Chronic tracheitis treatment in adults

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Tracheitis - causes, signs, symptoms and treatment in adults

Tracheitis is a clinical syndrome characterized by inflammatory changes in the tracheal mucosa, which is a manifestation of respiratory infections, occurring both acutely and chronically.

Table of contents:

Just like respiratory infections, tracheitis is most common in the autumn, winter and spring seasons.

As a rule, the disease does not manifest itself as an independent disease, but develops against the background of other viral infections. What kind of disease is this, what are the first signs and symptoms, as well as how to treat tracheitis in adults, we will consider further.

What is tracheitis?

Tracheitis is an inflammatory process in the mucous membrane of the trachea. Tracheitis in adults rarely occurs in isolation; most often it joins rhinitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, bronchitis, forming rhinopharyngotracheitis, laryngotracheitis, tracheobronchitis.

How long does the disease last? The period of illness and recovery period always depend on the form of the inflammatory process, which can be either acute or chronic, that is, protracted. In addition, how long tracheitis lasts is influenced by the patient’s immune system; the more actively the body fights tracheitis, the faster the recovery will occur.

The prognosis with timely treatment is favorable, the duration of the disease ranges from 7 to 14 days.

Depending on the etiological factor, tracheitis occurs:

  • Infectious:
  • bacterial;
  • viral;
  • mixed, or bacterial-viral.
  • Allergic.
  • Infectious-allergic.

Depending on the combination with other diseases (the most common forms):

  • rhinopharyngotracheitis - inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose, pharynx and trachea;
  • laryngotracheitis - inflammation of the larynx and trachea;
  • tracheobronchitis is inflammation of the mucous membrane of the trachea and bronchi.

The course of the disease can be:

Acute tracheitis

It occurs more often, in its course and symptoms it resembles a common acute respiratory infection. Acute tracheitis occurs suddenly and has a short duration (on average 2 weeks). When it becomes chronic, periodic exacerbations are observed, which alternate with periods of remission.

Chronic tracheitis

Chronic tracheitis can be either a consequence of acute tracheitis or other chronic inflammatory processes (inflammation of the sinuses, nasopharynx). Factors that contribute:

  • smoking and alcohol abuse;
  • severe decrease in immunity;
  • occupational hazards and unfavorable environment;
  • emphysema;
  • heart and kidney diseases;
  • chronic runny nose, sinusitis (inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, for example, the maxillary sinuses - sinusitis).

With hypertrophic tracheitis, the vessels dilate and the mucous membrane swells. Mucus secretions become intense, purulent sputum appears.

Atrophic chronic tracheitis causes thinning of the mucous membrane. It becomes gray in color, smooth and shiny, can become covered with small crusts and cause severe coughing. Often, atrophic tracheitis occurs together with atrophy of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract located above.

Causes

The cause of tracheitis is the same infection that causes rhinitis, pharyngitis and laryngitis: staphylococci, streptococci, etc. In case of insufficient treatment (or lack thereof) of these diseases, the inflammatory process can spread to the trachea, causing tracheitis.

Some factors can provoke the development of tracheitis:

  • staying for a long time in a damp, poorly heated room;
  • inhalation of cold, too dry or humid air;
  • irritation of the respiratory tract by toxic vapors or gases;
  • infectious, contact, food and other types of allergens;
  • hypothermia of the body;
  • tobacco smoke when smoking;
  • increased air dustiness.

Tracheitis of allergic origin is an allergic reaction that develops in response to inhalation of various allergens:

  • house, industrial or library dust,
  • plant pollen,
  • microparticles of animal hair,
  • chemical compounds,
  • contained in the air of industrial premises of the chemical, pharmaceutical and perfume industries.

Symptoms of tracheitis

The leading sign of acute inflammation of the trachea is a hacking cough that gets worse at night and in the morning. At first it is dry “barking”, later with the release of thick sputum. During a coughing attack, a person begins to feel a raw pain in the sternum and throat, which causes problems with breathing movements. With this pathological condition, breathing becomes shallow and rapid.

In addition, the patient’s general condition noticeably worsens:

  • body temperature rises
  • there is increased weakness and drowsiness
  • the patient gets tired quickly
  • Lymph nodes may become enlarged.
  • high body temperature (about 380C);
  • general weakness of the body;
  • increased fatigue with minimal physical activity;
  • pain in the chest and between the shoulder blades during coughing attacks;
  • shallow rapid breathing;
  • headache;
  • insomnia;
  • burning sensation and sore throat;
  • slight enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes;
  • hoarseness of voice;
  • wheezing in the lungs;
  • severe runny nose;
  • grayish skin tone due to impaired breathing;
  • sweating;
  • lack of appetite.
  • Manifests itself in serious changes in the mucous membrane of the throat. It swells, becomes edematous, and the blood vessels are dilated.
  • There may be an accumulation of purulent or mucous contents, which, when dried, give rise to hard-to-remove crusts.

Acute paroxysmal cough is characteristic of inflammation of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs. Any inflammatory process in the respiratory tube is initially characterized by a dry cough. This condition is explained by a slight secretion of sputum due to irritation of the nerve receptors of the bronchi, trachea, and larynx. Sputum does not pass away on its own, as it is formed in small quantities.

If there is pharyngitis or laryngitis accompanying tracheitis, patients complain of:

  • burning,
  • soreness,
  • dryness,
  • tickling and other unpleasant sensations in the throat.

