For those that may be suffering as myself and others, here is a Wiki summary of what may be going on. If you have any of the following symptoms it is likely Acute Bronchitis. 4 of us have been in and out of Hospital and have had all the tests...problem is the doctors still dont see the problem.Today my wife and I were told we were allergic to dust.
Acute bronchitis is a self-limited infection of the lower respiratory tract causing inflammation of the bronchi. Acute bronchitis is an acute illness lasting less than three weeks with coughing as the main symptom, and at least one other lower respiratory tract symptom such as wheezing, sputum production, or chest pain.
The coughing, which is a common symptom of the acute bronchitis, develops in an attempt to expel the excess mucus from the lungs. Other common symptoms of acute bronchitis include: sore throat, shortness of breath, fatigue, runny nose, nasal congestion (coryza), low-grade fever, pleurisy, malaise, and the production of sputum.
Acute bronchitis is most often caused by viruses that infect the epithelium of the bronchi, resulting in inflammation and increased secretion of mucus. Acute bronchitis often develops during an upper respiratory infection (URI) such as the common cold or influenza. About 90% of cases of acute bronchitis are caused by viruses, including rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, adenoviruses, metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and influenza. Certain viruses such as rhinoviruses and coronaviruses are also known to cause acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. About 10% of cases are caused by bacteria, including Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Bordetella pertussis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae.
Bronchitis may be diagnosed by a health care provider during a thorough physical examination. Due to the nonspecific signs and symptoms exhibited by individuals with bronchitis, diagnostic tests such as a chest x-ray to rule out pneumonia, a sputum culture to rule out whooping cough or other bacterial respiratory infections, or a pulmonary function test to rule out asthma or emphysema may be used.
Treatment for acute bronchitis is primarily symptomatic. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be used to treat fever and sore throat. Even with no treatment, most cases of acute bronchitis resolve quickly.
As most cases of acute bronchitis are caused by viruses, antibiotics are not generally recommended as they are only effective against bacteria. Using antibiotics in cases of viral bronchitis promotes the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which may lead to greater morbidity and mortality. However, even in cases of viral bronchitis, antibiotics may be indicated in certain cases in order to prevent the occurrence of secondary bacterial infections.
We were given cough syrup...and we are still hacking and spitting...myself for a month....so be aware and be informed!
edit: Post #10......Sorry to markit that my above misspell could have caused his demise (beware instead of be aware) and to his misses for her disappointment.
I was inferring...if one can self-diagnose acute bronchitis, one can save a lot of money from useless visits to medical establishments. The doctors cannot even cure themselves.
