Bronchitis is an infection of the lungs that causes the inflammation of the bronchi. All the myths about this condition have arisen from the fact that it bears uncanny resemblance to other respiratory problems. Thus, bronchitis is often confused with pneumonia and asthma and the facts about all these three conditions are mixed and jumbled up in the minds of people. This leads to incorrect diagnosis unless one goes to a doctor. Other myths have arisen from a kind of Chinese whisper wherein facts have been gradually corroded to give way to fiction and myths.
Prolonged chest cold is a symptom of bronchitis
Most people think that having a prolonged chest cold is a symptom of bronchitis. If a person has a severe cold and has been coughing up yellow or green stuff for a while, people would recommend antibiotics to combat bronchitis. This is entirely a myth that should not be believed. Most viral upper respiratory illness is accompanied by mucous from the nose or throat. This is the first phase of any respiratory infection. After that, mucous starts thickening and turns yellowish. This does not mean worsening of the situation. Instead, it is the body’s mechanism of fighting off the virus. The patient must be treated with decongestants such as Tylenol, Advil, or Sudafed, and additional fluids must be given in order to maintain moisture in the body. Steam inhalation or the use of nasal sprays such as Afrin can also be very helpful.
Kids have a greater chance of getting bronchitis
Kids do not get bronchitis, adults do. This is a myth that has plagued several generations of parents. Bronchitis is mainly due to damage done to the lining of the lungs. In most cases of bronchitis, this is due to smoking. Smoke destroys the lining of the lungs and creates the perfect environment for growth of bacteria in that region. When people say kids have a greater chance of catching bronchitis, it is based on the assumption that children are more vulnerable to infections than adults are. However, cough in children is caused by a virus. Antibiotics do not work on viruses. Only time can cure them. Children, who have a throat irritation or a bad cough, should be given warm fluids to drink. Always keep a humidifier in their room. Nasal drainage can be countered by using a nasal bulb syringe or by ensuring that the kids blow their nose regularly. Most children who seem “susceptible to bronchitis” probably have asthma. It is vital that a child who has a cough for a long time must have an evaluation for asthma as most cases can be treated effectively these days.
Antibiotics are essential to treat bronchitis
There are several misconceptions surrounding the condition called bronchitis. This is one such myth that need not hold true for every case of the disease. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infection. Bronchitis could be caused due to bacteria as well as viruses. It is caused due to a coarse cough that causes loose phlegm. This cough disrupts the lining of the lungs. Hence, it is vital to have the condition diagnosed by a recognized practitioner before starting a course of antibiotics. Most people these days resort to self-medication and think that antibiotics can be taken for almost any form of infection in the body. This has resulted in huge numbers of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions for bronchitis all over the world.
Bronchitis is contagious
This is a widely famous myth that rings a note of truth. Bronchitis is indeed contagious as it can spread through contact with a person suffering from the disease. When a patient coughs, the virus spreads through the air in the surrounding area. Research shows that acute bronchitis is contagious as long as a patient shows symptoms of the disease. Acute bronchitis happens when the trachea-bronchial tube in the body is inflamed. This could also turn into a chronic condition depending on the respiratory system of a person. Therefore, it is important to take necessary precaution against bronchitis, as it is a contagious disease.
Pneumonia is an aggrevated condition of bronchitis
Pneumonia and bronchitis are both diseases that affect the respiratory area such as the lungs, trachea, pleural cavity, bronchial tubes and the upper respiratory tract. However, they are both different. While Bronchitis is an inflammation of the main air passages to the lungs, Pneumonia is a respiratory condition wherein there is an inflammation of the lung. Most people are confused by the two and even start treatment without proper consultation or diagnosis. Bronchitis can be controlled through proper medication whereas pneumonia is relatively a more serious respiratory disease and is considered difficult to treat.
There is no effective home remedy for bronchitis
Bronchitis is a common disease caused by inflammation of the mucous membrane in the bronchial passage of the lungs. This causes narrowing of the airway and thus results in cough with thick phlegm. Bronchitis could be due to either viral or bacterial infections and generally lasts for several days. However, people who are healthy and do not have any underlying conditions can resort to home remedies for bronchitis. There is a myth that says there is no effective home remedy for bronchitis. This does not hold true for every person. Home remedies such as drinking lots of fluids and hydrating the body with broths every two hours can work effectively for most people who have overall good health.
Bronchitis and asthma are one and the same
Asthma and bronchitis have very similar symptoms. Both of them cause inflammation of the bronchi and affect breathing. In fact, only a doctor will be able to distinguish between asthma and bronchitis. In such a scenario, people can be forgiven for thinking that both are the same. However, there is a major difference between the two. While asthma is a lung disease, bronchitis is an affectation of the lungs. People can be born with asthma and they suffer from it for a lifetime. Bronchitis can affect almost anybody and it happens even through the aggravation of a simple, common cold.
Bronchitis lasts for a lifetime
Bronchitis can exhibit very severely in certain cases. This coupled with the fact that people often use the terms bronchitis and asthma interchangeably has resulted in the myth that bronchitis lasts for a lifetime. Asthma lasts for a lifetime, not bronchitis. This is because bronchitis is caused due to exposure to respiratory irritants. Once the patient keeps away from these irritants (chemicals, bacteria, viruses, smoke, etc.) for a sufficiently long time, bronchitis completely ceases and goes away totally. Even chronic bronchitis that smokers suffer from can be bettered if not healed by abstaining from smoking.
Bronchitis is only caused by infections
Acute bronchitis is often caused by viruses and bacteria. That is why the treatment at times involves antibiotics and immunity boosters. This has led to the belief that bronchitis is the result of infections alone. However, there is another dangerous form of bronchitis known as chronic bronchitis. This is caused mainly due to smoking cigarettes and other forms of tobacco. Five percent of the population suffers from such chronic bronchitis (which is a large number) and this is prevalent more among women than men. Thus, the occurrence of bronchitis is dependent on lifestyle choices too.
