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Chronic non-obstructive bronchitis: treatment
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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When prescribing treatment for patients with exacerbation of chronic non-obstructive bronchitis, a set of measures should be envisaged to ensure:
- anti-inflammatory effect of treatment;
- restoration of drainage function of the bronchi;
- decreased intoxication;
- fight against a viral infection.
The course and prognosis of chronic simple (non-obstructive) bronchitis
In patients with chronic non-obstructive bronchitis, the disease lasts for many years, almost all of life, although in most cases it does not significantly affect the quality of life and work capacity. Nevertheless, it should be borne in mind that patients with chronic non-obstructive bronchitis are particularly exposed to adverse weather and occupational factors have an increased risk of acute respiratory viral infections, bacterial and viral-bacterial pneumonia.
Strict implementation of a number of preventive measures, first of all, cessation of smoking, can significantly improve the course of the disease, reduce the frequency of exacerbations of chronic non-obstructive bronchitis, the emergence of bronchopneumonia, etc.
Particular attention should be paid to patients with a functionally unstable course of chronic non-obstructive bronchitis, who have relatively frequent and protracted exacerbations of bronchitis, accompanied by transient phenomena of moderate bronchial obstructive syndrome. It is these patients who have the highest risk of transforming chronic non-obstructive bronchitis into chronic obstructive bronchitis, leading to the development of emphysema, pneumosclerosis, progressive respiratory failure, pulmonary hypertension, and pulmonary heart disease.
Chronic non-obstructive bronchitis in most cases is characterized by a relatively favorable course. Nevertheless, patients with simple non-obstructive bronchitis, in comparison with healthy individuals, are more susceptible to adverse weather-climatic conditions, occupational and household factors, acute respiratory viral infections, and bronchopneumonia.
In some cases, in patients with a functionally unstable course of chronic non-obstructive bronchitis, especially in patients with purulent endobronchitis, the transformation of the disease into chronic obstructive bronchitis with the progression of bronchial obstructive syndrome, respiratory failure, the onset of pulmonary arterial hypertension and pulmonary heart is possible.
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