Bronchitis
Bronchitis is a benign condition occurring after viral URI in patients without COPD. Symptoms are cough, sometimes with sputum production. A chest x-ray is ordered if cough lasts more than 3 weeks, rales on physical exam, or abnormal vital signs.
CASES/YEAR
10,000,000 (US); 200,000,000 (Global)
OTHER NAMES
Acute bronchitis (1-3 weeks); Chronic bronchitis (productive cough for at least 3 months of the year for 2 years); [Cecil, p. 586]
INCUBATION
Estimated: 12 hours to 4 weeks;
COMMENTS
Associated with upper respiratory tract infection--usually viral in etiology; Rule out asthma, post-nasal drip, pertussis, CHF, GERD, cancer, and side effect of ACE inhibitor; Influenza commonly causes cough and fever. Use antimicrobial drugs for influenza if symptom onset <48 hours, for suspected pertussis, or infection by Mycoplasma pneunoniae or Chlamydia pneumoniae. [ABX Guide] Viruses are thought to be the most common cause, but they can be isolated from only 8 to 37% of patients. Viral causes in descending order of importance are: influenza A and B, parainfluenza, respiratory syncytial virus, coronavirus, adenovirus, rhinoviruses, and metapneumovirus. Atypical bacteria that may cause acute bronchitis are Bordetella pertussis, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The influenza vaccination status of the population is an important variable. [Cecil, p. 591] Dyspnea is not common except in patients with COPD. Wheezing is common in patients with asthma. [ID, p. 491]
DIAGNOSTIC
Chest x-ray if cough > 3 weeks, rales, or abnormal vital signs; [ABX Guide]
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
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>fatigue, weakness
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>fever
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E pharyngitis
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E rhinitis
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R chest pain
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R cough
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R dyspnea
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R hemoptysis
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R sputum production
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R wheezing
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*ARDS
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*pneumonia
REFERENCES FOR CASES/YEAR
1. (US) 10 million treated every year; [Gorbach, p. 104]
2. (Global) Calculate 10 X 20 = 200 million;