How Long Is Bronchitis Contagious If On Antibiotics
Acute bronchitis often develops three or four days after a person is infected by cold and flu viruses, usually during the changing of seasons. It starts as a dry cough and in successive days bring up mucus in the nasal pathways, known as bronchial tubes due to inflammation and immune response of the body. The inner lining of the airways swell and grow thicker and narrower and can last for a few weeks to a few months, depending on how your immune system responds to the infection. In most cases the person is brought down with a fever. The three main symptoms of bronchitis are coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Some other symptoms include fatigue, nausea, tightness of chest, tiredness and coughing up blood. Acute bronchitis is most case is caused by viruses and in only rare cases is caused by bacteria. Bronchitis can also be caused by chemical irritants, smoke, smog and fumes and lasts only as long as the person is exposed to these lung irritants. Allergens are pollen, grain dust, fabric fibers and animal hairs can also cause the symptoms of bronchitis by contracting the bronchial tubes, making the person vulnerable to infections and producing mucus as an immune response. In this case the symptoms of bronchitis will persist in the throat until exposure to the allergens ends. As smoking can cause acute bronchitis they have a hard time recovering if they show symptoms of the illness. The harmful chemicals in the smoke cover the bronchial tubes which initiate the body to produce mucus as a response to the irritants and results in a cough characteristic to smokers known as smoker’s cough. If the smoker does not stop smoking, it can develop into chronic bronchitis, lung damage and infections.
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Alternative Names Inflammation – bronchi; Acute bronchitis Treatment You DO NOT need antibiotics for acute bronchitis caused by a virus. The infection will generally go away on its own within 1 week. Take the following steps for some relief: • Do not smoke • Drink plenty of fluids • Rest • Take aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol) if you have a fever. DO NOT give aspirin to children • Use a humidifier or steam in the bathroom If your symptoms do not improve, your doctor…