Complications

One of the complications of tracheitis are changes and neoplasms of an endotracheal nature. They can be both benign and malignant, and arise due to the constant influence of the inflammatory process and changes in the mucous membrane of the trachea.

Diagnostics

If signs of inflammation of the respiratory tract appear, you should contact your local physician, who, after a physical examination, will probably recommend visiting an otolaryngologist. The diagnosis of tracheitis is established based on clinical and epidemiological data.

Typically, tracheitis is diagnosed quickly, but in some cases (for example, if the patient sought medical help late, when the disease is actively progressing), additional examination may be necessary. These include the following procedures:

  • X-ray of the chest organs - this way doctors rule out pneumonia;
  • spirography - assesses airway patency and excludes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or bronchial asthma;
  • laboratory examination of sputum - this procedure is necessary to identify the causative agent of the disease if it is intended to prescribe antibacterial drugs (antibiotics).

Treatment of tracheitis

Moderate and mild forms of pathology, which are combined with other signs of a respiratory infection, are treated at home (outpatient).

  • identification and elimination of the etiological factor - allergen, viruses, bacteria;
  • relief of symptoms of the disease;
  • preventing the development of complications or transition to a chronic form.

The greatest effect during drug treatment in adults can be achieved with the help of drugs produced in the form of aerosols. This form of drugs allows you to penetrate into all parts of the trachea and bronchial tree.

  • For bacterial tracheitis, antibiotics are used (amoxicillin, ceftrioxone, azithromycin),
  • for a viral infection - antiviral agents (proteflazid, umifenovir, interferon preparations),
  • for allergies - antiallergic drugs (loratadine, desoloratadine, hifenadine).
  • Expectorants (marshmallow root, coltsfoot, thermopsis) and mucolytics (acetylcesteine, bromhexine) are used.

Antibiotics are prescribed for proven bacterial infection. It will take 1-2 weeks for bacterial culture results to be obtained. During this period, tracheitis must be treated. A bacterial infection can be assumed based on an increase in white blood cells and a high temperature for more than 3 days.

The greatest effect during drug treatment can be achieved with the help of drugs produced in the form of aerosols. This form of drugs allows you to penetrate into all parts of the trachea and bronchial tree.

Throughout the entire course of treatment, a gentle chemical, mechanical diet is recommended (fatty, spicy, fried foods are excluded), only warm drinks and drinking in large quantities. Mustard plasters are attached to the chest area, the room is regularly ventilated, and wet cleaning is carried out.

How to treat chronic tracheitis?

Chronic tracheitis in adults takes much longer to treat than its acute form. This is due to the fact that treatment of chronic tracheitis is aimed not only at eliminating the cough symptom, but also at treating complications such as pharyngitis and bronchitis. The chronic form of the disease most often has a bacterial etiology; accordingly, antibacterial therapy is indicated.

  • When mucopurulent sputum is isolated, broad-spectrum antibiotics are used: ampicillin, doxycycline.
  • Inhalations of phytoncides are used: onion, garlic and chlorophyllipt.
  • Expectorant medications include copious alkaline drinks, a 3% solution of potassium iodide, decoctions and infusions of marshmallow and thermopsis.
  • stressful situations;
  • physical exercise;
  • smoking;
  • consumption of alcoholic beverages.

How to treat tracheitis with folk remedies

Traditional medicine offers many effective ways to combat respiratory diseases, but before using them, it is recommended to consult a specialist.

  1. You can gargle with infusion of onion peels. Pour 2 tablespoons of husks into two glasses of boiling water, leave for 2-4 hours in a thermos and gargle with the infusion several times a day.
  2. Inhalations for tracheitis can be carried out using mineral water, but only alkaline water. Thanks to treatment with their help, it is possible to moisturize the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract and quickly remove accumulated mucus.
  3. Mustard foot baths. To do this, you just need to pour dry mustard (in powder) into your socks and put them on your feet.
  4. Traditional medicine recommends treating allergic tracheitis with an infusion of blackberry leaves and fruits. For this, 2 tbsp. l. pour 500 ml of mixture. boiling water and let it brew for 1 hour. Drink the strained solution instead of tea.
  5. Take 1 tablespoon of: honey, mustard powder, vegetable oil. Mix. Heat in a water bath. Add 1.5 tablespoons of vodka. Wrap in gauze and make a compress. Leave overnight.
  6. Licorice root helps with tracheitis. The drug has pronounced expectorant and antitussive properties. It reduces the number of attacks, but makes them more effective. Licorice root syrup is one of the most effective herbal remedies.

Prevention

Prevention of both acute and chronic tracheitis is aimed at timely elimination of the causes of tracheitis, strengthening the body, especially for persons predisposed to acute diseases of the upper respiratory tract.

  • Avoid hypothermia and large crowds of people in the autumn-winter-spring periods.
  • A healthy lifestyle (nutrition, walks in the fresh air, exercise, vitamins), fighting bad habits.
  • Hardening the body during a period of health (rubbing, dousing with cool water).
  • Timely treatment for acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections can prevent the onset of tracheitis in some cases.
  • Timely treatment of chronic foci of infections and concomitant diseases.

Proper nutrition, a healthy lifestyle, and careful attention to your health will help avoid the occurrence of diseases such as tracheitis. The symptoms and treatment of this disease can only be determined by a specialist.

