By Dr.Iolanta Stanchak, MD
A 55-year-old patient came in for a visit with acute bronchitis and laryngitis after a viral infection 2 weeks later. Her complaints were severe cough and lack of voice, weakness, temperature.
***Acute bronchitis is caused by viruses and mixed viral-bacterial infections. The inflammatory process first affects the nasopharynx, tonsils, trachea, gradually spreading to the lower respiratory tract – the bronchi. The upper layers of the bronchial wall are affected: there is hyperemia and swelling of the mucous membrane, pronounced infiltration of the submucosal layer, dystrophic changes and rejection of epithelial cells occur. With proper treatment, acute bronchitis has a favorable prognosis, the structure and functions of the bronchi are fully restored.
