Chronic inflammation of
respiratory tubes (bronchi) with mucus secretion is termed as chronic
bronchitis. Productive cough which
persists for at least three months per year in two consecutive years is
indicative of chronic bronchitis. It is
classed as a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), others being
emphysema.
Causes – Smoke and dust are the most common causes of chronic
bronchitis. Smoke may be of tobacco or
ovens using woods, cow dung etc. or of some factory smoke polluting air. Dusts inhaled by mine workers and stone
cutters also causes chronic bronchitis.
Allergies cause symptoms similar to chronic bronchitis or asthma.
Signs and symptoms – Common symptoms of chronic bronchitis are
cough with phlegm, shortness of breath and wheeze (noisy respiration). The mucus is often yellow or green or of
other color according to type of infection.
Sometimes pain chest and fever occur.
Weakness and malaise often present.
In person suffering from chronic
bronchitis acute attacks are not uncommon.
During as acute episode cough and thick mucus accumulation obstructs the
passage to causes severe breathing difficulty.
Sometimes chill, fever and malaise are associated with it.
Diagnosis- Symptoms are indicative.
Noisy breathing (wheezing), prolonged expiration and decreased respiratory
sounds on auscultation help to diagnose.
Chest X-ray shows hyperinflation
of bronchial tubes. Collapse and
consolidation of lung indicates pneumonia.
In expectoration neutrophils and streptococcus are seen. Infection is not a cause of chronic
bronchitis but it increases neutrophil infiltration at the site which causes
increased mucus secretion. Total white
cell count in blood increases with increased C-reactive protein. Presence of goblet cells in bronchioles is
confirmatory of chronic bronchitis.
In case of unresolved diagnosis
High resolution Computerized Tomography (HRCT) is done.
Treatment- Conventionally chronic bronchitis is treated with
antibiotics and bronchodilators. Only in
5-10% cases infection could be related as cause of chronic bronchitis. Nicotin
in any form especially smoking should be restricted as it paralyses cilia in
respiratory tubes which push foreign particles up and clear the bronchi. The paralysis results in accumulation of
mucus. A self limiting viral infection
usually resolves in a few weeks. Oxygen therapy is required if acute attack in
not controlled with medicines.
Homoeopathic medicines – The homoeopathic medicines listed below
covers symptoms of chronic bronchitis but in homoeopathic prescribing it the
man in disease which is important so none of these medicines should be
prescribed for chronic bronchitis rather patient should be individualized on the
basis of generals, modalities, concomitants etc..
Chronic inflammation of Bronchial tubes – Alumina, Ammonium-carb.,
Ammonium- caust., Ammonium-iod., Ammonium-mur., Ammoniacum, Antim-ars.,
Antim-iod., Antim-sulph-aurum., Antim-tart., Arsenicum alb., Arsenic-iod.,
Bacillinum, Balsamum-peruvianum, Balsamum-tolutanum, Baryta-carb., Baryta-mur,
Calcarea carb., Calcarea-iod., Calcarea-sil., Cantharis, Carbo-animalis,
Carbo-veg., Ceanothus, Chelidonium, China, Cocus cact., Conium, Copaiva,
Cortisonum, Cubeba, Digitalis, Diphtherotoxinum, Drosera, Dulcamara,
Eriodyctyon californicum., Eucalyptus, Eupatorium-cannabinum, Grindelia, Heper sulph., Hydrastis, Hyoscymus,
Ichthyolum, Ilex-aquifolium, Iodum, Ipecacuana, Kali-bichromat., Kali-carb.,
Kali-hypophos., Kali-iod., Kali-sulph., Kreosotum, Lachesis, Lycopodium,
Marrubuum-vulg., Medorrhinum, Mercurius sol. ,Morgan bacillus, Muco-toxinum,
Myosotis-arvensis, Myosotis-symphytifolia, Myrtus-cheken, Natrum-mur.,
Natrum-sul., Nitric-ac., Nux-vom., Pertusinum, Phosphorus, Pix liquida,
Pneumococcinum, Pulsatilla, Rumex.,
Sabal ser., Sanguinaria, Secale cor., Senega, Sepia, Silicea, Silphium
lacinatum, Spongia, Squilla, Stannum met., Stramonium, Strychninum purum,
Sulphur, Taxus baccata, Terebinth., Tuberculinum bov., Tuberculinum-denys,
Tub-residuum Koch Veratrum alb.
Case - G B 65 yrs. Female married housewife hindu vegetarian
Diagnosis – chronic bronchitis.
The patient was suffering from
cough for last 10 months. Cough used to
occur every winter but this time it continued beyond the winter. The cough was
barking, whistling and sometime rattling aggravated at night, waking patient
often. Her trouble also aggravated from fan, air draft, on lying, talking and
laughing. Better by sitting up in bed, sometimes relieved after drinking. There
were 2-3 coughs in every paroxysm and often excited with feeling mucus in
trachea. Expectoration was white. There was a history of patient staying in
hospital to nurse her ailing sister but there was no acute cough, cold or
fever.
Appetite was normal increased
after exertion but patient was taking meals once a day mostly in afternoon.
Thirst less. She had habit of taking coffee twice a day. She was used to wakes
for urination at night for 2-3 times. Falls asleep easily and she generally
sleeps on right side. Blood pressure was 130/86 mm of Hg. Tongue was thickly
coated white.
Hemoglobin 13.2 gm/dl, TLC 10,520,
ESR 70. Sputum was not given. X – ray chest showed prominent bronchial marking.
16/10/11 Rx Lachesis 30
twice a day for 3 days.
19/10/11 No change.
Rx 1. Heper sulph 200 two doses at 10 minutes interval.
2. Causticum 200 two doses at 10 minutes interval to
take after 1 week if not relieved
3. Rubrum 30
twice a day for 15 days.
05/11/11 Cough relieved 75% after
the dose of Heper sulph. So Causticum was not required. Hoarseness of voice and
white expectoration not relieved.
Rx 1. Spongia 30 two doses at 10 minutes interval
weekly.
2. Rubrum 30 twice a day for 30 days.
05/12/11 No expectoration. Voice
became normal. Cough sometimes at night and from cold air.
Rx 1. Heper sulph 200
two doses at 10 minutes interval.
2. S. L. 200 two doses at 10 minutes interval weekly.
3. Rubrum 30 twice a day for 30 days.
Patient reported to be trouble
free after the last dose of Heper sulph on 09/01/12.
Dr. M. K. Tyagi
Research Officer, Sewa Mandir.
Email: 1.sewamandir@usa.net, 2.manju_mkt2003@yahoo.co.in
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