Bronchitis purulent: description, possible causes, types and reviews

Among the numerous forms of bronchitis, purulent is the greatest danger. The disease occurs suddenly. If you do not start treatment in time, you can not rule out serious complications.

Mechanism of pathology development

Purulent bronchitis is an inflammatory disease. Its course is accompanied by the release of mucus, which significantly hampers breathing.

Culprits of dangerous pathology are bacteria. Most often, infection occurs pneumococcal, haemophilus and streptococci. They can enter the body by airborne droplets or with lymphatic drainage. When infected, the inner shell of the bronchi is covered by a mucopurulent coating. As a result, the patency of the airways is disrupted.

Weakened after a previous flu or ARVI, the body is not able to provide adequate resistance to pathogenic flora. Rapidly multiplying bacteria provoke puffiness of the bronchi, dyspnea and secretion of thick sputum. Passive smoking, air pollution and allergic reactions only increase the severity of the ailment. Simultaneously, the bronchi become even more vulnerable to bacteria.

During the pathological process, it is customary to single out 2 phases:

1. Primary, which affects the alveoli and bronchi.
2. Secondary. The inflammatory process spreads to other organs of the respiratory system.

The development of purulent bronchitis takes a long time. If it is recognized in time and immediately begin therapy, you can hope for a favorable prognosis. Otherwise, the pathological process will take on a chronic form.

Main reasons

The appearance of a purulent discharge is usually preceded by an incorrect treatment of the acute form of bronchitis. The prescribed antibacterial agents could not clear the focus from pathogenic microorganisms due to their low sensitivity to medicines.

In addition, doctors identify a group of factors, the effect on the body of which provokes a purulent inflammation :

• A sharp change in the temperature regime;
• Weakened immunity;
• Chronic diseases of the paranasal sinuses;
• Frequent colds.

Smoking people often detect bronchitis. With time and in the absence of therapy, the disease can be transformed into a purulent form.

Types of pathology

Purulent complication of the disease, doctors-pulmonologists are divided into 3 types:

1. Catarrhal. The pathology is manifested by a painful cough and plentiful expectoration. During diagnosis, leucocytes are sometimes found in the analysis of mucus.
2. Obstructive. Sputum or blood veins are always seen in the phlegm.
3. Chronic. It is a sluggish form of pathology, characterized by periods of remission and relapses.

The most dangerous is obstructive purulent bronchitis. It develops against the background of exacerbation of infectious diseases caused by the activity of pathogenic microflora. In this case, the patient's temperature rises, joint and muscle pains appear. Any delay and lack of treatment can lead to irreversible changes in the pulmonary system, lethal outcome.

Clinical picture

The disease usually manifests itself in the winter. Its primary symptoms may resemble an ARI or a common cold. First there is a perspiration in the throat, which is taken for angina or tonsillitis. After a while a strong dry cough joins him. Each attack can be accompanied by pain in the chest. Sometimes it is difficult for patients to breathe because of the large accumulation of mucus in the bronchi. A little later, the cough becomes wet, and sputum during expectoration acquires a yellowish hue.

Among other symptoms of acute bronchitis, doctors distinguish:

• Increased sweating;
• Strong weakness;
• A slight increase in temperature to subfebrile marks;
• Shortness of breath.

The disease can worsen to 2-3 times a year. Relapse is usually caused by hypothermia or a prolonged cold. In this case, the clinical picture becomes more pronounced: the cough increases, and the volume of mucus released increases sharply.

How to recognize the chronic form of the disease in a timely manner?

With chronic purulent bronchitis with a cough, up to 250 ml of sputum per day is excreted. Its color varies from pale yellow to green. In the pus can be seen blood veins.

The disease is characterized by a protracted course with a mandatory increase in bronchial obstruction. The most dangerous complication is acute respiratory failure. If the patient's breathing is prolonged and becomes strained, dry whistling sounds appear, it's time to sound an alarm. Such symptoms indicate a sharp deterioration in well-being.

Methods of diagnosis

When there is a strong cough or shortness of breath, you need to seek advice from the therapist. It is this specialist who can correctly diagnose, and after that will prescribe the necessary treatment.