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How to treat chronic tracheitis

Chronic tracheitis is an inflammatory process in the mucous membrane of the trachea. This disease is the result of poorly treated acute tracheitis. The danger of the disease is that inflammation can spread to neighboring respiratory tracts; moreover, constant irritation of the tracheal wall leads to its thinning or hypertrophy.

The symptoms of chronic tracheitis are blurred, patients complain of coughing attacks and discomfort in the sternum, and children may have a fever. The diagnosis is made based on the clinical picture, examination of the trachea and culture test (bacteriological culture).

Treatment of the chronic form takes longer than the acute form. Moreover, in most cases, the bacteria and fungi that caused the disease became resistant to antibiotics after unsuccessful treatment. In this case, available home remedies or herbs with a potent and long-lasting effect will come to your aid.

Causes and mechanism of development

First, a fungal, bacterial or viral infection enters the body, and acute tracheitis develops. Often, along with this, a person gets sick with the flu or a cold.

If treatment was started at the wrong time, or was carried out incorrectly, an infectious focus remains in the respiratory organs, and tracheitis develops into a chronic form. The source of inflammation is not necessarily localized in the trachea - it can be in neighboring tissues, for example, in the tonsils.

And yet, why does the acute form become chronic? Along with untimely treatment, there are a number of provoking factors:

  • frequent hypothermia of the body;
  • smoking (tobacco smoke irritates the trachea);
  • reduced immunity (due to poor nutrition, stress, impaired sleep and rest patterns, hereditary factors, age or HIV;
  • anatomical disorders in the respiratory organs, congenital or acquired;
  • systemic diseases;
  • chronic laryngitis or chronic pharyngitis;
  • untreated carious teeth.

In any case, if there is chronic inflammation in the body, it means that something is wrong with it, and you need to look for the reasons for this phenomenon.

Symptoms

Chronic inflammation initiates atrophic or hypertrophic changes in mucosal tissue. The hypertrophic form is characterized by enlarged blood vessels and tissue proliferation, as well as constant swelling. Therefore, the patient feels a feeling of constriction in the throat and complains of copious purulent sputum.

Let's list all the signs of the disease.

  1. First, the patient develops acute tracheitis. The symptoms go away almost completely, but after a while a new exacerbation develops.
  2. At night and in the morning the patient is bothered by a debilitating cough. An attack can also begin with a change in temperature, taking a deep breath, or laughing.
  3. The cough is accompanied by pain behind the sternum or in the trachea.
  4. During an exacerbation, the temperature sometimes rises slightly (up to 37-37.5 C), lethargy and apathy appear.
  5. If inflammation of the trachea is accompanied by laryngitis, the patient's voice becomes hoarse or disappears altogether.
  6. Periods of exacerbation alternate with remissions. An exacerbation usually develops during the cold season, after strong experiences, or with a change in climate.

Chronic form in children

Chronic inflammation in children is more severe than in adults. Exacerbations are repeated more often, during these periods the body temperature rises. The child constantly coughs, attacks intensify at night, as well as when throwing back the head, screaming, or laughing. The voice changes (it becomes hoarse or hoarse). If the disease is of an allergic nature, then coughing attacks occur after contact with the allergen. During exacerbations, the child is lethargic and eats poorly.

Chronic tracheitis in children is dangerous because it can lead to the appearance of chronic bronchitis, pneumonia and other dangerous diseases. The allergic form is fraught with the development of bronchial asthma.

Complications

As we have already said, chronic inflammation of the trachea leads to hypertrophy or atrophy of the mucous membrane. As a result of this, tissue cells may begin to divide randomly, and there is a risk of benign or malignant neoplasm in the trachea.

The next exacerbation of chronic tracheitis can lead to the development of acute and then chronic bronchitis, the spread of infection along a descending or ascending path, in extreme cases, pneumonia occurs with all the ensuing circumstances.

Prevention

Even if you think you have already cured the disease, there is always a risk that the disease will return. Therefore, pay due attention to relapse prevention. To do this, follow the following recommendations.

  1. Strengthen your immune system (eat right, exercise, take vitamins, exercise, drink echinacea or ginseng tincture).
  2. Avoid cold, don't sit in drafts, keep your feet warm.
  3. Avoid contact with polluted air (if you live in an environmentally unfavorable region, consider moving).
  4. Treat all diseases in a timely manner, especially inflammatory and infectious ones. Keep an eye on your teeth.
  5. Give up cigarettes.
  6. Carry out wet cleaning at home once every 3 days, do not use air fresheners and household chemicals with a strong smell.

Forecast

Chronic inflammation always takes longer to heal than acute inflammation. It may take from 3 weeks to 2 months to completely get rid of the disease. If treatment is carried out correctly, the prognosis is favorable - tracheitis will no longer recur.

Treatment of chronic tracheitis

To treat chronic tracheitis it is necessary:

  • relieve inflammation of the trachea;
  • eliminate the source of infection;
  • remove painful symptoms;
  • facilitate the discharge of sputum;
  • strengthen the body as a whole.

Bed rest is only necessary in case of exacerbation. During treatment, try not to get too cold and eat easily digestible food (not hot, but not too cold).

Below are folk remedies that will help you defeat chronic tracheitis.

