Acute bronchitis 1A Flashcards
Which airways are inflamed in bronchitis?
large airways of the tracheobronchial tree
What causes bronchitis?
infectious agents
Does bronchitis affect the upper or lower respiratory tract?
lower respiratory tract
Difference between bronchitis and pneumonia?
pneumonia is inflammation of lungs parenchyma (alveoli) resulting in areas of consolidation when visualised on cxr
Since there is no generally accepted definition of bronchitis, what approach is typically used and why?
Macfarlane criteria which offers a practical approach via exclusion and a clinical diagnosis
What is the Macfarlane criteria?
a) acute illness <21days ; b) predominant symptom - cough; c) at least one other respiratory symptom e.g. sputum, wheeze,chest pain
When is acute bronchitis usually prevalent?
usually winter and early spring
What is a likely causative factor?
smoking
Typical causes of infective acute bronchitis?
adenovirus, influenza A&B, coronavirus, rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (Rsv)
Other rarer infective causes of acute bronchitis?
bordetella pertussis, mycoplasma pneumonia, chlamydiophila pneumonia
Is chest X-ray indicated for acute bronchitis?
no, it is a clinical diagnosis because it can’t be visualised well as it does not affect lungs parenchyma but the larger airways of the tracheobronchial tree
Is fever present in acute bronchitis?
fever is rare
What is present on examination on a patient presenting with acute bronchitis?
ronchi, crackles or wheeze
Management of acute bronchitis include?
conservative management (bed rest and oral hydration), decongestant and inhaled bronchodilators and antitussives (but not indicated for children)
What is given for bronchitis caused by bordetella pertussis, mycoplasma pneumonia, chlamydiophila pneumonia?
macrolides
