Chronic Bronchitis
Simple
chronic bronchitis is a condition in which there is chronic or recurrent
increase in the volume of mucoid bronchial secretion sufficient to cause
expectoration. Throat cleaners who swallow their sputum should also be included
in this definition, but it is not possible to diagnose chronic bronchitis with
confidence in the presence of other cardio-pulmonary disease which may
themselves give rise to expectoration.
Chronic
bronchitis may be complicated by infection, giving rise to chronic or recurrent
muco-purulent bronchitis in which the sputum is persistently muco-purulent. On
the other hand chronic bronchitis must be further complicated by persistent
widespread narrowing of the airways at least on expiration which causes airways
obstruction. It may then be termed chronic obstructive bronchitis.
Causes:
The
following may be causes of this condition.
Ø Cigarette
smoking: The death-rate among
cigarette smokers is generally high.
Ø Atmospheric
Pollution: Smokes and sulphur dioxide
are the major factor in the air pollution.
Ø Infection: Infection with respiratory Bacteria’s (Mycoplasma pneumonia) and
viruses especially H. influenza causes most of the danger.
Ø In occupations, dust and fumes e,g, in coal mines and steel and
flax workers, there is greater prevalence of the disease.
Ø Chronic bronchitis is more common in men and incidence increases
with age.
Ø Infection increases air way obstruction and poor ventilation and
decrease in blood flow, the condition deteriorates further.
Clinical picture:
ü The onset is extremely insidious; throat clearing and the
swallowing may be the only symptoms left on the surface.
ü Usually there is expectoration of
mucus with cough after waking.
ü As age advances, the cough becomes
more troublesome. The sputum is at first mucoid, but in many contains black
specks of carbon particles from smokes.
Later it may become yellow or
green.
ü Haemoptysis is rare.
ü Breathlessness may first become
apparent very gradually on exertion and then it may be accompanied by wheeze.
ü There may be no physical sign but
with increasing mucus secretion, rhonchi may be heard which clear on coughing.
ü Airway obstruction increase and
with it wheezing may become persistent.
ü Clubbing of fingers is exceptional
and should give rise to suspicious that carcinoma of the lung is present.
ü Advanced chronic bronchitis leads
to respiratory failure. There may be
loud closure of pulmonary valve.
ü The liver is enlarged and there is
peripheral oedema.
Diagnosis:
It is made by examining the respiratory
movements of the chest, there rate and rhythm etc.
Complication:
Asthma
is often associated. In long-standing case, bronchiectasis, emphysema, and
ultimately congestive heart failure may appear. From frequent coughing, hernia
may develop.
Prognosis:
The
condition, though progressive, is not fatal, but the chances of complete
recovery are meager with longevity shortened.
Differential diagnosis:
Is to
be made from chronic pulmonary tuberculosis and pronchiectasis. Diagnosis of
bronchitis is made by seasonal onset of cough, associated with rhonchi and
rales in the lungs and progressive emphysema, while that of pulmonary
tuberculosis by the presence of tubercle bacilli in sputum.
Treatment: General
¬ The patient should be put to bed.
¬ Dusty, stuffy and damp atmosphere
should be avoided.
¬ During the attack, no fats should
be used, and fresh luke-warm water be drunk.
Curative:
Aconite:
The stage of this medicine is brief. Before the inflammation is localized, it
is indicated in the beginning, if caused by exposure to cold draft, or dry cold
winds, or if it occurs as a result of checked perspiration, the symptoms being
coryza, frequent sneezing, chillness, restless sleep, full hard pulse and
anxiety.
Antim Tart: This remedy is to be considered at two stages, the early stage
and the later stage in capillary pronchitis of children and old people with the
following indications: wheezing respiration,
Moist rales throughout the chest, cough appears to be loose, but no
phlegm is raised, in children there is no cough, but there is drowsiness,
superficial, laboured respiration and vomiting of food, and mucus may sometimes
be there.
Belladonna: violent
fever. short, dry, continual distressing cough, worse at night and on lying
down, breathing irregular and hurried, no expectoration ; if it is there, it is
blood-streaked, fullness in chest without pain, though children cry, when coughing, and skin is hot, and inclined to perspire only with occasional
starting.