Garlic syrup

This recipe can be used by both adults and children aged 2 years and older. Finely chop 20 cloves of garlic, mix with half a glass of honey; if the mixture is too thick, add boiled water by eye. Infuse the product for 1 day, then, without straining, start taking it. An adult should drink a tablespoon in the morning and evening, a child should drink a teaspoon or half a teaspoon, depending on age. Garlic eliminates fungal, viral, and bacterial tracheitis. The course of treatment is at least 1 month.

Thermopsis products

Thermopsis grass eliminates even very severe coughs; it contains biologically active substances that cleanse and soften the respiratory tract. For children, a water infusion is prepared at the rate of a teaspoon per glass of boiling water. The mixture is brewed for 15 minutes, then it should be given to the small patient ¼ cup 4 times a day. Adults can also take this drug, but an alcohol tincture will be much more effective. Take 1 part of a fresh or dry plant, pour 10 parts of vodka and keep for 15 days in a dark place. Take a teaspoon three times a day. In a couple of weeks, even chronic tracheitis will go away, and with it the cough.

Thyme and Primrose Root

These two herbs are a great duo to combat your condition. Mix them in equal parts and add water (at the rate of 5 tablespoons of the mixture per 300 ml of liquid). Put it on fire. When the mixture boils, add 3 tablespoons of sugar and stir. Boil the syrup for 5 minutes, then remove from heat and strain. Take a tablespoon three times a day. The syrup can be stored in the refrigerator for 1 week.

Inhalations

To relieve exacerbation, which is accompanied by a cough, and also to facilitate the discharge of sputum, take inhalations every evening. Both plain water and herbal mixtures will do. So, a mixture of sage grass, eucalyptus leaves and birch buds is very helpful. Place the mixture in a saucepan and add just a little water to just cover the herbs. Heat to a boil and breathe over this mixture. The healing vapors of plants will do the trick.

Turpentine

Turpentine helps well with your problem, but it is contraindicated for children! At night, rub your feet with this preparation, wrap your feet in plastic, put on warm socks, and go to bed. The procedure must be repeated every 2 days. Continue the course until complete healing. Additionally, it is recommended to take turpentine baths every 3-4 days - one full bath will require a tablespoon of the product. Do not stay in the water for too long, as turpentine can burn your skin.

Herbal infusions

Mix the following ingredients:

  • Wild mallow flowers – 2 parts;
  • Thermopsis grass – 2 parts;
  • Sage leaves – 1 part;
  • Veronica officinalis herb – 1 part.

Mix the ingredients and brew in boiling water (a tablespoon of the mixture per 2 cups of water), leave for 1 hour, then strain. Divide the infusion into 3 parts and drink in the morning, afternoon and evening after meals. Treatment should last at least a month. This collection is especially recommended if you have a viral infection.

Chronic inflammation of the trachea will go away if you use this recipe:

  • Pine buds – 2 parts;
  • Marigold flowers – 2 parts;
  • Cherry twigs – 1 part;
  • Plantain herb – 1 part.

Boil 3 cups of water, add 1.5 tablespoons of herbal mixture into boiling water, cover with a lid and cook for 5 minutes, then cool and add honey. Drink strained throughout the day.

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Source: http://nmed.org/khronicheskij-trakheit.html

Symptoms of chronic tracheitis in adults

Chronic tracheitis is a sluggish infectious inflammation of the trachea, which in most cases is caused by pathogenic bacteria. A common cause of the development of pathology is delayed or inadequate treatment of acute inflammation in the respiratory tract. Exacerbations can be triggered by colds, emphysema, smoking, vitamin deficiency, chronic runny nose, hypothermia, etc.

As the infection progresses, the lower parts of the respiratory tract - the larynx, bronchi and lungs - are involved in pathological processes. A hacking dry cough is a typical sign of the development of the disease. Diagnosis of chronic tracheitis includes microbiological examination of a throat smear, laryngotracheoscopy, and lung radiography. Therapy is carried out with antibiotics, antihistamines, mucolytics, expectorants and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Forms of chronic tracheitis

Symptoms of chronic tracheitis in adults are determined by the form of the disease. The exacerbation of inflammatory processes is favored by a decrease in the body's reactivity, as well as the presence of foci of low-grade inflammation in the mucous membrane of the respiratory organs. Depending on the characteristics of changes in the morphological structure of tissues in the trachea, two forms of the disease are distinguished:

  1. hypertrophic - when the trachea is inflamed, the blood vessels greatly dilate, as a result of which the mucous membrane becomes bright red and thickens; coughing attacks are accompanied by the release of copious amounts of sputum mixed with pus;
  2. atrophic - characterized by thinning of the walls of the trachea and the formation of dry crusts on the surface of the mucosa; morphological changes in soft tissues lead to drying out of the ciliated epithelium and, as a consequence, the appearance of a non-productive spasmodic cough.

It should be noted that with chronic tracheitis, body temperature rises only to subfebrile levels, i.e. maximum up to 37.5°C.

The frequency of attacks increases at night and in the morning after waking up. The hypertrophic form of the disease is dangerous due to complications, especially laryngeal stenosis. Due to the increase in the volume of the mucous membrane, the lumen in the airways narrows greatly. In this regard, symptoms of respiratory failure appear. If the disease is not treated, it can subsequently provoke an attack of suffocation and even death.

