Diagnostic criteria of chronic bronchitis are the following:
1. Persistent cough with sputum production for at least 3 months for 2 years or more (WHO criteria). If the duration of productive cough does not meet the WHO criteria, and the cough recurs frequently, consider the possibility of the following situations: smoker's cough; cough due to irritation of the respiratory tract industrial hazard (gases, vapors, fumes, etc.); Cough due to nasal disease; prolonged or recurrent course of acute bronchitis; respiratory discomfort and cough due to exposure to volatile irritants; combination of these factors.
2. The typical auscultatory picture - a rough breathing hard with extended exhalation, scattered dry and moist rales.
3. Inflammatory changes in the bronchi according to bronchoscopy (method is primarily used for differential diagnosis).
4. Exclusion of other diseases that manifest themselves long-term productive cough, ie, bronchiectasis, chronic lung abscess, tuberculosis, pneumoconiosis, congenital abnormalities bronchopulmonary system, cardiovascular system, proceeding with the stagnation of blood in the lungs.
5. Disorders of bronchial patency in the study of respiratory function.
For the diagnosis of chronic bronchitis, the following studies:
- Laboratory UAC (CBC) - may be a small neutrophilic leukocytosis and a mild increase in ESR. Analysis of sputum - the macroscopic study. Sputum may be mucus (white or transparent) or purulent (yellow or yellow-green), detected a large number of neutrophils, often find bronchial epithelial cells, macrophages, bacterial cells. Bacteriological examination of sputum in detecting different types of pathogens and their sensitivity to antibacterial agents. The most reliable are the results of bacteriological examination of sputum obtained at bronchoscopy (aspirates and washings from the bronchi). BAC (blood chemistry). Based on the determination of biochemical activity of the inflammatory process is judged on its severity.
- Instrumental
Bronchoscopy.
Bronchography. Bronchoscopy and bronchography are not binding methods of research in chronic bronchitis, they are usually used for differential diagnosis with other bronchopulmonary diseases (tuberculosis, bronhokartsinomoy, congenital abnormalities, bronchiectasis, etc.).
