Chronic bronchitis etiology

Written by Wang Xiang Yu

Pulmonology

Updated on September 01, 2024

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The etiology of chronic bronchitis is not very clear at present, and it is now believed to be caused by the long-term interaction of various factors. The most closely related factors are harmful gases or particles that act on the respiratory tract for a long time, causing damage to some structures of the respiratory tract, such as cigarette smoke, fumes, dust, irritating gases, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, etc. These physicochemical factors cause damage to the airways. Additionally, some infectious agents, such as bacteria, mycoplasma, or viral infections, along with some immune-related factors, are believed to play a certain role in the development of chronic bronchitis.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu

Pulmonology

3min 18sec

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How to treat chronic bronchitis?

How to treat chronic bronchitis, first of all we need to know that chronic bronchitis can be divided into two phases, one is the remission phase, the other is the acute exacerbation phase. Since most patients are in the remission phase most of the time, that is, their symptoms of cough and expectoration are relatively stable, more or less the same every day, with no significant change in the amount and nature of the sputum, no purulent sputum, no significant increase in sputum, and no fever or other symptoms of infection. In such cases, the first step in treating chronic bronchitis patients is to target some possible causes of their condition, such as smokers must quit smoking. Most chronic bronchitis patients experience some relief in cough and expectoration after quitting smoking. Furthermore, some patients' chronic bronchitis may be due to exposure to dust or irritant gases. It is crucial to avoid contact with these harmful gases as much as possible. In addition, patients in a stable condition should engage in physical exercise, enhance their physical fitness, and prevent colds. Some chronic bronchitis patients who frequently suffer from respiratory infections can consider using immunomodulators or some traditional Chinese medicine to regulate immunity and enhance resistance. Additionally, since chronic bronchitis can acutely exacerbate, which means the patient’s condition has changed, their cough and expectoration frequency may increase, the amount of sputum may increase, or there may be some purulent sputum, or fever and other symptoms. In such cases, the primary treatment may still be infection control, commonly using antimicrobial drugs, often referred to as anti-inflammatory drugs. The types of anti-inflammatory drugs are numerous, the most common ones include penicillin, erythromycin, levofloxacin, amoxicillin, and some cephalosporins. In such cases, it is necessary to choose medication under the guidance of a doctor. Additionally, in these situations where the patient’s cough and expectoration are worsened, and sputum increases, medications for cough suppression and expectoration, commonly known as expectorants and cough relievers, are also needed. There are some proprietary Chinese medicines, such as licorice preparations, and Western medicines such as bromhexine and ambroxol as well. Moreover, a very small portion of patients may experience wheezing, meaning some patients might also have symptoms like chest tightness and shortness of breath. In such cases, it would be necessary to use bronchodilators under the guidance of a doctor, such as theophylline or doxophylline, and these medications must be used under medical supervision.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu

Pulmonology

59sec

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Chronic bronchitis radical cure medication

First, we still need to know what chronic bronchitis is. The medical definition of chronic bronchitis is chronic non-specific inflammation of the trachea, bronchial mucosa, and surrounding tissues. Here, we emphasize the chronic process, and the diagnostic criteria generally require that the condition persists for more than three months each year, for two consecutive years or more. Since the definition of the disease strongly emphasizes the chronic process, we must understand this disease and accept this fact. The symptoms of chronic bronchitis can last a long time and may recur throughout a person's life. So far, we have not found a cure for chronic bronchitis. Therefore, patients with chronic bronchitis do not need to believe those false advertisements, nor should they pursue a cure for chronic bronchitis and use antibiotics long-term, as these are not advisable approaches.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu

Pulmonology

1min 4sec

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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.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu

Pulmonology

56sec

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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

1min 31sec

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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.