Streptococcal Infections—Acute Bronchitis

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, the airways that carry air to your lungs. It causes a cough that often brings up mucus. It can also cause shortness of breath, wheezing, a low fever, and chest tightness. There are two main types of bronchitis: acute and chronic.

Most cases of acute bronchitis get better within several days. But your cough can last for several weeks after the infection is gone.

The same viruses that cause colds and the flu often cause acute bronchitis. These viruses spread through the air when people cough, or though physical contact (for example, on unwashed hands). Being exposed to tobacco smoke, air pollution, dusts, vapors, and fumes can also cause acute bronchitis. Less often, bacteria can also cause acute bronchitis.

To diagnose acute bronchitis, your health care provider will ask about your symptoms and listen to your breathing. You may also have other tests.

Treatments include rest, fluids, and aspirin (for adults) or acetaminophen to treat fever. A humidifier or steam can also help. You may need inhaled medicine to open your airways if you are wheezing. Antibiotics won’t help if the cause is viral. You may get antibiotics if the cause is bacterial.

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

• Bronchitis – acute (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Postural drainage (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Routine sputum culture (Medical Encyclopedia)

Also called: Strep

Strep is short for Streptococcus, a type of bacteria. There are two types: group A and group B.

Group A strep causes

• Strep throat – a sore, red throat. Your tonsils may be swollen and have white spots on them.
• Scarlet fever – an illness that follows strep throat. It causes a red rash on the body.
• Impetigo – a skin infection
• Toxic shock syndrome
• Cellulitis and necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating disease)

Group B strep can cause blood infections, pneumonia and meningitis in newborns. A screening test during pregnancy can tell if you have it. If you do, I.V. antibiotics during labor can save your baby’s life. Adults can also get group B strep infections, especially if they are elderly or already have health problems. Strep B can cause urinary tract infections, blood infections, skin infections and pneumonia in adults.

Antibiotics are used to treat strep infections.

NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

• Ecthyma (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Erysipelas (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Group B streptococcal septicemia of the newborn (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Group B streptococcus – pregnancy (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Perianal streptococcal cellulitis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Rheumatic fever (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Scarlet fever (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Strep throat (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Streptococcal screen (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Throat swab culture (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Toxic shock syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia)