Chronic bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis

    * Introduction
    * Symptoms
    * Diagnosis
    * Treatment
    * Evolution and complications
Chronic bronchitis is a disease duration of the airways characterized by the constant presence of reflex cough and sputum for at least 3 consecutive months during a period of two years.
The main factor is the risk of disease and smoking. Chronic bronchitis can lead to chronic obstructive bronchitis, emphysema or bronchial carcinoma. The prevalence of the disease is three times higher among men compared to women, and the overall risk of disease increases with age.
Chronic cough may be triggered by different pathologies, which, because the symptoms are very similar, but vary in terms of etiological, are designated by the generic name chronic obstructive bronchopneumonia (COPD - pulmonary disease / chronic obstructive bronchopneumonia).
Simple chronic bronchitis, although not characterized by the narrowing of the bronchi, is included in this group of diseases because it can lead to chronic obstructive bronchitis.
Definition
Chronic bronchitis is a condition in which the characteristic symptom is constant reflex cough with expectoration, which occurs almost daily, at least three months, two years running.
Differential diagnosis with other pulmonary diseases (such as asthma or emphysema) is very simple: simple chronic bronchitis causes cough with expectoration Only without narrowing of the bronchi and without dyspnea.
Etiology
It was found that a main cause of chronic bronchitis is smoking. Risk of disease increases with the number of cigarettes smoked per day. 90% of patients are active smokers or have smoked a long time. Every second smoker over age 40 suffer from chronic bronchitis.
Another cause of chronic bronchitis is frequent inhalation of toxic substances that enter the respiratory system. Groups at risk are miners and factory workers who are regularly exposed to smoke, gases and vapors. Chronic bronchitis can be determined and a genetic predisposition (hypersensitivity bronchial system).
Inhaled toxic substances affect pumonar tissue, thereby increasing the risk of viral or bacterial infection.
Pathogens Most frequent pathogens are bacteria of chronic bronchitis: - Haemophilus influenzae; - Streptococcus pneumoniae;
Chronic obstructive bronchopneumonia Chronic cough may be triggered by different pathologies, which, because the symptoms are very similar, but vary in terms of etiological, are designated by the generic name chronic obstructive bronchopneumonia (COPD - pulmonary disease / chronic obstructive bronchopneumonia). The term "obstructive" refers to the narrowing of the airway lumen, which causes breathlessness. Simple chronic bronchitis, although not characterized by the narrowing of the bronchi, is included in this group of diseases because it can lead to chronic obstructive bronchitis.