Bronchitis question

[TimeforMe]

A co-worker of mine was just diagnosed after already being back to work. Is it contagious? From what I could discover, it's not. Also, the doctor prescribed a strong antibiotic for it. Is this something that is treatable by antibiotics? I think I may have it now, that's why I ask.

 

[Cool-Beans]

"Bronchitis" means that the airways are inflamed. That, in and of itself, is not something you can catch.

If it was brought on by some illness, you might be able to catch that.

Smokers get a lot of bronchitis where other folks just get colds.

Hope you don't catch anything!!

 

[Meriweather]

My DH gets it at least once a year.....he is a woodworking, so has bad lungs.
I have never had it.
They do prescribe an antibiotic for it.

 

[ez]

the antibiotics didnt seem to help. If it doesnt get better they gave me a prescription for prednisone, a steroid. Yikes!

 

[luvmy3]

Why do docs continue to prescribe antibiotics? Isn't bronchitis caused by a viral infection?

 

[Syrreal]

I get bronchitis every time I catch a cold. A lot of times the drs also prescribe inhalers to help with the inflamation (along with antibiotics). I've had to take more than one kind of antibiotic, too.

Be sure to take it easy and get as much rest as you can (I know, not always possible). Last summer my bronchitis turned into walking pneumonia and I was sick for almost 3 months straight.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Why do docs continue to prescribe antibiotics? Isn't bronchitis caused by a viral infection?

It can be caused by many things. Some of them you can catch, some of them, you can't.

It might be viral, it might not.

I'm guessing the doctor prescribed antibiotics because all his years of studying and practicing medicine told him that was the thing to do after reading the patient's history and examining the patient.


http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/bronchitis/hic_bronchitis.aspx

 

[GJM]

The Dr. gave me the Z-Pack when I had it. I felt so much better the next day.

 

[Christine]

I believe doctors have taken a change in their stance on bronchitis. They used to always prescribe antibiotics for it, but they realized that they didn't often work and most cases of bronchitis are caused by viruses versus bacteria.

As another posted pointed out "itis" means inflammation, not necessarily infection. Bronchitis sounds so bad because the bronchial portion of the lungs gets inflamed and you cough... a LOT.

You will only catch whatever it is that is causing the inflammation, if it is still there. The "bug" might be gone but the inflammation lingers. It could just end up being a cold for the person who catches something from her.

 

[Ephany]

I had bronchitis last winter. I got a shot in the hinny, put on antibiotics for 10 days, and was told to spend as much time in bed as possible. I had finals that week, so sleeping was out of the question. It took almost a month before I felt completely well. I remember it really hurt to breathe, and my lungs sounded like crumpled cellophane every time I drew a breath. Lots of coughing and lightheadness too. No one else I knew had it, so mine didn't seem to be contagious. The next month I caught the flu though; it was a looong winter.

 

[Donalds_best_pal]

Why do docs continue to prescribe antibiotics? Isn't bronchitis caused by a viral infection?

As a pre-med student and someone who has had Bronchitis many many times, I can tell you that Bronchitis is typically viral but can also be bacterial. There is actually a type of Bronchitis caused by a very similar bacteria to the one that causes pneumonia. Its not unusual for someone with a bad case of bronchitis to end up getting pneumonia. The z-pak or zithromax is a very common strong antibiotic that is commonly used to treat bacterial respirtory infectons such as bacterial bronchitis or pnuemonia.

Hope this helps.
Matt

 

[TimeforMe]

Thank you for all the replies and information. I'm not sure exactly what I have. I seem to be very congested but not a lot of coughing going on. My voice is very hoarse, however. Headache and a little achy, too. The flu maybe? I hate to run to the dr. if it's just a cold and just got off antibiotics for an ear infection this week.

 

[KerriSue]

This is a great thread. I have been suffering now for two weeks. I have the antibiotics the inhaler the steroids. I have been miserable. I just today got another stronger set of antibiotics. It really has kicked my butt Just trying to catch my breath wears me out.

