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Industrial bronchitis

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Occupational bronchitis

Treatment:

The objective of treatment is to avoid the substance that is causing the irritation.

Improved ventilation of the workplace or wearing masks to filter out bad air particles may help. Some cases of industrial bronchitis go away without treatment. Other times, a person may need inhaled anti-inflammatory medications.

If you are at risk or have experienced this problem and you smoke, stop smoking.

Supportive measures include rest, increased fluid intake, and breathing humidified air to aid in the removal of secretions from the airways.

Expectations (prognosis):

The probable outcome is good as long as exposure to the irritant can be eliminated. Chronic disability from industrial bronchitis is rare.

Complications:

The complications vary. Occasionally, industrial bronchitis leads to permanent lung problems such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, destruction of small airways (bronchiolitis obliterans), or lung scarring (pulmonary fibrosis).

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you are regularly exposed to dusts, fumes, strong acids, or other chemicals that can affect the lungs and symptoms of bronchitis develop.

• Review Date: 5/3/2006
• Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, CriticalCare & Sleep Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Reviewprovided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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