Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Infectious Respiratory Conditions
Number of Conditions: 2
Bronchitis
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Respiratory Emergencies
Sub-category: Infectious Respiratory Conditions
Symptoms:
persistent cough (often productive); mucus production (yellow, green, or clear); wheezing; shortness of breath; chest discomfort; fatigue; low-grade fever
Root Cause:
Inflammation of the bronchial tubes, usually due to viral infections (acute bronchitis) or long-term irritants like smoking (chronic bronchitis).
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Physical examination, listening to lung sounds, chest X-ray (to rule out pneumonia), sputum analysis, and sometimes spirometry for chronic cases.
Treatment:
Symptomatic relief (rest, hydration, humidifier use), bronchodilators for wheezing, and, in bacterial cases, antibiotics. Chronic bronchitis management includes smoking cessation and pulmonary rehabilitation.
Medications:
Bronchodilators like albuterol (beta-agonist), corticosteroids like fluticasone (anti-inflammatory), and antibiotics such as doxycycline if bacterial infection is confirmed.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Acute bronchitis is common, with millions of cases annually worldwide, while chronic bronchitis is a major component of COPD, affecting about 10% of adults over 45.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Smoking, exposure to pollutants, history of respiratory infections, weakened immunity, and asthma.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Acute bronchitis typically resolves within weeks. Chronic bronchitis requires ongoing management and may lead to progressive lung damage.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and respiratory failure in severe cases.
COVID-19 Complications
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Respiratory Emergencies
Sub-category: Infectious Respiratory Conditions
Symptoms:
severe shortness of breath; high fever; persistent cough; chest pain; hypoxia; confusion; fatigue; multisystem organ failure; loss of taste or smell
Root Cause:
Severe respiratory distress or systemic involvement caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading to complications such as ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome), thromboembolic events, or cytokine storm.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Positive RT-PCR or antigen test for SARS-CoV-2, chest imaging (X-ray or CT), blood tests (D-dimer, CRP, ferritin), and pulse oximetry or arterial blood gas analysis.
Treatment:
Supportive care (oxygen therapy, ventilators for severe cases), antiviral drugs (e.g., remdesivir), anti-inflammatory treatments like dexamethasone, anticoagulants, and immunomodulators.
Medications:
Antivirals such as remdesivir (antiviral), corticosteroids like dexamethasone (anti-inflammatory), anticoagulants like enoxaparin (anticoagulant), and monoclonal antibodies like tocilizumab (immunomodulator).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Global pandemic with millions affected; complications occur in approximately 10-15% of cases, particularly in those with comorbidities.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Older age, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and immunosuppression.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Varies widely; mild cases recover fully, while severe cases may result in prolonged hospitalization, long-term organ damage, or death.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
ARDS, sepsis, thromboembolic events (e.g., pulmonary embolism), myocarditis, kidney failure, and long COVID symptoms like fatigue and brain fog.