Every morning I wake up with my fingers crossed thinking today is the day

 

[Donalds_best_pal]

That's no fun KerriSue. Have you gone back to your doctor? This summer I ended up with bronchitis for almost 2 months, it was horrible. Sorry, thats probably not what you wanted to hear. But I have lung disease(was born with it) so I am probably not your normal case. Hope you and everyone else feels better soon!

 

[czycropper]

I constantly get bronchitis all the time and a few times it has developed into what I've been told is "walking pneumonia. I'm allergic to penicillin so with me it's hard to get rid of it without a couple of prescriptions but the last few times my doc has prescribed antibiotics and Spiriva and that has done wonders!

 

[KerriSue]

That's no fun KerriSue. Have you gone back to your doctor? This summer I ended up with bronchitis for almost 2 months, it was horrible. Sorry, thats probably not what you wanted to hear. But I have lung disease(was born with it) so I am probably not your normal case. Hope you and everyone else feels better soon!

You know, I have never had bronchitis before. I dont smoke or have asthma (sp) so I was really shocked when the doctor told me what I had. I just cant wait for it to go away already.

 

[bumbershoot]

Why do docs continue to prescribe antibiotics? Isn't bronchitis caused by a viral infection?

Can be, might not be.

It's important for them to find out what it actually is, before prescribing something. Our pediatrician *always* did that; he had a lab right in his office. It was very good, b/c he was never treating us for something inappropriately.



Bronchitis was my way of reacting to things. My brother would be exposed to the exact same things (especially when we were little and shared a room), and he would end up with croup. So I'd be breathing and coughing in my bronchitis way, and he'd have the seal croup-cough. Just the ways our bodies reacted to the same things (and out the window goes the germ theory, LOL).


Now that I have my tonsils out, I have no primary immune system, and things go immediately to my lungs. When I had my tonsils I'd have a sore throat for a few days (yay, tonsils doing their jobs!) and then *maybe* it would go to my lungs and get scary. Now? Always lungs, ALWAYS scary. Wish I could go back and take back that decision!


Take care of yourself! If you go in, make sure they culture it, don't let them just go by what it looks like. You don't want to take abx for no reason, that's pretty vital!

 

[Syrreal]

I constantly get bronchitis all the time and a few times it has developed into what I've been told is "walking pneumonia. I'm allergic to penicillin so with me it's hard to get rid of it without a couple of prescriptions but the last few times my doc has prescribed antibiotics and Spiriva and that has done wonders!

I am allergic to penicillin too! After I ended up with the walking pneumonia I added up all the meds I had been on and it was 6 antibiotics, 4 inhalers, two steroids, and about a ton of cough medicine (not really, but ykwim)
It didn't help that I caught a cold right as I was starting to get better.

How did you manage with getting walking pneumonia more than once? It kicked my butt for so long! I'm still scared every time I catch a cold that I'll end up with it again.

The suckiest part was that I hadn't even been sick when I ended up with bronchitis that time. I had thought it was just an allergic cough until I went in.

 

[MM27]

I had bronchitis last year and my doctor prescribed the Z-pack which did NOTHING for me. He ended up putting me on a 10 day prescription of Leviquin and an Advair inhaler. I had read about some bad side effects of Leviquin, but I was fine.

I'm actually sick right now and hoping that it's not a repeat of last year. It comes with the job though. If no kids sneeze on me or cough on me I consider it a good day

 

[Kimmumum]

I took my son to the doctor today and he has bronchitis, a sinus infection and a nasty virus that is going around the schools. They put him on Prednisone (steroids), Zithromax, Mucinex and an Albuterol inhaler. They gave him a breathing treatment in the office too. The doctore said the virus going around is HIGHLY contagious. The poor kid was up "barking" all night. We hope he is better tonight.

As for everyone that has had "walking pneumonia".....I had pneumonia a few years ago (3 times in one winter). The next winter the doctore told me to get the pneumonia shot. I don't like shots but decided it was better than the alternative. I haven't had pneumonia again. The shot lasts 5-7 years. Maybe I'll call the doctor tomorrow and find out how many years its been The shot was well worth it