Bronchitis: inflammation of one or more
bronchi
Bronchus: one of the larger passages conveying air
to and within the lungs
Chronic Bronchitis: Excessive mucus production with productive
cough for at least 3 months a year for 2 successive years. Only a
minority of patients with the clinical syndrome of chronic bronchitis develop
significant airway obstruction.
Cause: Severitly of disease related to amount and duration
of smoking; respiratory infection exacerbates symptoms; Allergies;
Pollutants
Hypertrophy ( enlargement or overgrowth) and hyperplasia ( abnormal
increase in the number of normal cells in normal arrangement )of bronchial
mucous glands
Wide spread inflammation
Distortion
Narrowing of airways, and mucus within the airways produce resistance
in small airways and cause severe ventilation perfusion imbalance
Symptoms:
Wheezing
Coughing
Shortness of breath
Dyspnea (difficulty breathing)
Chronic Bronchitis:
Insidious onset, with productive cough and exertional dyspnea
Colds associated with increased sputum production and worsening dyspnea
that take progressively longer to resolve; copious sputum (gray, white,
or yellow in color)
Weight gain from edema ( abnormal accumulation of fluid in intercellular
spaces of the body)
Cyanosis (a bluish discoloration of skin)
Tachypnea (rapid respiration)
Wheezing
Prolong expiratory time
Use of accessory muscles of respiration
Treatment:
Antibiotic therapy – for infections
Bronchodilators – to relieve bronchospasm and facilitate mucocillary
clearance
Adequate fluid intake and chest physiotherapy to mobilize secretions
Ultrasonic or mechanical nebulizer treatments to loosen secretions and
aid in mobilization
Occasionally Corticosteroids
Diuretics for edema
Oxygen for hypoxemia (deficient oxygenation of the blood)
Avoidance of smoking and air pollutants