Clinical picture

How does chronic tracheitis manifest? The disease is characterized by a spasmodic cough that occurs when taking a deep breath, laughing, screaming or crying. After an attack, a burning sensation or even pain appears in the chest area, which can radiate to the area between the shoulder blades. Other characteristic manifestations of low-grade inflammation of the trachea include:

  • low-grade fever;
  • labored breathing;
  • discomfort when swallowing;
  • decreased appetite;
  • regional lymphadenitis;
  • "barking" cough.

The symptoms of atrophic tracheitis differ from the manifestations of the hypertrophic form of the disease only in the absence of sputum during coughing.

Signs of intoxication with sluggish tracheitis practically do not appear, but due to a constant spasmodic cough, patients may complain of headaches, nausea and weakness. As the infection progresses, small bronchioles can be affected, so in approximately 64% of patients, bronchiolitis is diagnosed along with tracheitis.

General recommendations

Is it possible to cure chronic tracheitis? A persistent cough and low-grade fever are good reasons to seek help from a pulmonologist or ENT doctor. After the examination, the specialist will prescribe adequate treatment for chronic inflammation, which will be accompanied by taking medications with etiotropic and symptomatic action.

During the period of exacerbation of the disease, treatment is carried out taking into account the following rules:

  1. compliance with bed rest;
  2. gentle nutrition (refusal of fried and spicy foods);
  3. drinking alkaline drinks.

During the treatment of tracheitis, it is not recommended to visit baths or saunas, since an increase in temperature only stimulates the proliferation of bacterial flora in the trachea.

Proper patient care is the key to successful treatment of low-grade inflammation in the respiratory system. Compliance with the drinking regime allows you not only to quickly cleanse the body of toxic substances, but also to create unfavorable conditions in the laryngopharynx for the proliferation of pathogenic microbes. It is recommended to use Borjomi, Essentuki, warm milk with honey, herbal teas, etc. as an alkaline drink.

Features of drug treatment

What drugs should be used to treat chronic tracheitis? Treatment must be comprehensive, therefore the treatment regimen includes physiotherapeutic procedures, as well as pharmaceutical agents with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. The following types of pharmaceutical drugs are often prescribed to the patient:

  • antitussives;
  • mucolytic;
  • antiallergic;
  • antiseptic;
  • expectorants;
  • antimicrobial;
  • immunostimulating.

In the absence of serious complications, therapy is carried out on an outpatient basis. To speed up recovery, it is recommended to resort to nebulizer therapy, which has virtually no contraindications. Compressor and ultrasonic inhalers can be used even when the temperature rises, which cannot be said about steam inhalations.

In addition, tracheitis in adults can be successfully treated with the help of folk remedies that have a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect. Gargling with decoctions based on licorice root, thermopsis and thyme can stop a spasmodic cough and reduce the severity of inflammation in the respiratory tract. Inhalations with chamomile, sage and eucalyptus are considered no less effective.

Antibacterial drugs

Treatment of chronic tracheitis should be accompanied by taking medications that help eliminate the cause of the disease - a bacterial infection. It is pathogenic microbes that cause sluggish inflammation of the respiratory system, which leads to changes in the structure of the mucous membranes and complications. Staphylococci and streptococci, which most often provoke chronic tracheitis, can be destroyed using the following antibiotics:

It is not advisable to take cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones during pregnancy without a doctor's recommendation, as this can lead to allergic reactions.

Depending on the severity of the disease and the dynamics of recovery, the course of antimicrobial therapy lasts 7-20 days. If there is no positive effect, the medications are replaced with stronger antibiotics.

Antitussives

How to treat dry spasmodic cough? For atrophic tracheitis, antitussives are included in the complex treatment regimen. Some of them suppress the activity of cough centers, others reduce the sensitivity of cough receptors in the respiratory tract. Taking medications helps relieve cough, which makes the course of chronic tracheitis easier.

In case of infection of the trachea, antitussives in the form of syrups or tablets are usually used:

Antitussives can only be used for non-productive coughs!

Do not use medications that suppress the cough reflex when separating sputum. The accumulation of mucus in the lower respiratory tract can cause inflammation and the development of bronchitis. In addition, irrational use of medications often causes adverse reactions - shortness of breath, drowsiness, dizziness and nausea. This is due to the fact that the drugs contain components that affect the functioning of the respiratory centers in the brain. Therefore, during treatment, you must strictly follow the dosage recommended by your doctor.

Expectorants

Taking antitussives can help eliminate cough syndrome as quickly as possible and speed up the evacuation of mucus from the respiratory tract. Depending on the principle of action, the following groups of drugs are distinguished:

  1. mucolytics are secretolytic drugs that reduce the viscosity of bronchial secretions, as a result of which the process of its separation from the walls of the respiratory tract is accelerated;
  2. Expectorants are secretomotor agents that stimulate the activity of cough centers and smooth muscles of the respiratory tract, resulting in accelerated removal of mucus from the respiratory system.

For dry cough, patients are first prescribed secretolytics, and then expectorants. Sluggish tracheitis in adults can be treated with the following drugs:

The advantage of expectorants is that they not only eliminate cough, but also help remove mucus, which is a favorable environment for the proliferation of microbes. Taking mucolytics alleviates the symptoms of the disease and at the same time helps to reduce the number of pathogenic agents in the tracheal mucosa, as a result of which recovery is accelerated.

