Bronchitis is an inflammation of such portions of the airtube that ramify within the lungs. When only the larger tubes are affected, it is called ‘bronchitis’ but, when finer branches are affected, it is called ‘broncho-pneumonia” or ‘capillary bronchitis’. The last variety is far more dangerous than the former one. In either case, the disease must not be handled by a layman, for the simple reason that the latter may even prove fatal.
When simple bronchitis remains untreated or is allowed to prolong, it would assume shape of chronic bronchitis. If the patient expels sputum for a number of months, say for 2-3 months or over, chronicity sets in. One has also to take into account untreated asthma of chronic variety.
Cause and other Factors
1. When various types – l irritants continue to affect bronchial mucosa, and the most importanl oul of which is cigarette smoking.
2. Other irritants include dust, smoke, fumes (hat are attributes of specific occupational hazards and arc, thus, unavoidable, but not like smoking which can and should be given up.
3. Fall-out effects of general atmospheric pollution in big industrial cities/towns.
4. Fog. sudden changes in temperature, exposure to cold winds, dampness may also cause bronchitis.
5. Food allergies are too many to count. In such cases, each case has to be individualised.
6. Non-smokers, ruralites, and those living in pure and fresh environs are less prone to infection than the smokers and urban-ites who are more vulnerable to bronchitis.
7. Chronic bronchitis occurs more in middle and old ages but not so common during young age. In childhood and infancy broncho-pneumonia is far more common, though middle-aged and old people are, by means, immune.
Symptoms
1. There is hypertrophy of the glands which secrete mucus (i.e. mucus-secreting glands).
2. There is less efficient transport of the increased mucus in the air-passages (air-ways).
3. Due to mucosal oedema and permanent (structured) damage of the walls of air-passage calibre of the air passages gets reduced.
4. Air is ‘trapped’ in the Alveoli, as the degree and intensity of infection and resultant obstruction is greater while expirating.
5. Over-distension of the Alveoli often results in destruction of walls.
6. In chronic bronchitis, a major proportion of air-llow obstruction is irreversible.
Causes, enumerated above, coupled with other precipitatory causes, cause repeated attacks of productive cough which normally occur during winter season, and there is steady but progressive rise in symptomatic complications. Cough is present throughout and continues for all the year round.
There is breathlessness, tightness in the chest, wheeze (wheezing sound), felt more in the morning but when sputum is excreted by excessive bouts of coughing, there is marked relief.