10 points to firstttt answer! Chest infection, adultCausesHow the lungs work
Your lungs are like two large sponges filled with tubes. As you breathe in, you suck oxygen through your nose and mouth into a tube in your neck, known as the windpipe, or trachea.
Your trachea splits into two tubes, one for each lung, which are called the primary bronchi. The bronchi then divide into smaller and smaller bronchi, ending in tiny air sacs called alveoli. The oxygen is passed into your blood, from the alveoli, before being pumped around your body by your heart.
Due to the design of your lungs, bacteria and viruses in the air can be passed down into your lungs. Normally, this does not cause problems because your immune system (the body's natural defence against infection) kills the bacteria, or viruses. However, occasionally infection can take hold, particularly if your immune system has been weakened by other conditions, or your lungs have been irritated by cigarette smoke.
Acute bronchitis
Most cases of acute bronchitis are caused by viruses, but sometimes they can also be caused by bacteria. Acute bronchitis is a temporary inflammation of the trachea, and major bronchi, which is caused by infection. The inflammation causes swelling of the airways, and a build up of phlegm (thick mucus), which is cleared from the airways by coughing. The cough can sometimes last for up to three weeks.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection of the tissues of the lung. Germs that cause infections, such as pneumonia, are often passed around the community. In some people, these germs cause pneumonia to develop.
Occasionally, pneumonia can also be caused by a bacterial infection in another part of your body that travels through your bloodstream and into your lungs. The infection of the lungs reduces the ability of your body to absorb oxygen when you breathe.
Left untreated, pneumonia can be extremely dangerous because if the air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs become completely filled with fluid, you will not be able to breathe. Also, the infection can spread from your lungs into your blood, and then on to your other organs.
PreventionVaccinations
If you have had either acute bronchitis, or pneumonia, your GP may recommend you receive vaccinations for influenza (flu) and pneumoccal - a bacteria that can cause pneumonia, meningitis and infection of the blood. The vaccination should help prevent you getting future chest infections.
Vaccinations are normally recommended for the following:
people over 65 years of age,people with either chronic respiratory, heart, renal, or liver conditions,people with diabetes,people with sickle-cell anaemia,people with immune system conditions, such as HIV, andchildren under five years of age.Hygiene
To reduce the risk of spreading bacteria to other people, make sure that you cover your mouth when you cough, or sneeze, and wash your hands regularly. Also, throw away used tissues immediately.
It is impossible to avoid bacteria and germs, but living a healthy lifestyle, by eating a balanced, healthy diet, and taking regular exercise, can help you to remain healthy.
You may find the advice outlined below helpful.
Eat a regular balanced diet which is low in fat, sugar, and salt, and includes plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables (at least five portions per day).Drink plenty of plain, fresh water (at least 1.5 litres, or between 6-8 glasses a day).Drink caffeinated drinks, such as tea, coffee, and fizzy drinks, in moderation.Drink alcohol in moderation. The recommended daily amounts are between 3-4 units of alcohol per day, for men, and between 2-3 units, for women. A unit of alcohol is equal to about half a pint of normal strength lager, a pubs shot of spirits, or a small glass of wine.Those who are physically capable of exercising should exercise regularly (at least 30 minutes a day, five times a week).When you exercise, you need to ensure that your heart and breathing rates increase. However, if you have not exercised before (or for some time), see your GP before starting an exercise programme. Activities such as walking, or swimming, are ideal.Get plenty of sleep.
SymptomsThe symptoms of acute bronchitis and pneumonia can be similar - for example, a cough that brings up phlegm (thick mucus), and a high temperature. However, the key difference between the symptoms of acute bronchitis and pneumonia is that pneumonia is more severe.
Acute bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is usually a mild, self-limiting illness (an illness that resolves by itself without the need for medical treatment). Symptoms of acute bronchitis include:
a persistent chesty cough,coughing up mucus, which is usually yellow, or green,breathlessness upon exertion (above the usual level for the individual),wheeziness,dry mouth,high temperature (in the majority of cases, although in some people, such as the elderly, their temperature may fall),headache, andloss of appetite.The cough usually lasts between 7-10 days, but can persist for up to three weeks. Acute bronchitis may cause headaches, and you may feel generally unwell. However, these symptoms can also be caused by dehydration. Therefore, it is very important to drink plenty of fluid.
