ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BRONCHITIS CONTAGIOUS
We need air in order to breathe. Without it, life is not possible as our body organs need oxygen to facilitate normal functioning. This fact should be more than enough for us to stop tobacco smoking as this can cause disease and eventual respiratory damage. One of the most feared respiratory diseases is bronchitis. It is a condition which describes inflammation of the bronchial tree brought about by infection, constant irritation, and cigarette smoking. It’s classified as a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, since there is obvious blockage in the passage of air to and from the lung’s air sacs. A lot of people are scared of bronchitis for due to two reasons:
- CONTAGIOUS Bronchitis is a COPD
Since most COPD conditions such as emphysema and asthma are untreatable, people are actually scared of bronchitis as well. True enough, bronchitis is categorized as COPD but this doesn’t mean that the symptoms cannot be relieved and managed by medicine and therapy. There is a variety of medications that are given to patients with bronchitis which instantly solve the problem of inflamed and swollen bronchial tissues on your airway. Do not be scared as bronchitis is a completely manageable medical condition.
Bronchitis Contagious is well contagious.
Generally, bronchitis caused by viral and bacterial infections are contagious. This is no reason though to become alarmed and scared for your well being. The ability of the bacteria and virus which cause bronchitis to inflict serious lung and airway damage is minimal. Virulent as these bacteria may seem to appear, they are less threatening as they are self-limiting and may pass after a few weeks of being symptomatic.
Now that you’re essentially aware of the basics behind bronchitis, let us now tackle how you can prevent the development of bronchitis or avoid catching the disease altogether. Here are some health information and tips in the prevention, treatment, and management of bronchitis.
- Bronchitis can be categorized into two major types-acute and chronic.
Acute bronchitis is contagious as it may develop from either bacteria or virus. A causative agent’s virulence or power maybe measured through the signs and symptoms an individual experiences. Acute bronchitis though contagious in nature is self limiting. Cough is a prominent symptom which present among people with acute bronchitis. Many acute bronchitis cases are caused by viruses. Almost 80-90% of acute bronchitis occurrence is found to have been caused by viruses. Only 10% of these cases are bacterial in origin. This is due to the fact that acute bronchitis usually transpires together with a cold or flu.
Chronic bronchitis on the other hand is caused by smoking and pollution. The long time use of tobacco is the major contributor for the increased incidence of chronic bronchitis in both men and women. The slow degradation of the bronchial tree’s epithelial tissue due to tar accumulation from chronic smoking is said to be the culprit of most chronic bronchitis cases. It is then safe to say that bronchitis of the chronic type is not in any way contagious during its active phase.
Most acute bronchitis cases are self-limiting
Acute bronchitis of the viral type only last from days to a couple of weeks. There are rare occasions wherein patients experience coughing and mucus secretion for more than a month. But all acute bronchitis of the viral type is self-limiting and eventually dies down. In cases where an individual is severely compromised, it can exacerbate into much worse conditions, such as those among HIV/AIDS patients.
The self-limiting attribute of viral bronchitis decreases the dilemma of the public in catching them. Although it eventually dies down, symptomatic relief should still be practiced to provide comfort among patients with acute bronchitis.
The use of antibiotics should be carefully administered among patients with acute bronchitis
Since most people with acute bronchitis are of the viral type, people should be made aware that taking antibiotic medication is not necessary at all. This can even create more problems in the future as taking antibiotics during acute bronchitis attacks can most likely develop antibiotic resistance among patients. This means that a certain antibiotic agent may not be as effective in warding off bacterial infection in the future because of developed resistance to it. It’s best to provide medications which only treat the symptoms of stuffy, runny, and clogged nose. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) can be administered among patients to decrease fever and inflammation.
Bacterial bronchitis should be treated with antibiotics
Antibiotics are the ideal medication for people with bacterial bronchitis. Since symptoms caused by bacteria can only be treated with antibiotics, it is a must to undergo medication therapy to eradicate the proliferation of bacteria. Bacterial bronchitis is evident in the color of the phlegm that is expectorated when coughing. Sputum may be green or yellow in color, and in some cases have tinge of blood as well. It is important to remember though that if dark red blood is present in the sputum further laboratory and medical check-up should be implemented to rule out tuberculosis or lung cancer.
Practice proper hygiene to reduce your chances of catching acute bronchitis
Since acute bronchitis can be caused by virus or bacteria, people in close proximity with affected patients may catch them at some point during the disease process. It’s best to always carry a handkerchief with you at all times, especially in populated areas so you can cover your mouth and nose. Virus and bacteria which cause bronchitis travels through air and you can easily catch them without knowing. It is also your responsibility to practice proper hygiene such as washing your hands and covering your mouth and nose when sneezing so you don’t infect the people around you. Daily vitamin and mineral supplementation will greatly reduce your chance of developing acute bronchitis or even Bronchitis Contagious.
