Bronchitis physical examination: Difference between revisions

	Bronchitis Main page
Patient Information
Overview
Causes
Classification Acute bronchitis Chronic bronchitis
Differential Diagnosis

VisualWikitext

Revision as of 22:18, 27 February 2012

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Diagnosis

A physical examination will often reveal decreased intensity of breath sounds, wheeze (rhonchi) and prolonged expiration. Most doctors rely on the presence of a persistent dry or wet cough as evidence of bronchitis.

The physical examination findings in acute bronchitis can be:

General physical examination

Clubbing on the digits

Peripheral cyanosis

Conjunctivitis

Bullous myringitis

Oropharyngeal examination

Pharyngeal erythema

Rhinorrhea

Lymphadenopathy

Pulmonary system

Use of accessory muscles suggesting labored breathing.

Rhonchi, and wheezes that change in location and intensity after a deep and productive cough.

Presence of inspiratory stridor indicate obstruction of a major bronchi or the trachea.

Cardiovascular examination

Sustained heave felt along the left sternal border, suggests right ventricular hypertrophy secondary to chronic bronchitis.

@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 * Sustained heave felt along the left sternal border, suggests right ventricular hypertrophy secondary to chronic bronchitis.
-A variety of tests may be performed in patients presenting with cough and shortness of breath:
-* A [[chest X-ray]] that reveals hyperinflation; collapse and consolidation of lung areas would support a diagnosis of [[pneumonia]]. Some conditions that predispose to bronchitis may be indicated by chest radiography.
-* A sputum sample showing [[neutrophil granulocyte]]s (inflammatory white blood cells) and [[microbiological culture|culture]] showing that has pathogenic microorganisms such as [[Streptococcus|Streptococcus spp.]]
-* A [[blood test]] would indicate inflammation (as indicated by a raised [[white blood cell]] count and elevated [[C-reactive protein]]).
-*Neutrophils infiltrate the lung tissue, aided by damage to the airways caused by irritation.
-*Damage caused by irritation of the airways leads to inflammation and leads to neutrophils being present
-*Mucosal hypersecretion is promoted by a substance released by neutrophils
-*Further obstruction to the airways is caused by more goblet cells in the small airways. This is typical of chronic bronchitis
-*Although infection is not the reason or cause of chronic bronchitis it is seen to aid in sustaining the bronchitis.'''''
 ==References==
 {{Reflist|2}}