Many of the symptoms associated with acute bronchitis, such as headaches, and a general sense of feeling unwell, are sometimes caused by dehydration. However, dehydration may also be caused by the infection itself.
Pneumonia
Common symptoms of pneumonia include:
difficulty breathing - breaths are rapid and shallow,a cough that brings up phlegm (thick mucus),rapid heart beat,a high fever, andchest pain.Less common symptoms of pneumonia include:
coughing up blood,headaches,loss of appetite,fatigue,nausea,vomiting,joint and muscle pains, andblueness of the skin.Sometimes, elderly people with pneumonia may become confused and disorientated.
When should I seek medical help for someone with a cough?
It is difficult to distinguish between a cough that is caused by a simple cold, acute bronchitis and pneumonia, from symptoms alone. Seek medical help if a person with a cough develops any of the problems described below.
They feel, or look, significantly unwell and they are not managing well with daily activities.They are confused or disorientated.They have a temperature above 38C (100F).They have a high resting pulse rate (compared to normal).They are breathless at rest, or become breathless more easily than they would normally expect with exertion.They have a sharp pain in their chest when they breathe in (pleuritic pain).They cough up blood stained phlegm (thick mucus).They have a cough that last longer than three weeksThey have a significant long term health problem, such as diabetes, heart failure or any other long term condition that causes breathlessness.Wheeze.
Acute bronchitis
Acute bronchitis normally does not require medical treatment because the infection normally clears up within 7-10 days. Some methods you can use to help relieve the symptoms are detailed below.
Drink plenty of fluids - acute bronchitis can cause you to sweat more, meaning that you losing more fluids than normal, increasing your risk of becoming dehydrated.Over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers - such as paracetamol, and ibuprofen, can help to reduce a high temperature. However, aspirin is not recommended as it is more likely to cause serious side effects such as stomach ulcers, and bleeding in the stomach.Stop smoking - if you are a smoker, stopping smoking will reduce the irritation to your lungs and can help reduce coughing. It will also help lower your chances of having another lung infection.Cough medicines are not recommended. Coughing enables you to clear mucus from your lungs, so suppressing your cough could make the infection last longer. Also, there is little evidence that cough medicines are effective. A warm drink of honey and lemon can help relive the discomfort caused by coughing.
Antibiotics are not normally recommended for acute bronchitis
Although antibiotics were used in the past to treat acute bronchitis, they are now not normally recommended. As most cases of acute bronchitis are caused by a virus, rather than bacteria, antibiotics would not be effective in treating the condition. Even in cases where bacteria are causing the infection, studies have shown that antibiotics are unlikely to significantly increase your recovery time.
You are almost as likely to suffer an adverse effect through taking antibiotics - such as nausea or diarrhoea - than receive any benefit. There is also the danger that antibiotics can react with other medicines, such as the oral contraceptive, or warfarin (a blood thinning medicine).
The most important reason antibiotics are not widely used in the treatment of acute bronchitis is due to 'antibiotic resistance'. Bacteria are constantly evolving and adapting. If bacteria come into contact with an antibiotic, there is a chance that it may find a way to resist the effect of the antibiotic.
The more antibiotics are used to treat a condition, the more likely it is that the bacteria causing the condition will become resistant. Therefore, antibiotics tend not be used on conditions that are easily resolved on their own.
The use of antibiotics are normally only considered when:
you are 75 years of age of and have a fever,you have long term problems with your lungs, or heart, such as heart failure, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), oryou have a weakened immune system (immunocompromised), due to a condition, such as diabetes, cancer, or due to medical treatment, such as chemotherapy.Pneumonia
If you have pneumonia, you may be treated at home or at hospital depending on how serious the condition is. Your GP will make a detailed assessment based on how ill you are and the likelihood that you will become more seriously ill.
If your GP thinks that there is a high risk that pneumonia could cause you serious proble The majority of chesty episodes are due to fairly simple viral illnesses. A small number are due to bacterial infection and the rest to what are called 'atypical organisms'. Immune compromised individuals can get fungal chest infections.Yours could be due to any of these. Simple - an infection!! You don't have to smoke just to get chest infections!! passive smoking! do you socialise/work/live with any smokers? could be a flu or cold. |
