What is allergic bronchitis?
Allergic bronchitis can be defined as an illness where certain allergies can cause severe bronchial immune reactions. Allergic bronchitis is chronic and can be caused by exposure to allergic triggers such as tobacco smoke, pollution or dust. Bronchitis can be defined as the inflammation or swelling of the bronchial tubes which may cause bronchial tubes to create too much mucus which may cause difficulty in breathing and coughing.
What are the types of allergic bronchitis?
The different types of bronchitis are;
Acute Bronchitis: This can be caused due to bacterial or viral infection. Usually, older patients are more prone to this condition < although all age groups can be affected by this condition.
Allergic Bronchitis: This can be defined as the inflammation of the bronchial tubes due to exposure to allergens. It can also be referred to as chronic bronchitis if it persists for a longer duration of time.
Also Read: Bronchitis
What are the causes of allergic bronchitis?
Allergic bronchitis can be caused by different environmental & genetic factors such as:
- Tobacco smoke
- Dust
- Pollution
- Mould
- Chemicals
- Animal dander
- Faulty diet which can trigger the respiratory tract infections in the body
- Heredity
What are the symptoms of allergic bronchitis?
A commonly present symptom of allergic bronchitis is a cough. Some of the symptoms of allergic bronchitis include:
- Persistent cough with much mucus production
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Whistling sound while breathing
- Chest tightness/discomfort
- Recurring morning cough
- Postnasal drip/congestion
- Bad breath
- Trouble taking a deep breath
- Pressure or tightness in the chest
- Mild to high fever
- Chills
- Generalized body pain
- Headache
What are the risk factor of allergic bronchitis?
Tobacco smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for allergic bronchitis. Other risk factors are:
- Older than 45
- Females
- Living in a highly polluted environment
- Tendencies to allergies
- Working in a job exposed to mining or dust.
How can we diagnose allergic bronchitis?
Diagnosis of allergic bronchitis is multifactorial. It can be done by
- Case taking
- Detailed personal and family health history
- Questions about work, environment and living conditions
- Diagnostic tests regarding liver function
What are the diagnostic test done for allergic bronchitis?
There are various diagnostic tests which can help diagnose allergic bronchitis. Some of them are:
Pulmonary function test
These tests measure the lung’s ability to move the air in and out of the lungs.
They may include:
- Spirometry: This is done by using a device called a spirometer. It measures how much air is inhaled and how much air is exhaled.
- Peak flow monitor: This measures the fastest speed with which you can blow air out of your lungs.
Chest X Ray
It can help determine if there is any other pathology present in the lungs along with bronchitis.
It is very important for people who have a history of smoking or currently smoke.
Sputum culture
To determine the treatment plan
Arterial blood gas
To check the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.
CT scan
It gives a more detailed view than the x-ray.
Also Read: Total IgE Test
What are the complications caused by allergic bronchitis?
Some of the complications caused by allergic bronchitis can be;
- Difficulty in breathing
- Respiratory failure
- Pneumonia
- Pneumothorax
- Polycythemia
- Emphysema
- COPD
Also Read: Blood Gas Test
Can I manage some symptoms at home?
Some of the measures can help to reduce the symptoms of allergic bronchitis but they don’t cure the condition. But it only helps to manage it for some time. It should be implemented along with the medicinal treatment.
- Humidifier: it helps to keep the surroundings moist, hence loosening up the mucus and can ease wheezing and dyspnea.
- Increase fluid intake: it helps to make the mucus thinner.
- Gargling: This can help with the cough.
- Exercise: start slowly and gradually build up. A good amount of movement helps in an overall improvement in health.
- Breathing techniques: can help in strengthening lungs over
- Develop healthy eating habits: eating smaller meals than larger ones helps.
Also Read: Protect your Child from Bronchitis with Homeopathy
How can allergic bronchitis be prevented?
- Quit smoking, or never initiate it.
- Avoid irritants
- Protect yourself from a mask.
- Wash bed linen weekly
- Adequate sun exposure
- Make sure to work in well-ventilated areas, and avoid humid spaces.
Homeopathic management for allergic bronchitis:-
There is great scope in homoeopathy in treating allergic bronchitis. Homeopathy treats diseases safely and effectively. It treats the patient in disease and not only the disease present in the patient. Homoeopathic treatment should always be taken under the supervision of expert homoeopaths. Some of the medicines which can be prescribed are:
- Antim tart: Allergic bronchitis presents with rattling mucus in the chest with a large accumulation of mucus in the chest which is difficult to expectorate.
- Ars alb: With marked wheezing in the chest. Respiration may also be difficult with marked tightness in the chest
- Spongia tosta: Allergic bronchitis with a dry cough. Chest pain or fatigue may appear while coughing
- Natrum mur: Allergic bronchitis with a white egg-like expectoration can indicate this medicine. Sore, lame, bruised feeling in the chest is also present with oppressive tightness and pain.
- Ipecac: Allergic bronchitis in which cough is accompanied by vomiting. Vomiting relieves the cough.
- Phosphorus: Allergic bronchitis with tightness around the chest. The cough gets worse by talking and eating
- Senega: for old people with allergic bronchitis; this medicine is indicated.
Also Read: ALLERGIC BRONCHITIS TREATED WITH HOMEOPATHY BY DR THIND