Inhalation with a nebulizer

Inhalation is the best method of local treatment of respiratory diseases, which has a beneficial effect on the condition of the mucous membranes and increases local immunity. When using nebulizers, the medicinal solution is converted into an aerosol, which penetrates directly into the areas of inflammation. Regular inhalation helps to increase the concentration of drug components in soft tissues, thereby enhancing their therapeutic effect.

You should not inhale on a full stomach, as this can cause nausea and even vomiting.

When using nebulizers, experts recommend using local antibiotics, antiseptics and mucolytics as medications:

The average duration of one session is 10 minutes. To achieve positive results, you need to take at least 4 inhalations per day for two weeks. Premature cessation of therapy may provoke a relapse of inflammation in the respiratory tract and a resumption of cough.

Author: Irada Huseynova

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    Tracheitis in adults

    Tracheitis in adults is a disease characterized by inflammation of the tracheal mucosa. The course can be, as with many other diseases, acute or chronic. The provoking agents are bacteria and viruses (in most cases); in rare cases, the cause may be the inhaled air - too dirty, dry or low temperatures.

    The disease manifests itself with specific symptoms: a dry cough (rarely a cough with sputum), which causes pain in the throat and/or chest, and also worsens in the evening and at night. In the acute form of the disease, rhinitis, laryngitis, bronchial inflammation or pharyngitis can also occur in parallel.

    Tracheitis: contagious or not?

    The disease is often viral in origin. If this is the case, then tracheitis can be transmitted to others. Transmission occurs by airborne droplets, but infection through household items when shared with a patient is not excluded. Objects that transmit tracheitis can be spoons and forks, clothes, towels, etc.

    Adenoviruses and respiratory syncytial viruses first affect the mucous membrane of the larynx, which leads to laryngitis. In the absence of therapy, the lining of the trachea is subsequently affected, causing a symptom such as cough. If the sick person is not isolated, everyone who has had contact with him can become infected. Among the provoking factors are serious violations of personal hygiene rules and a closed room with stale air.

    Tracheitis is common among children, but below we will look at tracheitis in adults. Having had a given disease caused by a certain virus, a person can become infected again with the same disease, only caused by a different virus. Such facts are called relapses in medicine.

    How long does tracheitis last?

    The disease is not so easy to cure. Recovery time depends on the form of tracheitis. The chronic course is protracted, that is, it lasts longer than the acute form. Recovery is influenced by the body's defenses, that is, immunity. The prognosis is almost always characterized as favorable. The duration of the acute form of the disease in question is one day, if the course is without complications.

    The chronic form cannot be predicted in terms of timing. But with proper treatment and normal immunity, recovery takes about 30 days.

    Acute banal tracheitis

    Tracheitis in its acute form almost never acts as an independent nosological form, but mostly inflammation in the bronchi develops in parallel. The disease is called tracheobronchitis. The causative agent in many cases is the influenza virus, to which bacterial flora is attached. In most cases, pneumococci are associated, but staphylococci are also possible.

    Primary acute banal tracheitis is often caused by the influence of a cold. It affects the high level of importance in autumn or winter, cooling the body as a whole or locally. Under such conditions, the local microbiota, which is considered opportunistic, is activated. The disease is also triggered by dust, toxic fumes, gases and allergens that may be in the air.

    The development of the disease is facilitated by lung and heart diseases that occur in a chronic form. When they occur, stagnation of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract occurs, and protective forces are reduced. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may also be a contributing factor. The acute form of tracheitis is mainly recorded in older people in autumn and spring.

    In acute banal tracheitis, the mucous membrane is hyperemic and covered with mucus. The latter may be in the form of lumps. A severe course is characterized by point or widespread effusions of blood into the mucous membrane.

    Symptoms

    The onset of acute banal tracheitis is marked by acute catarrhal rhinitis and nasopharyngitis. Then the pathological process covers the sections below, including the trachea. In some cases, the pathological process covers not only the trachea, but also large bronchi, which causes slightly different symptoms. As already noted, this disease is eloquently indicated by a cough, which worries the patient most at night. It is caused by the fact that the maximum amount of sputum accumulates at night during rest. At night, the vagal system is normally activated, which affects the cough reflex.

    It is worth considering that cough can also occur with bronchitis. But in such cases it is permanent and causes more discomfort. With tracheitis, a cough can be triggered by crying, laughing, and even inhaling. It also appears when the ambient temperature changes, for example, when a person enters a warm room from a cold place or vice versa.

    Tracheitis can be very pronounced, occurring in parallel with the flu, then there may be complaints of pain in the pharynx and behind the sternum, which intensifies every time after coughing. In such cases, patients try to breathe more shallowly to reduce pain. This also leads to increased inhalation and exhalation. A severe convulsive cough can be a consequence of the concentration of sputum in the tracheal bifurcation zone.

    Often with tracheitis, adults have a hoarse voice. The general condition is almost always normal, there may be an increase in temperature to 37-37.5˚ C, a feeling of weakness in the body, headaches, muscle pain in the body. In the first days of illness, there is little sputum, it is difficult to separate. Then the sputum becomes mucopurulent and comes off easily when coughing. A person feels better during this period.

    As already noted, with good care and adequate therapy, in 1-2 weeks the patient can get back on his feet and return to his normal work routine. If you do not adhere to the rules outlined by your doctor, tracheitis can become chronic, and complications are also likely.

