Complications of bronchitis: causes and consequences

After many diseases, various complications may occur. Bronchitis is a diffuse-inflammatory disease. It affects the bronchial mucosa. Their inflammation or damage arises as an independent process, or as a complication to a transferred disease. In itself, bronchitis is not particularly scary. The threat poses complications that may arise against its background.

Forms of bronchitis

Bronchitis occurs in two forms. Acute is characteristic of colds. Inflammatory process begins with a nasopharynx, tonsils. Then goes to the bronchi. With proper and timely treatment, the disease lasts for 3-4 weeks. Acute bronchitis is most often affected by children. With a recurrent disease, it develops into a second form - chronic.

In this case, inflammation takes a long time. Constantly progressing, causes disturbances in the work of the bronchial tree. The disease occurs with constant exacerbations and remissions. Most often, chronic bronchitis occurs due to smoking or re-transmitted inflammatory catarrhal processes.

Common complications after bronchitis

After the illness, complications may appear. The most common is bronchopneumonia. There may be attacks of suffocation. The right ventricle of the heart increases in size, his muscle weakens, pains appear. After bronchitis, heart failure, shortness of breath and fainting may occur. Another serious complication is bronchoectatic disease. But most often pneumonia begins.

Attacks of suffocation provoke a mucous edema. This can lead to bronchial asthma. In more severe cases, it is complicated by an allergy. If on exhalation wheezing difficulty breathing is observed, this is called bronchial obstruction. Because of the obstruction of the air, emphysema begins. Their subsequent deformation leads to diffuse pneumosclerosis.

Complications of chronic bronchitis

Complications of chronic bronchitis are divided into two main groups. The first is due to infections. This type includes pneumonia, bronchiectasis, asthmatic and bronchospastic components. The second group is caused by the progression of the underlying disease. This species includes:

• Emphysema of the lungs;
• Hemoptysis;
• Pulmonary heart;
• Diffuse pneumosclerosis;
• Pulmonary insufficiency.

The most serious complication is acute respiratory failure. In this case, gas exchange disturbances rapidly progress. Violated metabolism and breathing. Shortness of breath appears even with a slight physical effort. Respiratory failure is accompanied by:

• Headaches;
• Persistent hypercapnia;
• Confusion of consciousness;
• Anorexia;
• Convulsions;
• Insomnia;
• Increased sweating;
• Muscle twitching.

Pulmonary hypertension is accompanied by unpleasant sensations in the chest and heart. In these areas, pain often occurs. Severe pulse fluctuations and sinus tachycardia begin, the pressure rises.

Emphysema of the lungs is characterized by shortness of breath, muffled heart tones. Increases and persistently holds blood pressure. Acute heart failure develops against the background of infections, with exudative pleurisy, spontaneous pneumothorax or pulmonary embolism. If acute pneumonia also joins, it significantly worsens the clinical picture of the underlying disease.

Complications of acute bronchitis in children

If the bronchitis occurs in the child more than three times a year, there is a protracted cough. The disease turns into a sharp form. Complications of bronchitis in children develop most often against the background of anomalies of the pulmonary system, immunodeficiency, asthma, hereditary pathologies of the respiratory system, etc.

On a background of an acute bronchitis there are a rhinitis, a tracheitis, a laryngitis. Intoxication is not expressed strongly and is manifested by a protracted cough. Against the background of the underlying disease, bronchiolitis can form. As a result, there are:

• Edema of the mucosa;
• Respiratory insufficiency;
• emphysema;
• Violations of hemodynamics;
• Hypoxemia.

Complications of acute bronchitis in adults

Complications of acute bronchitis or other forms, in general, coincide. Nevertheless, there are differences. The acute form of the disease is most often complicated by pneumonia or its manifestation in focal form. In this case, the bronchiolar walls become inflamed, appear:

• Pain in the chest;
• Elevated temperature;
• fast fatiguability;
• dyspnea;
• Wet or dry cough;
• headache;
• weakness;
• dizziness.

In adults, bronchopneumonia appears rarely. An increased risk of complication occurs with the additional presence of such diseases as oncology, pathologies of internal organs and immunodeficiency states.

Complications of purulent bronchitis

Complications after a bronchitis of a purulent form begin because of an infection in the blood and lymph. The main complications: pneumonia, general sepsis and internal organs. At the same time can develop:

• Endo-, myo- or pericarditis;
• Glomerulonephritis;
• Generalized vasculitis.

Complications of the purulent form of bronchitis are very dangerous both for children and adults. Sometimes the diseases that have arisen do not lend themselves to complete cure.

