Hello doctor, I get sick every two-three months. My doctor diagnosed me with chronic bronchitis about a year ago. I get the same symptoms every time the illness flairs up again. The symptoms consist of a snotty nose, fever, shaking, weak, shortness of breath and a persistent horrible cough. I also throw up some of the things I eat and foam when I drink things. I have an inhaler that I plug into the wall and inhale the Albuterol vapor that the machine produces. I would just like to know what else I can do to treat this painful illness?
Hello. In many cases of chronic bronchitis, acute symptoms appear due to infection. So, I would advise in such a scenario to get a hemogram with ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and chest x-ray done. If the chest x-ray and these blood investigations show no sign of infection then, you would be treated for bronchitis. Treatment constitutes antiallergic drugs like Levocetirizine and Montelukast and in severe cases inhalers containing like Salbutamol and steroid inhaler like Budenoside. In case of severe spasm and coughing, a steroid like Prednisolone can be used for a short course, after being sure that there is no active infection or pneumonia. If you do not have a severe cough or respiratory distress, and your chest if found clear on examination, then a cough syrup containing Salbutamol, Levocetirizine, Dextromethorphan will help you greatly. Benzonatate pearls are helpful in an allergic cough only, as they just anesthetize the throat and reduce the allergic cough response. But in cases of severe chest congestion, they are not useful. Also, do steam inhalation for symptomatic relief. I would advise you to see your doctor and get investigated. Share my opinion with him, I am sure he would agree to it and would prescribe you accordingly. I hope this helps.