    During flu epidemics in the city, hemorrhagic tracheitis is likely, which begins faster and is severe. In such cases, tracheitis is not a separate disease, but part of confluent influenza hemorrhagic pneumonia, which is fatal. High probability of complications: swelling of the subglottic space with the threat of asphyxia. In such cases, a tracheotomy must be urgently performed and detoxification agents are needed.

    Diagnostics

    Diagnosis in the vast majority of cases is simple for qualified specialists. It is important to take into account seasonality - when influenza epidemics develop and colds spread in cold times. For diagnosis, the typical symptoms described above are taken into account, and this disease is also indicated by catarrhal inflammation of the tracheal mucosa.

    Diagnosis of toxic forms of influenza becomes more complicated because tracheitis in adults becomes similar to pneumonia, a disease in which lung tissue is involved in the pathological process. In such cases, it is important to take x-rays and use physical therapeutic and other pulmonary methods.

    Treatment

    Acute tracheitis is mainly caused by a viral infection. In uncomplicated cases, the doctor prescribes medications for immunomodulation, inhalation, and expectorant herbal teas. The drug Bioparox, which is used for aerosol irrigation of the throat, also helps. During an exacerbation, doctors may prescribe fever-reducing and antiviral medications, but only if the body temperature is more than 38˚C.

    Medicines for tracheitis in adults:

    For a dry cough that debilitates the patient, available antitussives and mucolytic syrups with marshmallow and licorice root are prescribed. Mustard plasters and rubbing with warming ointments help to recover from tracheitis.

    The patient is recommended to drink plenty and frequently, including rosehip decoction. It contains many vitamins necessary for a sick body, and also has a diuretic effect. In acute tracheitis, non-drug measures are also important, including strict bed rest and systematic wet cleaning of the room in which the patient is located. His contacts with healthy people should be limited to avoid infection.

    Antiviral medications should be taken only as prescribed by a doctor, because the wrong choice leads to the development of complications and chronic tracheitis, which will then be very difficult to treat.

    Chronic banal tracheitis in adults

    As already noted, the chronic form of the disease develops if the acute form is not treated in time. Atrophic changes occur in the mucous membrane of the trachea, due to which persistent coughing occurs in attacks, most active at night, which is why the patient cannot get enough sleep. This weakens the body even more. There may be pain in the sternum, which leads to incorrect diagnosis in some cases (the disease is confused with pneumonia).

    For the development of a chronic form of tracheitis, it is necessary that such moments as the duration of influence on the body of factors provoking the disease and the presence of risk factors coincide:

    • drinking any alcoholic beverages
    • smoking, especially long-term
    • work in hazardous industries

    If you do not complete the treatment of acute tracheitis or do not follow all the doctor’s recommendations, this also threatens with a chronic form. The causes of chronic catarrhal tracheitis can be:

    This form of tracheitis is recorded mainly among adults.

    Pathanatomy

    Chronic banal tracheitis can occur in two forms: atrophic and hypertrophic. With the latter, venous congestion and hyperemia are typical, the separation of mucus and sputum of a purulent nature increases, as well as an increase in the tracheal mucosa. Some researchers argue that tracheitis is the initial stage of the systemic process, followed by the atrophic stage. With it, the mucous membrane becomes thinner, acquires a gray tint, and becomes shiny. The mucous membrane at the atrophic stage may be covered with dry, small crusts, which causes a painful cough.

    The absence of an isolated atrophic form speaks in favor of the systemic nature of the process. The process involves the respiratory tract, both lower and upper.

    Symptoms

    As with the acute form, the main manifestation is a cough that worsens at night. Sputum can collect in the carina area of ​​the trachea, dry there and turn into crusts. This process causes the cough to become painful. With the development of the atrophic process at the stage of damage to the superficial layer of the mucous membrane, the patient has a cough. But, if atrophic processes progress, nerve endings are damaged, so a person may cough less. The course of chronic tracheitis in adults is long-term; symptoms may subside and then begin again.

    Diagnostics

    When making a diagnosis, the doctor takes into account the presence of local pathological manifestations, which speak in favor of chronic banal tracheitis. An important method is tracheoscopy. Identifying the cause is very difficult; this requires collecting an anamnesis, talking with the patient’s relatives and conducting a series of studies and tests, which are prescribed strictly according to the doctor’s decision.

    Treatment

    Treatment, as mentioned above, takes a lot of time. It will be necessary to treat the complications that inevitably arise with chronic tracheitis. The causative agents in most cases are bacteria, so therapy includes taking antibiotics. At the same time, the doctor should take into account that these drugs cause a number of side effects, including killing the normal microflora of the gastrointestinal tract, for which drugs are prescribed to restore the intestinal flora.

    If the sputum is purulent, therapy includes taking macrolides that act on many naturally occurring pathogens. Treatment with these medications takes 2-3 weeks. The duration correlates with the presence of complications and the overall severity of the disease. It is important to prescribe inhalations to the patient, including those using fir, pine, tea tree oil, eucalyptus, etc. Inhalations with pharmaceutical drugs are also relevant.

    Inhalation treatment is carried out at least 2 times in 24 hours, the course is 14 days. Inhalations are not canceled, even if the patient is less bothered by the main symptom of tracheitis - coughing attacks.

