Some of the conditions that may arise from bronchitis include:
Pneumonia – Around 5 persons in a hundred with bronchitis can acquire a pulmonary secondary infection that can lead to pneumonia. This pulmonary infection is often brought about by bacteria even if the primary infection that led to the bronchitis is virus caused.
The bacterial infection specifically affects the alveoli, tiny air sacs located at the ends of the lung bronchioles. People who are at high risk for developing pneumonia include:
- People whose immune system is weak and is at risk of getting bronchitis complications such as pneumonia
- Patients with lung or heart diseases along with bronchitis have a high risk of developing pneumonia. These patients can include those with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma or heart failure.
- Infants and old people with an age-related weakened immunity system – Both have immune systems that are weak making them vulnerable to secondary infection.
- Smokers who have weak immune functionality and are also are at risk for frequent chest infections. These are people who are likely to get secondary bacterial pneumonia after suffering from bronchitis.
The symptoms of pneumonia can consist of:
- For the infant a general feeling of listlessness and illness
- Appetite loss and the infant’s refusal to feed
- Cough
- Pain in the chest
- Appetite loss
- Shivering and sweating with fever
- Shallow and rapid breathing – Breathing rate 24 per minute and over
- Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat) – Heart beat 100 times and over per minute
- Breathlessness and breathing difficulty even when at rest
- High fever – 38 degrees centigrade and over
When you have pneumonia the doctor may hear through the stethoscope sounds such as fremitus and rales in your body.
For a person with mild pneumonia, bed rest, drinking copious amounts of fluids and antibiotics are usually all what the person needs to treat his pneumonia. For severe cases, hospitalization may be necessary.
If a patient suffers from respiratory failure and cannot breathe on his own, he may need to use a ventilator. Typically in this scenario the patient would also be given antibiotics administered intravenously.
COPD Development – A person with chronic bronchitis has a likely chance to also develop chronic COPD that can significantly lower lung reserves and exacerbate breathing problems. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease also increases the chance of bronchitis flares as well as increased risk of frequent chest infections.
Christina Prieto, AP
1617 Hillcrest St
Orlando, FL 32803
Phone: 407-234-6454
www.harmonywellnesscenter.com
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