Acute bronchitis

Question 1

what is it

Answer 1

self limiting chest infection

inflammation of trachea anf major bronchi

Question 2

cause?

Answer 2

viral

Question 3

typical patient?

Answer 3

presents in autumn or winter - cough, sore throat, wheeze, rhinorrhoea, ?fever

Question 4

how can you differentiate it from pneumonia?

Answer 4

sputum, wheeze, SOB tend to be more present in pneumonia

no focal chest signs on exam other than wheeze in acute bonchitis

Question 5

investigations?

Answer 5

clinical diagnosis

can do CRP to help guide antibiotics

Question 6

management?

Answer 6

1. analgesia
2. good fluid intake
3. consider antibitoic therapy if patients-
   are systemically very unwell
   have pre-existing co-morbidiities
   have CRP of 20-100mg/L –> offer delayed prescription
   have CRP >100 –> immediate antibitoics - doxycycline, amoxicillin