    Chlorophyllipt can be prescribed orally, or by irrigation. The larynx is also irrigated with the above-mentioned drug, which is available in almost all pharmacies - Bioparox. It has an anti-inflammatory effect. Effective remedies for tracheitis in adults are decoctions of licorice root and marshmallow decoction. Therapy should not be stopped earlier than 21 days, even if the person’s temperature has returned to normal. Otherwise, it is possible that after some time the symptoms will appear again, and then it will be even more difficult to cure tracheitis.

    For hypertrophic tracheitis, inhaled use of antibacterial drugs is necessary. But they are not prescribed empirically; first you need to carry out certain tests showing the causative agent. Atrophic processes can be cured with the help of vitamin oils. To remove crusts, solutions of proteolytic enzymes are prescribed. Summarizing the above, it should be noted that tracheitis is treated in almost the same way as bronchitis and common laryngitis.

    Tracheitis in infectious diseases

    Tracheitis can occur when:

    Damage to the upper respiratory tract becomes even worse when tracheitis is added, but fatal complications are extremely rare. It is worth noting that if left untreated, the pathological process can spread to nearby organs, including nerves. Then complications appear, and the patient feels even worse, treatment is longer and more complex.

    Diagnostics

    Diagnostic methods are similar to those for diseases of the larynx in adults.

    Therapy and prognosis

    Therapy for tracheitis occurring with infectious diseases is systemic. It includes taking symptomatic and specific medications, which depend on the infection in each specific case. The prognosis is also different, it can be either positive or extremely unfavorable. It correlates with complications, the type of specific infection, the timing of diagnosis and the start of treatment, as well as the effectiveness of the chosen methods and medications.

    Tracheitis and bronchitis

    This form is called tracheobronchitis. This combination is not uncommon in clinical practice in our country. Pathogenesis begins in most cases with damage to the laryngeal mucosa by a bacterial or viral infection, then the picture of laryngitis unfolds, followed by the development of an acute form of tracheitis and bronchitis.

    Tracheitis and bronchitis have almost similar manifestations, which include:

    • weakness
    • typical coughing fits
    • increase in body temperature and fever
    • excessive sweating
    • headaches (not always)

    With tracheobronchitis, the cough does not affect the sonority and pitch of the voice, and difficulty in exhaling occurs. The patient complains of pain behind the sternum, which sometimes radiates between the shoulder blades. Coughing attacks initially without sputum, sputum appears later. The patient's breathing is harsh, there are characteristic wheezing sounds. If the sputum is yellow-green, then the cause of the disease is bacterial flora. If the sputum is clear and has a liquid consistency, the allergic nature of tracheobronchitis or a virus is assumed. If the sputum that comes out when you cough is thick, white, and collects in clots, then the causative agent is fungi.

    To diagnose this form of tracheitis in adults, an auscultation test is used. The patient needs to take a deep breath and then exhale sharply and quickly. If the bronchi in his body are narrowed, then when exhaling, a bronchial whistle will be noted.

    Viral tracheitis

    Most often, the form of the disease is acute; it is diagnosed in adults quite often, mainly during influenza epidemics that occur periodically in our country. A viral disease can be differentiated from a bacterial one due to the special nature of the sputum, which appears 2-3 days after infection, and due to the presence of rhinitis. The viral nature of the disease is supported by clear nasal discharge; the sputum released when coughing is also clear.

    Most likely, symptoms such as feeling unwell, high fever, and headaches will appear. Treatment for viral tracheitis is quite short. Basically, medications are prescribed to facilitate the discharge of sputum, medications for immunity. The patient must adhere to bed rest.

    Tracheitis during pregnancy

    In pregnant women, tracheitis is recorded quite often, mainly of a viral nature. It happens when a woman has an acute respiratory viral infection, when the tonsils become inflamed or there is inflammation in the throat. Tracheitis is dangerous for pregnant women, including for an unborn baby, because the pathogen can penetrate the fetus through the placenta.

    If the disease is bacterial in nature, then treatment can be dangerous for the pregnant woman. It is widely known that antibiotics are prescribed to pregnant women only in extreme cases. A pregnant woman with tracheitis is likely to have complications, mainly bronchitis, in severe cases there may be bronchopneumonia. They affect the development of the unborn child.

    Therefore, during pregnancy, prevention of tracheitis is important. A woman needs to avoid crowds of people, especially during the cold season and during epidemics of any diseases. Contact with patients should also be limited in clinics where pregnant women are registered.

    Prevention

    The best preventative measure is to maintain normal body defenses, that is, immunity, because tracheitis is mainly caused by viruses. If someone in your family, at work or at university has tracheitis, it is better not to have contact with such a person due to the high risk of infection. In 75 out of 100 cases, the disease is transmitted through the air.

    It is necessary to observe the rules of personal hygiene, which includes systematic hand washing. Quitting smoking is important. Passive smoking must also be taken into account. If someone smokes in your environment, do not be near them at these moments. During the cold season, your doctor may prescribe you vitamin prophylaxis. Hardening measures are also important. If you decide to do hardening, you need to remember that these measures are systematic and constant.

    You need to do wet cleaning regularly at home, because viruses and other pathogens can be present in the air and settle along with small particles in the form of dust, and then rise into the air again. Prevention of tracheitis in adults also includes maintaining an active lifestyle.

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    Source: http://www.eurolab.ua/encyclopedia/pulmonology/49018/