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- What is bronchitis?
- Symptoms of bronchitis
- Causes of bronchitis
- Prevention of bronchitis
- Risk factors for bronchitis
- Complications of bronchitis
- When to see a doctor about bronchitis
- Diagnosis of bronchitis
- Conventional treatment of bronchitis
- Alternative/complementary treatment of bronchitis
- Living with bronchitis
- Caring for someone with bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is diagnosed by the following:
- Medical history - your doctor will take notes on the duration and severity of symptoms and will order other tests as necessary
- Chest x-ray - to rule out pneumonia, which is a serious complication of acute bronchitis, if the infection has been particularly severe and the medical history of symptoms warrants it
- Phlegm sample - this test is sometimes (but not often) performed, to test the bacteria or virus in the sputum
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Chronic bronchitis is diagnosed by the following:
- Medical history - your doctor will take notes on the duration and severity of symptoms and will order other tests as necessary
- Chest x-ray - to rule out pneumonia, which is a serious complication of chronic bronchitis, if the medical history of symptoms warrants it
- Oxygen saturation levels - this is a test to measure the amount of oxygen in the lungs to determine how much oxygen is getting to the blood cells in order to understand how inflamed and swollen the airways in the lungs, to ascertain the damage to the bronchi (and bronchiole)
- Phlegm sample - this test is sometimes (but not often) performed, to test the bacteria or virus in the sputum
- Spirometry test - this is a test to measure the volume of the lungs which is used in people who may have chronic bronchitis, to rule out or confirm asthma or even emphysema as an underlying factor causing the chronic bronchitis
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< 7: when to see a doctor 9: conventional treatment > Last reviewed: 10 November 2007 || Last updated: 3 January 2009
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
