Thx bgt, ya mbak lif tuk informasinya. Mama fira On 12/10/07, Lif Rahayu <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Artikel ttg bronchitis di bawah ini bagus sekali, sumber > http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/bronchitis/DS00031/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print > > > Bronchitis > Introduction > > Just when you thought you were finally over a cold, your chest starts to > feel sore and you develop a cough. Later, you might get the chills or a > slight fever. > > If these signs and symptoms sound familiar, you might have acute bronchitis, > a condition that occurs when the inner walls that line the main air > passageways of your lungs become infected and inflamed. Bronchitis often > follows a respiratory infection such as a cold. Smoking and exposure to > smoke are also risk factors for bronchitis. > > Most cases of acute bronchitis disappear within a few days without lasting > effects, although coughs may linger for weeks. If you have repeated bouts of > bronchitis, see your doctor. You may have a more serious health problem — > such as asthma or chronic bronchitis — that needs medical attention. > Signs and symptoms > > A cough that brings up yellowish-gray or green mucus (sputum) is one of the > main signs of bronchitis. Mucus itself isn't abnormal — your airways > normally produce up to several tablespoons of mucus secretions every day. > But these secretions usually don't accumulate, because they're continuously > cleared into your throat and swallowed with your saliva. > > When the main air passageways in your lungs (bronchial tubes) are inflamed, > they often produce large amounts of discolored mucus that comes up when you > cough. If this persists for more than three months, it is referred to as > chronic bronchitis. Mucus that isn't white or clear usually means there's a > secondary infection. > > Still, bronchitis symptoms can be deceptive. You don't always produce sputum > when you have bronchitis, and children often swallow coughed-up material, so > parents may not know there's a secondary infection. Many smokers have to > clear their throat every morning when they get up. While they may think this > is normal for everyone, it's not. If it continues for more than three > months, it may be chronic bronchitis. > > *Accompanying symptoms of an upper respiratory infection* > Acute bronchitis also may be accompanied by common signs and symptoms of an > upper respiratory infection, including: > > - Soreness and a feeling of constriction or burning in your chest > - Sore throat > - Chest congestion > - Sinus fullness > - Breathlessness > - Wheezing > - Slight fever and chills > - Overall malaise > > Sometimes chronic sinusitis — an ongoing infection in the lining of one or > more of the cavities in the bone around your nose — can mimic bronchitis. > That's because the signs and symptoms of chronic sinusitis include a thick, > yellow or green postnasal discharge and a chronic cough that's triggered > when you try to clear your throat of mucus draining from your sinuses, > instead of your lungs, as is the case with bronchitis. > Causes > CLICK TO ENLARGE [image: Illustration comparing emphysema and > bronchitis]<javascript:OpenResizeableWindow('/popupnowrap.cfm?objectid=AF7DFC14-722E-43CA-BF0CCD30E217877F&method=display%5Ffull',650,500)> > Emphysema > and > bronchitis<javascript:OpenResizeableWindow('/popupnowrap.cfm?objectid=AF7DFC14-722E-43CA-BF0CCD30E217877F&method=display%5Ffull',650,500)> > > *Acute bronchitis* > The same viruses that cause colds often cause acute bronchitis. But you can > also develop noninfectious bronchitis from exposure to your own or someone > else's cigarette smoke and even from pollutants such as household cleaners > and smog. > > Bronchitis may also occur when acids from your stomach consistently back up > into your food pipe, a condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease > (GERD). And workers exposed to certain dusts or fumes may develop > occupational bronchitis, an acute disease that generally clears up when > exposure to the irritant stops. > > *Chronic bronchitis* > Sometimes inflammation and thickening of the lining of your bronchial tubes > become permanent — a condition known as chronic bronchitis. Signs and > symptoms include shortness of breath and a continual cough that produces > large amounts of mucus. You're generally considered to have chronic > bronchitis if you cough most days for at least three months a year in two > consecutive years. Often, however, smokers with chronic bronchitis cough > almost every day, even if it's just to "clear their throats" in the morning. > > Unlike acute bronchitis, chronic bronchitis is an ongoing, serious disease. > Smoking is the major cause, but air pollution and dust or toxic gases in the > environment or workplace also can contribute to the condition. In some > people, chronic inflammation of the airways may lead to asthma. > Risk factors > > People who smoke or who live with a smoker are at greatest risk of both > acute and chronic bronchitis. Children whose parents or siblings smoke also > are susceptible to bronchitis, as well as to asthma, pneumonia, colds and > ear infections (otitis media). > > Other factors that increase your risk of bronchitis include: > > - *Low resistance.* This may result from another acute illness, such > as a cold, or from a chronic condition that compromises your immune > system. > Older adults, infants and young children also have greater vulnerability > to > infection. > - *Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).* Stomach acids that > persistently back up into your esophagus may cause a chronic cough, > usually > through a reflex mechanism. > - *Exposure to certain irritants on the job.* You run the risk of > developing occupational bronchitis if you work around certain lung > irritants, such as grains or textiles, or are exposed to chemical fumes > from > ammonia, strong acids, chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide or > bromine. The cough associated with occupational bronchitis may be dry > (nonproductive). Occupational bronchitis usually clears up when you're no > longer exposed to these substances. > > When to seek medical advice > > Most cases of bronchitis clear on their own in a few days, especially if you > rest, drink plenty of fluids, avoid exposure to tobacco smoke and keep the > air in your home warm and moist. > > Call your doctor if: > > - *Your cough is severe or is preventing you from sleeping.