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Bronchitis

Bronchitis (Latin name)

By Bjarne Lühr Hansen PhD, MD and Philipp Skafte-Holm MD, Mentor Institute

Bronchitis is an inflammation of viruses in the trachea and bronchi. Fever, chest pain and long-lasting cough - up to 4 weeks - are typical signs. There are no medicines that can cure bronchitis. Cough medicine has no effect. You should seek medical attention immediately by fever, cough and shortness of breath. 

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the respiratory tract. In most cases, bronchitis is a common cold that has spread to the trachea and bronchitis.

Bronchitis is very common in winter and affects children, young people, adults and the elderly.

The typical signs of bronchitis are cough with fever and wheezing in the chest.
Bronchitis begins with irritation of the throat, hoarseness, cough and light fever. Although bronchitis symptoms - especially the cough - are annoying, most are up and running virtually as usual. The couch may be dry or with sputum. The cough is exacerbated by exertion and may cause chest pain. The cough typically lasts 2-3 weeks but some coughs for up to 4 weeks.

In severe cases of fever, cough with saliva, chest tightness and shortness of breath, bronchitis may be difficult to distinguish from pneumonia. When you have pneumonia, you are more sick and bedbound.

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Medication

There are no medicines that can cure bronchitis. The disease pass by itself. Cough medicine has no effect on the cough. This applies to both mucolytic, antitussive and other types of cough medicine. The doctor may, after careful examination, choose to prescribe medication that relieves.

What can you do?

You should avoid exertions and stop smoking.

Contact the doctor tomorrow

If you have fever, cough and shortness of breath by exertion. If you have both symptoms of bronchitis and chronic lung disease (COPD or asthma).

Contact the doctor immediately

If you have high fever - over 39oC, cough with saliva, shortness of breath with even less effort or breathlessness at rest.