Treatment and Prevention
Prevention of AECB for a person with chronic bronchitis includes:
- quitting smoking and avoiding dust, second-hand smoke, and other inhaled irritants
- yearly immunization against influenza and pneumonia
- regular exercise, appropriate rest, and healthy nutrition as discussed with health professionals
- avoiding people who currently have an infectious respiratory disease such as a cold or influenza
- maintaining good fluid intake and humidifying the home to help reduce the problem of thick sputum and chest congestion
Treatment of AECB may include:
- cough suppressants, which may be used to reduce the severe coughing that can occur with AECB. Expectorants may be used to help liquefy thick mucus, making it easier to clear it from the airways. Drinking plenty of fluids will also help to thin mucus.
- inhaled bronchodilator treatment. Bronchodilators such as salbutamol* and terbutaline, and another inhaled medication called ipratropium, open up the airways in the lungs.
- treatment with antibiotics if a bacterial infection is the suspected cause. Antibiotics will not help infections caused by viruses. Viral infections will usually go away on their own with the aid of proper rest and care. However, other medications may be needed to control symptoms.
- treatment with corticosteroids such as prednisone. These medications reduce inflammation in the airways and are usually used for short periods of time when an acute exacerbation occurs.
- an oral (taken by mouth) medication called theophylline. Theophylline helps to ease the difficulty of breathing. If a person with AECB is not already taking theophylline for chronic bronchitis, the doctor may want them to take it to help with the symptoms of an acute exacerbation.
- oxygen therapy if the physician determines that the blood oxygen level is too low. Some people with severe chronic bronchitis require oxygen on an ongoing basis. Portable "home oxygen therapy" allows a person to remain mobile while receiving this therapy.
Any person with chronic bronchitis should have a treatment or "care plan" in place for those times when an acute exacerbation suddenly hits. A doctor and patient must agree on which symptoms to watch for (e.g., shortness of breath, change in character or amount of mucus) before the person starts self-treatment. Such plans allow a person to start treatment right away so symptoms are kept as much under control as possible until a doctor can be seen.
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name
is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®).
The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen).
A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article
lists medications by their common names. For more information on brand names,
speak with your doctor or pharmacist.