DISCUSSSION POST 1
What interventions would you teach to help with some of the complications the patient may experience?
DISCUSSSION POST 2
Kinkade and Long (2016) explain that acute bronchitis is usually cause by viruses such as rhinovirus, influenzas virus, enterovirus, RSV and others. Bacteria account for the cause of a small number of cases of bronchitis diagnoses are caused by bacteria (Kinkade & Long, 2016). The diagnosis of bronchitis is made with symptoms including a cough, that may or not be productive, and a lower respiratory tract infection that does is not due to chronic lung illnesses or other identifiable illnesses (Kinkade & Long, 2016). The clinician must be able to rule out underlying conditions causing cough such as asthma, COPD, and heart failure (Kinkade & Long, 2016). Physical examination will demonstrate an individual with rhonchi or wheezing on auscultation, a possible fever, and a cough (Kinkade & Long, 2016). Testing for bronchitis may include leukocyte levels, chest x-ray, c-reactive protein levels, and procalcitonin levels (Kinkade & Long, 2016). It is important to teach the patients about symptom management, such as the use of antitussives, antihistamines, expectorants, and beta2agonist, as well as the avoidance of environmental triggers that could make the condition worse, such as smoke and chemical exposure (Kinkade & Long, 2016). The patient must try to get plenty of rest and may also take aspirin and use humidity to help with the symptoms (McCaance & Huether, 2014). Due to the mostly viral nature of the disease, antibiotics are typically contraindicated due to the inability to cure viral infections.
If Tammy continues to have bronchitis for longer than three months for two consecutive years, she would be diagnosed with chronic bronchitis (McCance & Huether, 2014). In chronic bronchitis, irritants cause airway inflammation in the bronchial wall and bronchial edema, leading to increases risk for pulmonary infections (McCance & Huether, 2014). Pulmonary function test and blood gases may be performed to determine the severity of the disease (McCance & Huether, 2014). Prevention of recurrence is important due to the irreversible changes that occur in the lung with chronic bronchitis (McCance & Huether, 2014). The treatment may include bronchodilators, chest physical therapy, antibiotics, steroids and oxygen (McCance & Huether, 2014). The clinician may teach the patient the importance of nutrition, avoidance of triggers, symptom management, and the use of oxygen (McCance & Huether, 2014)
The response should include a reference list. Double-space, using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.