Viral Bronchitis Symptoms

Viral bronchitis is a condition that occurs when the inner walls of the lungs become infected. This usually occurs following a respiratory infection like the common cold. Other factors such as smoking or exposure to smoke can aggravate this condition. In many cases, this kind of bronchitis will go away on its own. However, if this condition persists beyond a week, it is best to seek medical attention.

Effects

• The most common symptom of viral bronchitis is a cough that brings up sputum, which may be green or yellowish-gray in color. Apart from that, you may experience soreness in your chest that can feel like constriction or a burning sensation. Other symptoms include sore throat, congestion, wheezing, shortness of breath and a slight fever. You may also have a general feeling of fatigue and malaise.

Considerations

• It's important to note that a number of symptoms caused by viral bronchitis can be deceptive. For example, if a child has a habit of swallowing sputum there is no way of knowing if he has the condition. It's a good idea to teach your child to spit out any mucus he brings up; this gives you a chance to see if your child has symptoms of an infection. Similarly, smokers may think these symptoms are a normal side effect of smoking. If you are a regular smoker, any nagging cough should be checked out immediately.

Identification

• In order to diagnose viral bronchitis, the doctor will first listen to your chest for congestion. In some cases, an x-ray may be taken or a sputum culture may be examined for bacteria. To rule out conditions like emphysema or asthma, you may also have to take a pulmonary function test. This involves breathing into a machine called a spirometer. The test measures how much air you take in and how quickly you breathe it out.

Warning

• Since bronchitis is often dismissed as just a cough, many people don't seek medical treatment for it. They often think that it will clear in a few days. However, the elderly, infants and smokers need to pay special attention to any bronchial attack. Repeated bouts of bronchitis could mean that the person has a more serious lung disorder. In some cases, people have contracted pneumonia as a result of viral bronchitis.

Prevention/Solution

• Because bronchitis is caused by a virus, antibiotics are not the best way to deal with it. Instead, you should use supportive measures to relieve symptoms. Get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids. Treat chest discomfort with over-the-counter medication, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Do not suppress your cough; spit out the sputum. If you're a smoker, it's best to stop smoking until the condition clears up. Asthmatics may need to use an inhaler or extra medication to reduce the inflammation of their air passages.