Increased bronchial secretions

Introduction Bronchial secretions consist of glandular secretions caused by vagus nerves and parasympathetic drugs, as well as local stimulation of goblet cell secretions. The total amount of secretions is difficult to measure, but is normally about 10-100 ml per day under normal conditions. Mucus forms a layer on the surface of the trachea, which not only acts as humidified air, but also limits the evaporation of tracheobronchial moisture. This mucus membrane is about 5 m thick and can carry tiny foreign particles out of the airway. Increased bronchial secretion is a pathological change in bronchitis. Tracheitis is inflammation of the tracheal mucosa caused by viral or bacterial infections, physical, chemical stimuli or allergic reactions, often occurring during cold seasons or sudden changes in temperature.

Cause

According to the domestic and international etiology investigation and experimental prevention research, it is caused by long-term interaction of various factors, including infection, physicochemical stimulation, meteorological factors, allergy and immune function reduction.

1, infection: is a common and important cause of chronic bronchitis. The beginning of bronchitis is caused by respiratory virus infection. These viruses invade the bronchial ciliated epithelial cells and multiply them inside, destroying the mucosa and epithelial cells and causing them to lose their protective effect. This makes the bacteria originally in the respiratory tract such as flu and hobby. Blood bacteria, pneumococcal bacteria, etc. have a pathogenic effect.

2, physics: chemical stimuli: long-term smoking and air pollution by chemical poisons, dust or harmful industrial waste gas, stimulation of the respiratory mucosa, damage to the normal cleaning and defense functions of the mucosa, it will cause chronic bronchitis. According to the census, the incidence of chronic bronchitis is 2.8 times higher than that of non-smokers, and the higher the smoking rate, the higher the incidence.

3. Meteorological factors: Cold is an important cause of chronic bronchitis. Many elderly patients with chronic bronchitis develop in winter, mainly because cold stimulation can weaken ciliary movement, contraction of tracheal fistula and capillaries, affect blood circulation, reduce local resistance and become susceptible to infection. In addition, the cold increases the secretion of mucosal glands, the inhalation of gas is insufficient, the sputum is thick, and the respiratory tract is not smooth, which is also a predisposing factor for chronic bronchitis.

4, allergies: especially the incidence of chronic bronchitis with wheezing is closely related to allergies. If it is allergic to dust, dust mites, fungi, parasites, pollen and chemical gases, it can cause cough and wheezing in the respiratory mucosa edema, congestion and bronchospasm.

5, the decline of immune function: the incidence of the elderly in the elderly over 50 years old, this has a certain relationship with the local respiratory defense and immune function of the elderly. In the elderly, the secretion of adrenocortical hormone and sex hormones is reduced, the respiratory mucosa is atrophied, the reserve capacity of lung tissue is reduced, and the elasticity of lung tissue is reduced. These are all causes of chronic bronchitis and recurrent episodes.

an examination

Related inspection

Chest CT examination

Tracheitis, usually based on symptoms and signs to make a diagnosis, but if the condition is serious or prolonged, there are indications for chest X-ray examination to rule out other diseases or comorbidities, when there is a serious underlying chronic respiratory disease, arterial blood gas analysis should be monitored. Patients who are ineffective in antibiotic therapy or have special circumstances (such as immunosuppression) should be Gram stained and cultured to identify pathogenic bacteria.

Differential diagnosis

Increased symptoms of bronchial secretions need to be distinguished from the following symptoms.

(1) Influenza: acute onset, epidemiological history, in addition to respiratory symptoms, systemic symptoms such as fever, headache, viral isolation and positive complement test can be identified.

(2) Upper respiratory tract infection: nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat and other symptoms are obvious, no cough, cough, no abnormal signs in the lungs.

(3) bronchial asthma: patients with acute bronchitis, such as bronchospasm, may appear asthma, should be differentiated from bronchial asthma, the latter have libido, exhale, wheezing and full lung wheezing and Sit and breathe and other symptoms and signs.

Tracheitis, usually based on symptoms and signs to make a diagnosis, but if the condition is serious or prolonged, there are indications for chest X-ray examination to rule out other diseases or comorbidities, when there is a serious underlying chronic respiratory disease, arterial blood gas analysis should be monitored. Patients who are ineffective in antibiotic treatment or have special circumstances (such as immunosuppression) should be Gram stained and cultured to identify pathogenic bacteria.

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