Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Bronchitis

An acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (AECB for short) is when symptoms of chronic bronchitis suddenly and quickly gets worse. The airways in the lungs are further narrowed, more mucous is produced, and the mucous that is produced is thicker. This will cause the usual chronic bronchitis symptoms to worsen, typically in some or all of the following ways:

- Increased shortness of breath

- Increased severity and frequency of coughing

- Coughing up more mucous than usual

- Worsened chest congestion

- Purulent sputum (i.e. phlegm with pus – yellowish or greenish phlegm)

- Feeling weak

- Fevers and chills

- Streaks of blood in phlegm

If you’re a chronic bronchitic and experience the symptoms above, please see your doctor as soon as possible. If you’re running a fever, the doctor may suggest a chest x-ray to rule out pneumonia, especially if you also have blood in your phlegm.

Acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis can be triggered by any of the following:

- Viral or bacterial infections such as the cold or the flu

- Lung irritants such as smoke, dust, pollens, fumes

- Changes in the weather

For patients going through acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, one or more of the following treatments may be prescribed:

- Antibiotics

- Oxygen (if there is too much carbon dioxide and not enough oxygen in the blood)

- Bronchodilators (medicines that open the airways in the lungs by relaxing the muscles around the airways)

- Anticholinergics (also act to dilate airways by relaxing surrounding muscles)

- Corticosteroids (to reduce inflammation and mucous secretion)

- Methylxanthines (also dilates airways and further prevents the body’s release of chemicals that can cause airway constriction)

Acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis can become life threatening if not treated right away. In fact, in those that die from chronic bronchitis, the most common cause is respiratory failure resulting from an acute exacerbation. If your chronic bronchitis symptoms suddenly get worse, be sure to see your doctor right away.