* He or she > may recommend prescription cough suppressants to help you get some rest. > - *You have a low-grade fever that persists* more than three days or a > fever higher than 101 F, you're breathless, or you cough up bloody or > yellow > or green mucus, see your doctor. You may have pneumonia. And if you have > a > cough that lasts more than three weeks, be sure to seek medical care. The > inflammation from a chronic infection may lead to asthma in some people. > - *You have chronic lung or heart problems*, including asthma, > emphysema or congestive heart failure, and think you may have developed a > case of bronchitis. These conditions put you at greater risk of > developing > complications from bronchial infections. > - *You have repeated bouts of bronchitis.* You may have chronic > bronchitis, or you may live or work in an environment that continually > irritates your airways. In some cases, you may have GERD or chronic > sinusitis. If so, your doctor may be able to pinpoint the cause of your > problem and suggest further testing and lifestyle changes that can help. > > Screening and diagnosis > CLICK TO ENLARGE [image: Photograph showing person using a > spirometer]<javascript:OpenResizeableWindow('/popupnowrap.cfm?objectid=E0666275-47E2-4983-ADC0FE4974B326D5&method=display%5Ffull',650,500)> > Spirometer<javascript:OpenResizeableWindow('/popupnowrap.cfm?objectid=E0666275-47E2-4983-ADC0FE4974B326D5&method=display%5Ffull',650,500)> > > To diagnose bronchitis, your doctor will likely listen to your chest with a > stethoscope. You may also be asked to have a chest X-ray and perhaps a > sputum culture — a test that checks for the presence of bacteria in sputum > produced when you cough. > > In some cases your doctor may recommend additional tests to rule out other > causes for your symptoms, including a pulmonary function test (PFT) that > checks for signs of asthma or emphysema. During a PFT, you blow into a > device called a spirometer, which measures the volume of air in your lungs > after you've taken a deep breath and blown it out. The spirometer also shows > how quickly you can get air into your lungs. The test is painless and takes > just a few minutes. If you have repeated bouts of bronchitis and your doctor > doesn't suggest a PFT, ask to have one done. > Complications > > Although a single episode of bronchitis usually isn't cause for concern, it > can lead to pneumonia in some people. Older adults, infants, smokers and > people with chronic respiratory disorders or heart problems are at greatest > risk of this complication. > > Take repeated bouts of bronchitis seriously. They may signal chronic > bronchitis, asthma or other lung disorders. Also, if you have chronic > bronchitis and you continue to smoke you're at increased risk of lung cancer > — over and above the normal risk that smokers face. > Treatment > > Antibiotics don't effectively treat most cases of bronchitis because the > condition usually results from a viral infection. Instead, the following are > the cornerstones of acute bronchitis treatment: > > - Get plenty of rest. > - Drink extra liquids. > - Take a nonprescription cough medicine. > > It's best not to suppress a cough that brings up mucus, however, because > coughing helps remove irritants from your lungs and air passages. If your > cough is keeping you awake at night, use just enough cough medicine so that > you can rest, but not enough to suppress your cough completely. There are > several kinds of over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicines. Read their labels > to figure out which is most likely to relieve the type of cough you have. If > your cough is preventing you from sleeping, your doctor may recommend a > prescription cough suppressant. > > Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic if he or she suspects that you have > a bacterial infection. If you have a chronic lung disorder or if you smoke, > your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to reduce your risk of a serious, > secondary infection. > > If you have asthma, your doctor may recommend an inhaler and other asthma > medications to reduce inflammation and open narrowed passages in your lungs. > Prevention > > If you have frequent, repeated attacks of bronchitis, the culprit may be > something in your environment. Cold, damp locations — especially in > combination with air pollution or tobacco smoke — can make you more > susceptible to acute bronchitis. When the problem is severe, you may need to > consider changing where and how you live and work. > > These measures also may help prevent bronchitis and protect your lungs in > general: > > - *Avoid smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke.* Tobacco smoke > increases your risk of chronic bronchitis and emphysema. > - *Get an annual flu vaccine.* Many cases of acute bronchitis result > from influenza. Getting a yearly flu vaccine can help protect you from > getting the flu, which in turn, may reduce your risk of bronchitis. > - *Ask your doctor about a pneumonia shot.* If you're older than 65 or > you have risk factors such as diabetes, heart disease and emphysema, > consider having a pneumonia shot. In addition, a vaccine known as Prevnar > can help protect young children against pneumonia. It's recommended for > all > children under age 2 and for children 2 to 5 years old who are at > particular > risk of pneumococcal disease, such as those with an immune system > deficiency, asthma, cardiovascular disease or sickle cell anemia. Side > effects of the pneumococcal vaccine are generally minor and include mild > soreness or swelling at the injection site. > - *Use hand sanitizers regularly.* To reduce your risk of catching a > viral infection, get in the habit of using hand sanitizers, and don't > touch > the inside of your nose or rub your eyes. > - *When practical, wear a face mask.* If you have to spend a lot of > time around other people who are coughing and sneezing, it's a good idea > to > wear a face mask to reduce your risk of infection. > > Self-care > > Besides the basic treatments of rest, liquids and over-the-counter cough > medications, these suggestions can help make you more comfortable, speed > recovery and prevent complications of acute bronchitis: > > - *Use a humidifier in your room.* Warm, moist air helps relieve > coughs and loosens mucus in your airways. But be sure to clean the > humidifier according to the manufacturer's recommendations to avoid the > growth of bacteria and fungi in the water container. > - *Use over-the-counter medications.* To relieve pain and lower a high > fever, acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, > others) > may help. Adults may also use aspirin. But don't give aspirin to > children. > It may trigger a rare, but potentially fatal, disorder known as Reye's > syndrome. > - *Avoid exposure to irritants, such as tobacco smoke.* Wear a mask > when the air is polluted, or if you're exposed to irritants at work. >
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