Bryonia: Seldom indicated in pure bronchitis, it should be prescribed
when: the
cough is very severe, and hurts the head
and distant parts of the body,the patient presses the head or the side of the chest, while coughing, great pressure on sternum, dyspnoea and dry cough which seems to start
from the stomach, the cough is worse
after a meal, and has no expectoration practically, stitching pain in the side
of the chest indicate it specially, and aggravation
from a change of warm to cold atmosphere.
Carbo Veg. For bronchitis of old people having: profuse, yellow,
offensive expectoration, Dyspnoea, much rattling in chest, and burning.
Mercurius Sol: An excellent remedy in inflammatory bronchitis, when indicated
as : dry, concussive, exhausting cough, sputum, watery, saliva-like, or
muco-purulent, fever with alternation of chill and heat, desire for cold drinks
which aggravate the cough, pasty sweat without relief, and soreness and roughness from fauces down to
middle sternum.
Phosphorus is adapted to sub-acute, lingering cases of persons who are
delicate, tall, slender, overgrown or phthisical, having the following
indications: paroxysmal cough with pain
below chest, suffocative pressure in the upper part of chest with constriction
of larynx. hoarseness, mucus rales, bloody
and mucus sputum or purulent, having a salty or sweetish taste; patient better
after sleep, respiration is halting with a tendency to pneumonia, cough worse
after meal and going to open air, soreness and drowsiness of chest, and use of
voice aggravates cough.
Sulphur is adapted to chronic cases, when: loud rales are present, profuse, thick, muco-purulent expectoration
persist, and suffocation in attacks
exists.
Ipecacuanha is similar to Antim Tart, but the rales are louder and coarser
with much coughing, which does not bring out to sputum. There is no prostration
like that of Antim Tart. (Senega, Lachesis, Arsenicum, Nux vom., Rhus Tox,
‘scilla’ Veratrum Album and Dulcamara are valuable remedies for bronchial
catarrhs old).
Kali Carb is a suitable remedy for capillary bronchitis, when there were
sharp stitches in the chest along with dyspnoea, choking cough and great
weakness.
Heper Sulph is a suitable remedy for loose, choking, rattling cough with
moist rales. The expectoration is yellow and voice is hoarse.
Pulsatilla is to be given, when the expectoration becomes copious, loose
thick and muco-purulent. If hepatic symptoms are present in the capillary
bronchitis, Chelidonium is the remedy.
Kali Bich: Acute or chronic bronchitis, where the mucus is tough and
difficult to raise.
Causticum for long-standing cases of emaciation and disease, where burning
soreness, rawness are characteristic indications. Alphonia or hoarseness is
present. The patient has mucus under the sternum which he cannot raise.
Besides, he cannot lie down at night.
Carbo Veg for old persons with blue nails, cold extremities, profuse,
expectoration without any power or raise it; hoarseness.
Lycopodium: Bronchitis complicated with emphysema. The cough sounds loose,
but not easy to raise; cough, worse from stretching the arms, stopping and
lying down on the left side, from eating, or drinking cold things, in the wind,
or in the warm room.
Symptomatic
Homeopathy medicines help for Asthma. Its good to consult the doctor to get
symptomatic treatment.
Whom to contact for Bronchitis Treatment
Dr.Senthil Kumar Treats many cases of all types of Bronchitis
problems, In his medical professional experience with successful results. Many
patients get relief after taking treatment from Dr.Senthil Kumar.
Dr.Senthil Kumar visits Chennai at Vivekanantha Homeopathy Clinic, Velachery,
Chennai 42. To get appointment please call 9786901830, +91 94430 54168 or mail
to consult.ur.dr@gmail.com,
For more details & Consultation Feel free to contact
us.
Vivekanantha
Clinic Consultation Champers at
Chennai:- 9786901830
Panruti:- 9443054168
Pondicherry:- 9865212055 (Camp)
For appointment please Call us or Mail
Us
For appointment: SMS your Name -Age – Mobile Number -
Problem in Single word - date and day - Place of appointment (Eg: Rajini – 9 -
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