Acute or persistent airway inflammation is known as pneumonia. While they shouldn’t be used for acute bronchitis, steroids can occasionally be helpful for chronic bronchitis.
Acute and chronic bronchitis are the two basic forms. Although the cough can persist for several weeks, acute bronchitis usually lasts for seven to ten days.
Productive coughing is one of the symptoms of chronic bronchitis, which is more prevalent in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Over two years, it happens at least twice, with an approximate three-month delay between each episode. Mucus accumulates as a result of the airway irritation, which exacerbates the coughing fit.
Steroids may occasionally be used to treat persistent bronchitis.
How steroids help with bronchitis
Generally speaking, steroids are only used for persistent bronchitis. It’s not particularly effective, yet some medical experts may prescribe them for acute bronchitis.
Glucocorticoids, commonly known as corticosteroids, can help lower mucus production and inflammation in people with chronic bronchitis. These could be especially helpful if you’re experiencing a flare-up of your asthma or COPD.
When treating COPD, some oral steroids that are frequently administered include:
- prednisolone
- methylprednisolone
- prednisone
- hydrocortisone
- dexamethasone To ease their breathing, persons with chronic bronchitis will occasionally take bronchodilators and inhale steroids to relax the muscles surrounding their airways.
What are the side effects of using steroids for bronchitis?
Corticosteroids can have a variety of adverse effects, from minor to serious.
Some potential adverse effects, contingent on the duration of use, are as follows:
- Vision and ocular abnormalities include haziness and a higher chance of cataracts and glaucoma
- an increased likelihood of infections
- high blood pressure
- swelling or puffiness of the face
- water retention
- blurred vision
- muscle weakness
- bruising
- acne
- osteoporosis
- restlessness
- mood changes
- changes in blood sugar levels
- increased appetite
- weight gain
Serious side effects including sepsis or venous thrombosis can occasionally result from the usage of steroids. Osteoporosis, or bone weakening, is another condition that can result from long-term steroid usage.
Only using steroids for brief periods usually lowers your chances of these side effects.
Treating bronchitis without steroids
Acute bronchitis typically gets better and goes away on its own over time. Physicians frequently suggest at-home treatments like:
- resting
- drinking lots of fluids
- adding moisture to the air via a humidifier or steam
In the meantime, you can treat your symptoms with over-the-counter painkillers or cough suppressants.
For acute bronchitis, you most likely won’t get an antibiotic prescription. The most frequent cause of bronchitis is a virus, and an antibiotic is meant to treat bacterial infections. However, your doctor might recommend an antibiotic if you end up with a subsequent bacterial illness.
Pulmonary rehabilitation may be necessary for people whose COPD causes chronic bronchitis. Due to the strong correlation between smoking and COPD, physicians frequently advocate for the advantages of giving up smoking.
The bottom line
When dealing with chronic bronchitis, patients with chronic COPD may find that steroids are an effective medicine.
However, in cases of acute bronchitis, steroids are usually not advised. Acute bronchitis is generally treated with rest, drinks, and steam inhalation. The symptoms of acute bronchitis should get better on their own.
See a doctor if your symptoms persist to ensure you haven’t contracted another infection.