Bronchitis pathophysiology: Difference between revisions
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Bronchitis is usually a diagnosis of exclusion. Presence of cough without fever lasting more than 5 days and with normal vitals (no tachypnea or tachycardia) is suggestive of acute bronchitis. The presentation may vary according to the pathogen involved. | Bronchitis is usually a diagnosis of exclusion. Presence of cough without fever lasting more than 5 days and with normal vitals (no tachypnea or tachycardia) is suggestive of acute bronchitis. The presentation may vary according to the pathogen involved. | ||
==Pathophysiology== | ==Pathophysiology== | ||
* Thickening of the bronchial and tracheal mucosa due to inflammation is also seen. | * [[Acute bronchitis]] is the inflammatory response of the bronchial epithelium to infections or irritants. | ||
* Thickening of the bronchial and tracheal mucosa due to [[inflammation]] is also seen. | |||
* The hyperemia and edema of the bronchial mucosa decreases the bronchial mucociliary function. As a result of which the air passages become clogged by debris and causes copious mucus secretion, which causes the characteristic cough of bronchitis. | * The hyperemia and edema of the bronchial mucosa decreases the bronchial mucociliary function. As a result of which the air passages become clogged by debris and causes copious mucus secretion, which causes the characteristic cough of bronchitis. | ||
* In mycoplasma pneumonia, bronchial irritation results from the attachment of the organism to the respiratory mucosa resulting in sloughing of affected cells. | * In [[mycoplasma pneumonia]], bronchial irritation results from the attachment of the organism to the respiratory mucosa resulting in sloughing of affected cells. | ||
* Bronchitis caused by [[influenza virus]] shows an epithelial-cell desquamation in association with the presence of a lymphocytic cellular infiltrate | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 22:14, 28 February 2012
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
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Bronchitis Main page |
Overview
Bronchitis is usually a diagnosis of exclusion. Presence of cough without fever lasting more than 5 days and with normal vitals (no tachypnea or tachycardia) is suggestive of acute bronchitis. The presentation may vary according to the pathogen involved.
Pathophysiology
- Acute bronchitis is the inflammatory response of the bronchial epithelium to infections or irritants.
- Thickening of the bronchial and tracheal mucosa due to inflammation is also seen.
- The hyperemia and edema of the bronchial mucosa decreases the bronchial mucociliary function. As a result of which the air passages become clogged by debris and causes copious mucus secretion, which causes the characteristic cough of bronchitis.
- In mycoplasma pneumonia, bronchial irritation results from the attachment of the organism to the respiratory mucosa resulting in sloughing of affected cells.
- Bronchitis caused by influenza virus shows an epithelial-cell desquamation in association with the presence of a lymphocytic cellular infiltrate
References