can generally be divided into acute bronchitis and chronic bronchitis in clinical practice. Acute bronchitis often has a sudden onset, with symptoms such as coughing and expectoration; some people may also experience fever, chest tightness, and wheezing. Typically, the course of the disease lasts two to three weeks. Chronic bronchitis, on the other hand, has a longer duration, with a more gradual onset and symptoms of recurrent coughing and expectoration, and even chest tightness. The annual duration of the disease is more than three months, with a typical onset lasting over two years, making it very long and difficult to control.

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Symptoms of bronchitis in children

Pediatric bronchitis is an infection of the bronchial mucosa caused by various pathogens. Clinical presentations commonly begin with symptoms of upper respiratory infection such as nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, or low-grade fever, followed by coughing as the main symptom. Initially, the cough is dry, later accompanied by phlegm. Symptoms can be more severe in infants and young children, often including fever, vomiting, and diarrhea, generally without systemic symptoms. Auscultation of the lungs reveals coarse breath sounds, with fixed and scattered dry rales, and medium to coarse moist rales. Infants and young children often have difficulty expelling phlegm, which may be audible in the throat and lungs as a rattling sound. If the infant or young child has wheezing bronchitis accompanied by eczema, or other allergic histories, they may develop pronounced symptoms of difficulty breathing, and may even progress to asthma.

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How to cure bronchitis completely?

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial mucosa caused by pathogenic microorganism infections, smoking, air pollution, and other harmful substances' stimulation, allergies, etc. Clinically, it often presents symptoms such as cough, sputum production, and chest tightness. For treatment, medications that stop coughs, promote mucus clearance, and relieve asthma can be used. If there is a bacterial infection, sensitive antibiotics can be chosen for treatment. After treatment with these medications, bronchitis can be cured. However, if the causative factors of bronchitis mentioned before reoccur, bronchitis can recur. Therefore, bronchitis is not curable.

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What should I do if my baby has bronchitis?

Bronchiolitis in babies is an inflammation, which may be caused by infections such as bacteria, viruses, or mycoplasma. The primary treatment is anti-infection, for which antibiotics like oral cephalosporins or penicillin can be chosen for the treatment. Additionally, treatment includes expectorants and cough suppressants, where one or two types of traditional Chinese or Western medicine can be used orally. If the coughing is frequent, nebulized inhalation can be administered to achieve local anti-inflammatory, expectorant, and cough suppressant effects. While treating, it's important to observe the effects and administer intravenous infusions if necessary.

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Does bronchitis cause a fever?

Bronchitis, a condition that can cause symptoms of fever if it is acute inflammation. During the acute phase of inflammation, the pathogens in the body stimulate the body's temperature regulation center, leading to chills and fever. Clinically, there may also be an acute facial expression, accompanied by complications such as difficulty breathing and cyanosis of the lips. If it is chronic bronchitis, fever symptoms generally do not occur, with the main symptoms being cough, sputum production, and difficulty breathing. Diagnosis requires combination with laboratory test results, and treatment measures and plans should be taken according to the cause of the disease.

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How to treat bronchitis in children

The main symptoms of bronchitis in children are coughing and excessive phlegm, and there may also be symptoms such as fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. Generally, when caring for a sick child at home, it’s important to pay attention to their diet. The diet should be light and easy to digest, with an appropriate increase in nutrition. Foods that are too sweet, too salty, or cold should be avoided. Also, avoid giving the child big tonic foods or foods that are rich and greasy, like fish, shrimp, or crab, which can cause allergies. Additionally, ensure the air has adequate humidity, typically maintaining it between 55%-65%. Let the child drink warm water frequently, change positions regularly, and pat their back to help expel phlegm. Proper rest is also important. If the child is really uncomfortable, has persistent coughing, or shows clear signs of fever and irritability, it is advised to go to the hospital promptly, so a doctor can assess the child’s condition and treat them accordingly.