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Bronchitis - Diagnosis
Normally, a cough indicative of bronchitis produces a yellowish-gray or green mucus. The presence of mucus in and of itself isn’t an abnormal sign. You airways produce up to several tablespoons of mucus ever day. What is abnormal is the accumulation of this mucus.
For the most
part, your mucus will normally get cleared into your throat and you
naturally swallow this along with your saliva.
And normally,
your mucus isn’t the yellowish-gray or green variety. That usually only occurs when your bronchial tubes are
inflamed or an infection exists. If
you have this type of mucus appearing for more than three months, then your
health care practitioner will tell you that you have chronic bronchitis.
In addition to
this symptom, you will probably notice several other signs.
These particular signals aren’t exclusive to bronchitis, but they
do indicate that an upper respiratory infection exists.
You’re may
be experiencing an upper respiratory infection if your chest is sore or if
there’s a feeling of constriction or burning in your chest. A sore throat, chest congestion, wheezing as well as
breathlessness are all also good indicators of an upper respiratory
infection. A sensation of
fullness in your sinuses is another indication, as are the slight fever and
the presence of chills. Another,
very vague, symptom of respiratory problems is the presence of an overall
malaise.
There are
times when it’s difficult to diagnose with certainty bronchitis merely by
scanning the symptoms. Chronic
sinusitis, for example, can mimic this health problem.
Chronic sinusitis is an ongoing, long-term infection in the lining of
at least one of the cavities in the bone around your nose.
This health problem also produces a discolored mucus discharge as
well as a chronic cough.
In order to
accurately diagnose your bronchitis, you health care practitioner will
listen to your chest with a stethoscope.
He may also want you to get a chest X-ray.
In addition, he may request that you undergo a sputum culture. This is a test that checks for the presence of bacteria in
the mucus produced when you cough.
But, the tests
may not end there. Your health
care practitioner may also ask you to go through some additional
examinations to rule out other causes.
One such test is a pulmonary function test – or a PFT.
This determines whether there may be a signs of asthma or emphysema.
During a
pulmonary function test, you’ll be asked to blow into a device called a
spirometer. This device
measures the volume of air in your lungs – after you’ve taken a deep
breath and have blown it out. The
spirometer also allows your health care practitioner know just how quickly
your system can get air into your lungs as well.
Note: Some statements in this article may not be approved by the FDA. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional medical advice.
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