GENERAL INFORMATION
ACUTE BRONCHITIS IS AN INFLAMMATION OF THE BRONCHIAL TUBES ——
THE BREATHING PASSAGES THAT BRANCH OUT TO THE LUNGS FROM
THE "WINDPIPE". BRONCHITIS IS MOST COMMON IN WINTER BUT
CAN OCCUR ANY TIME OF THE YEAR.
BRONCHITIS MAY BE CAUSED BY VIRAL OR BACTERIAL GERMS, ALLERGIES
OR FUMES. USUALLY ACUTE BRONCHITIS OCCURS ALONG WITH OTHER .
SYMPTOMS OF INFECTION OR INFLAMMATION IN THE NOSE, THROAT
OR SINUSES.

SYMPTOMS
THE SYMPTOMS OFTEN BEGIN WITH A DRY , HACKING COUGH THAT
BEGINS TO PRODUCE THICK PHLEGM AFTER A FEW DAYS. OTHER
SYMPTOMS THAT MAY OCCUR ARE A FEVER OF IOO-I O2 DEGREES AND
ACHINESS, CHEST PAINS AND SORE THROAT CAUSED BY COUGHING
AND SOMETIMES WHEEZING.

TREATMENT
I.     FORCE FLUID INTAKE TO 2-4 QUARTS PER DAY FOR ADULTS;
1-2 QUARTS PER DAY FOR CHILDREN. THIS HELPS LIQUEFY THE
THICK BRONCHIAL SECRETIONS MAKING IT EASIER TO COUGH
UP THE PHLEGM.

2.     AVOID ALL IRRITATING FUMES UNTIL SYMPTOMS ARE GONE.
IF YOU SMOKE, DO NOT SMOKE DURING THIS ILLNESS.

3.     ACETAMINOPHEN OR IBUPROFEN CAN BE TAKEN IF NEEDED
TO CONTROL FEVER OR THE DISCOMFORT ASSOCIATED WITH
FEVER.

4.     THE COUGH AIDS THE BODY IN REMOVING DEBRIS FROM THE
LUNGS; THEREFORE THE PURPOSE OF COUGH MEDICATION
IS NOT TO STOP THE COUGH, BUT TO MAKE THE COUGH MORE 
EFFECTIVE BY THINNING SECRETIONS. THEREBY MAKING IT I
LESS PAINFUL. I

5.     IF ANTIBIOTICS ARE PRESCRIBED, BE SURE TO TAKE THE FULL
COURSE AS DIRECTED BY YOUR DOCTOR.

6.     BEFORE GOING TO BED AT NIGHT, IT MAY BE HELPFUL TO STEP
INTO A HOT SHOWER FOR A FEW MINUTES TO BREATHE IN THE
MOIST AIR.