Complications of obstructive bronchitis

Because of smoking, working in harmful conditions or air pollution, obstructive bronchitis can begin . Complications are similar to some other forms of underlying disease. First of all, there is a risk of pneumonia. This is due to infection in the body. Also, acute respiratory failure may appear in the form of complications. Its occurrence is most often due to the presence of a viral or bacterial infection.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a complication of bronchitis. Otherwise - pneumonia, which in itself is not very dangerous, if the treatment is prescribed in a timely manner. But when the pathology occurs against the background of bronchitis, the health risks are significantly increased. Such a complication can lead to death.

With pneumonia, the patient is constantly suffering from coughing. Then the exacerbations of the disease begin, during which the temperature rises. The state of health as a whole is greatly aggravated. Even after a slight physical effort, dyspnoea appears. Slime appears in the lungs. It requires immediate treatment, until the inflammation has spread throughout the body.

Heart failure

Heart failure is another serious complication of bronchitis. There is a lack of air in the blood. The heart muscle is greatly weakened. As a result, the acid-base balance is violated. Appears decompensation of breathing, stagnation of blood. Violated its circulation throughout the body. Heart failure refers to rare forms of complications. At the very first symptoms, urgent hospitalization is necessary.

Asthmatic syndrome

Asthmatic syndrome can appear in both adults and children. The complication appears quickly if the bronchitis has begun against a background of an allergy or a viral infection. Distressed breathing passes into attacks of suffocation. This is a pre-state condition. With asthmatic syndrome, there are changes that are difficult to prevent.

Emphysema of the lungs

The treatment of all diseases is focused on preventing any complication. Bronchitis in a triggered inflammatory form can trigger the onset of emphysema. This disease has irreversible consequences due to a long narrowing of the airways.

In the lungs, air circulation and gas exchange are disturbed. There is shortness of breath, chest is enlarged. Mucous acquire a blue tint. This is a consequence of lack of air. Dyspnoea manifests itself after heavy physical exertion. As the progression of emphysema begin to occur at all without provoking efforts.

As a result of the complication, breathing, the work of the heart and other important internal organs are disturbed. They begin to feel oxygen starvation, which affects the brain. The launched form of complication can lead to a fatal outcome.

Bronchial asthma

Bronchial asthma has pronounced symptoms. Suffocation occurs most often at night, which increases the likelihood of a fatal outcome. Attacks are constantly aggravated by problems with the heart. There is a respiratory insufficiency. A large amount of sputum prevents breathing even with slow movement. If untimely treatment against the background of this complication after bronchitis, several additional diseases may arise.

Pulmonary heart

The pulmonary heart is a pathology that is not manifested in children. This is only an "adult" form of complication. Bronchitis is first treated medically. After improper treatment of the disease, a complication in the form of a pulmonary heart is formed. There is a strong shortness of breath, which becomes more pronounced when the patient is lying down.

Constantly the head hurts, the same sensations appear in the field of heart. Negative symptoms can not be removed even with medications. There is increased sweating. Start to thicken fingertips and nail plates. In the neck area, the veins are enlarged. When the complication is started, myocardial tissue thickens, which aggravates heart failure. In the worst case, the disease leads to myocardial infarction.

Bronchial obstruction

Broncho-obstructive syndrome occurs after the progression of the underlying primary disease. Dystrophic and degenerative processes occur due to inflammation and other external causes. Obstruction of the bronchi is formed from hypertrophy of muscles, dystonia.

There may be swelling, which contributes to negative changes in the mucous membranes. A rare cause of complication is compression of the bronchi. The syndrome is extremely dangerous because of its rapid development.

Pulmonary hypertension

All diseases can have various complications. Bronchitis can trigger the onset of pulmonary hypertension. It appears due to an untreated disease. The inadequacy of the right ventricle type and hypoxia begin.

There is rapid fatigue, rapid breathing and stagnant long wheezing. With the provoked severe crisis, the likelihood of viral and other diseases increases.

Treatment of bronchitis

It is best not to wait for a complication of bronchitis. Treatment of a disease that occurs in an acute form, takes place in bed. It is prescribed a warm and profuse drink with raspberries, honey, etc. Acetylsalicylic and ascorbic acids are accepted.

Additionally, vitamins, mustards and cans on the chest are needed. Prescribe medications for dry cough, expectorants. Inhalations based on anise, eucalyptus oils, etc. are needed. Antihistamines are prescribed, and with progression of the disease - antibiotics.

Complications of chronic bronchitis are treated depending on the appearance of one of the above pathologies. Medications are prescribed, a strict diet is followed, breathing exercises are done, etc. With timely prescribed therapy, the predictions are positive.

In order to avoid possible complications of bronchitis in adults and children, the first symptoms of the disease should be consulted by a doctor. Women and men are prohibited during the treatment of drinking alcohol, you can not smoke. Children, like adults, need to take a complex of vitamins to restore the immune system. In other respects, the treatment for each person is strictly individual, depending on the characteristics of the organism.