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Acute Bronchitis:
Inflammation of the
bronchial tubes
Subjective Information/Symptoms:
I have a severe cough and my chest hurts.
I’ve been coughing up green thick mucus.
Sometimes it is difficult to breath.
I feel like someone is sitting on my chest.
I feel hot then I have chills.
I have no energy.
Treatment:
Usually bronchitis is a viral infection so rest, drinking plenty of fluids
and over the counter anti-inflammatories or Tylenol.
Quit smoking. Assess need for home oxygen with a 6 minute walk.
Nebulizer treatment to dilate bronchioles.
Prescribe an inhaler. Some cases steroids are prescribed to decrease
inflammation. Offer patient a nicotine patch to help quit smoking.
If the sputum culture show a bacterial infection prescribe antibiotics.
Patient Education:
Focus on importance of rest and drinking plenty of fluids.
Educate the patient that bronchitis is usually viral and antibiotics
are probable not necessary. Provide handout on bronchitis.
Educate the patient on smoking cessation provide handout and
information on support groups.
Provide handouts on all new medication with focus on the
importance of following the directions for the steroids RX.
Objective Information/Signs:
Productive cough, thick green sputum noted.
Dyspnea noted.
Patient appears lethargic.
Skin feels hot.
Patient smells likecigarettes.
Diagnosis/Evaluation:
Obtain a thorough health history
askthe patient if they smoke.
Collect a sputum sample to rule out a
bacterial infection.
Check patient’s pulse ox to monitor
fordecrease oxygen saturation.
Obtain a chest x-ray to rule
outpneumonia.
Obtain CBC to check WBC, if elevated
the patient has an infection.
Auscultate the lungs.
Physical Exam Findings:
Patient smokes cigarettes 1 ppd.
Sputum culture pending results.
Pulse ox saturation is 88%
Chest x-ray shows atelectasis in
the lower bases of the lungs.
WBC is 11
Auscultation of the lungs reveals
course rhonchi with expiratory
wheezing.
Fever 100.1
