Acute Bronchitis

Acute  Bronchitis

Acute inflammatory disease of the bronchi

Causes

Bacterial:

• Streptococcus pneumoniae

• Haemophilus influenzae

Predisposing factors:

• Viral infections of the respiratory tract

• Whooping cough

• Dust, smoke

• Exposure to cold

• Cigarette smoking

Clinical features

• Irritating, productive cough sometimes with scanty mucoid, blood streaked sputum

• Chest tightness sometimes with wheezing

• Fever may be present

Differential diagnosis

• Bronchial asthma

• Emphysema

• Pneumonia

• Tuberculosis

Investigations

Investigations

Diagnosis based on clinical features

Chest X−ray

Pulmonary function tests

Management

Acute

Most cases are viral and mild

paracetamol 1g every 4−6 hours (max: 4g daily) child: 10mg/kg (max: 500mg) per dose

plenty of oral fluids

If there is suspicion of bacterial infection or a WBC count shows leucocytosis, give 5−day course of:

doxycycline 100mg every 12 hours child >8yrs: 2mg/kg per dose

contraindicated in pregnancy

or cotrimoxazole 960mg every 12 hours

child: 24mg/kg per dose

or amoxicillin 500mg every 8 hours

child: 15mg/kg per dose

Prevention

• Avoid predisposing factors above