There are two types of bronchitis – acute and chronic and both are treated slightly differently. While acute bronchitis is usually a 2-week affair, chronic bronchitis could go on for years.
When your symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing and a lot of mucus come on, you need to get to a doctor and find out what is wrong with you. A simple cold, sinus attack or even a bout of flu can produce symptoms that are very similar to bronchitis which is why you need an expert to tell you what is wrong with you. Granted that in most acute bronchitis cases the symptoms clear up all on their own, there are instances where it could progress to more serious conditions like pneumonia and this is what you need to take precautions against. If you have a fever, it could be pneumonia so you need to be careful.
The treatment for bronchitis is usually symptomatic so the doctor will give you something for your cough and something for your wheezing. In most cases, you will be given a prescription cough medicine to ease the coughing symptoms and an inhaler to ease the wheezing. The inhalers that are usually prescribed are the ones that contain albuterol so that the airways are dilated and you can breathe better. Cough medications work in two ways – they help to loosen the phlegm so it comes out more easily and they help to control the coughing spells. Very often for bronchitis you will need to be given the stronger cough suppressants because the coughing is usually quite severe. If the phlegm or sputum is green or blood streaked, you might be asked to do some tests before the doctor prescribes medication for you. Antibiotic courses will be prescribed only if the doctor feels your bronchitis is caused by a bacterial and not a viral infection. The main thing every doctor will try to do is to reduce the inflammation in the lungs so that your symptoms are not so bad.
Sometimes, the shortness of breath gets so bad that the person will have to be taken to hospital and given oxygen. This is not a regular bronchitis symptom but it could happen. If there is a lot of inflammation in the bronchial tubes, you might be asked to take steroids to clear it up. In some cases, inhaled steroids will do the job and these are usually preferred because it is targeted medication and there are fewer side effects felt in the rest of the body.
Your doctor will also ask you to do certain things at home. You will find a lot of relief if your home isn’t very dry. So you could add a humidifier to your bedroom as this makes your coughing better. Or you could keep a kettle on the boil on a very low flame so it fills your home with humidity. When the cough is still mild, you could take OTC cough medicines but do remember never to give a child any cough suppressants without the doctor saying so. Children under two must not be given cough medications. Most cough medications that are nonprescription help by soothing the airways and preventing further inflammation. In most cases, your acute bronchitis attack will not need antibiotics as it is mostly caused by viruses against which antibiotics have no use. This is why most doctors will treat the symptoms while the attack runs its course.
For chronic bronchitis, the main treatment will be to stop smoking. If the bronchitis is caused by other pollutants, then you need to remove yourself from that environment. The doctor will then treat the symptoms. He will also check if you are susceptible to pneumonia and prescribe treatment if you are. Depending on the mildness or severity of this complication, you will be prescribed medication.
At home, you need to drink a lot of fluids so you avoid dehydration. Like we said, you need to make sure your home has a bit of humidity. Steer clear of smokers – it will only further irritate your cough. Take your cough medication at the proper times and if you are feeling feverish and your muscles ache, take an aspirin and rest. You need to eat nutritious foods, making sure that they are not heavy. Fruits, vegetables that are lightly steamed, soups, broth, stews and juices will help you be up and about in a short while. You need rest while the attack runs its course and you need to look after yourself for a couple of weeks after it is over because you will still have the cough and you will still feel tired. Remember that your immunity is low while you are recovering and this could put you at risk for other infectious diseases so stay away from crowds and get as much sleep as you can, so you can be fit again as soon as possible.