Bronchitis may be
indicated by:
| ►Expectorating
cough |
►Shortness
of breath (dyspnea) |
| ►Wheezing |
►Occasionally
chest pains |
| ►Fever |
►Fatigue
or malaise |
|
►Sputum
characteristics do not correspond
with a particular etiology |
Acute bronchitis often follows a cold or
infection.
The earliest clinical feature of bronchitis
is increased secretion of mucus by sub
mucosal glands of the trachea and bronchi.
Damage caused by irritation of the airways
leads to inflammation and infiltration of
the lung tissue by neutrophil. The
neutrophil release substances that promote
mucosal hyper secretion.
Neutrophil infiltrate the lung tissue, aided
by damage to the airways caused by
irritation.
Damage caused by irritation of the airways
leads to inflammation and leads to
neutrophil being present
Mucosal hyper secretion is promoted by a
substance released by neutrophil
Further obstruction to the airways is caused
by more goblet cells in the small airways.
This is typical of chronic bronchitis
Although infection is not the reason or
cause of chronic bronchitis it is seen to
aid in sustaining the bronchitis.
|