Standard examination of a patient with suspected purulent bronchitis includes the following measures:

1. Sputum analysis.
2. Radiography. It gives an opportunity to assess the degree of bronchial involvement, to identify pathological foci.
3. Bronchoscopy. It allows to distinguish the purulent form of the disease from the secondary, caused by tuberculosis or pneumonia.
4. Blood test. It is necessary to assess the general health of the patient.

On a mandatory basis, the doctor must examine the patient, examine his anamnesis and the features of the clinical picture. Immediate attention is paid to accompanying purulent bronchitis symptoms.

Treatment of the disease is always carried out in a complex manner. First you need to remove the exudate from the bronchi. For this purpose, expectorants and mucolytics are prescribed. In advanced cases, bronchoscopy may be required. More details about each method of therapeutic treatment will be described below.

Use of antibacterial drugs

An acute period of purulent bronchitis always requires compliance with bed rest, quitting smoking and limiting the negative effects on the respiratory system. Hospitalization of the patient is indicated only in emergency cases, when the main disease is supplemented with severe intoxication or heart failure.

The main method of therapeutic effect is the use of antibiotics. Medications of the following groups are usually used:

1. Macrolides (Sumamed, Azitrox). They have a destructive effect on the process of protein synthesis in the cells of pathogenic flora, which reduces their ability to further divide.
2. Aminopenicillins ("Amoxiclav"). Such drugs have a disastrous effect only on the tissue of bacteria, without harming the human body. However, their use is often accompanied by allergic reactions.
3. Cephalosporins ("Ceftriaxone", "Cefazolin"). Antibiotics from this group provoke inhibition of the synthesis of substances that are the basis of the bacterial cell membrane.
4. Fluoroquinolones ("Ofloxacin", "Ciprofloxacin"). They have a destructive effect on the DNA of bacteria, which contributes to their death. Prolonged use is often the cause of severe dysbiosis.

Antibiotics for purulent bronchitis should be prescribed after sputum analysis for the sensitivity of pathogenic microorganisms. Otherwise, their application will be ineffective.

Complex treatment

In addition to antibiotics, mucolytic agents are always prescribed to eliminate the pathological process . They help to speed up the spitting of phlegm. Anti-histamines can be used to relieve swelling of tissues and eliminate allergic manifestations.

The complex treatment also includes various physiotherapy procedures, resort and sanatorium rest. Positively affect the patient's condition:

• Inhalation with Mukaltin and Hydrocortisone;
• Electrophoresis with potassium iodide;
• Deep-heating procedures.

After improving the condition, it is useful to attend sessions of health-improving massage, respiratory gymnastics.

Bronchoscopy

Bronchoscopy is an endoscopic procedure that is used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. With her help, the doctor clears the respiratory tract from accumulated sputum. When purulent bronchitis is prescribed 2-4 procedures, and between them there may be an interval from 3 days to a week.

The course of bronchoscopy is always completed by endobronchial sanation. By means of a special syringe and a flexible catheter, the doctor injects the medicine. It can be "Furacilin", "Dimexid" or "Rivanol". The entire procedure is performed under local anesthesia.

Possible consequences

Acute purulent bronchitis, according to the reviews of doctors and patients, requires competent and timely treatment. Otherwise, the disease can be transformed into a chronic form or pneumonia.

During the development of the pathological process on the walls of the bronchi formed pus. The mucous layer begins to swell. As the infection progresses, the inflammation becomes more and more deep in the tissue of the walls. The disease takes a severe form, which is characterized by impaired bronchial function, drainage function, atrophy of mucosal walls.

Muco-purulent chronic bronchitis is dangerous because it is often accompanied by the following disorders:

• Bronchiectasis and asthmatic syndromes;
• Hemoptysis;
• Emphysema of the lungs;
• Diffuse pneumosclerosis;
• Failure of the right ventricle of the heart.

However, compliance with all the recommendations of the doctor allows you to avoid the consequences listed.

Patient Reviews

The purulent form of bronchitis is a serious and at the same time common disease. According to the patients' feedback, it is possible to avoid its development if all the colds are treated in a timely manner and to monitor the state of health.

When to prevent the appearance of the disease failed, you need to follow the recommendations of the doctor for treatment. According to patients, the standard set of therapy implies the use of antibiotics and mucolytic drugs. In rare cases, a bronchoscopy is required.