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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of COPD -- emphysema and/or chronic bronchitis.

Alternative Names

COPD; Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency; Bronchitis - chronic; Chronic bronchitis; Emphysema

Diseases with Similar Symptoms

Several diseases have similar symptoms -- and may accompany COLD.

Acute Bronchitis

Acute bronchitis is usually caused by a virus, and in most cases does not require treatment. The cough it causes typically lasts for about a week to 10 days. In about half of patients, however, coughing can last up to 3 weeks, and 25% of patients continue to cough for over 1 month. Although acute bronchitis is usually not considered a serious problem, one 1999 study reported that a third of patients who had acute bronchitis later developed either chronic bronchitis or asthma. Acute bronchitis, then, may serve as a marker for future problems in some patients.

Asthma

The classic symptoms of an asthma attack are coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath (dyspnea). Wheezing when breathing out is usually present during an attack. Typically, the attack begins with wheezing and rapid breathing, and as it becomes more severe, all breathing muscles become visibly active. Irritation of the nose and throat, thirst, and the need to urinate are common symptoms and may occur before an asthma attack begins. Some people first experience chest tightness or pain or a nonproductive cough that is not associated with wheezing. Chest pain occurs in about three quarters of patients; it can be very severe and its intensity is unrelated to the severity of the asthma attack itself. The end of an attack is often marked by a cough that produces a thick, stringy mucus.

Lung Cancer

There are usually no symptoms of lung cancer until the disease is advanced. Frequent bouts of pneumonia or a lung infection that does not clear up in a seemingly healthy adult may be the first signs of lung cancer. Signs of advanced lung cancer can include coughing, weight loss, fever, shortness of breath, bloody sputum, or chest pain.

Bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis is an irreversible lung disease in which the airways in the lung are chronically dilated. The patient may have chronic sinusitis, a chronic cough, and heavy sputum, often containing blood. The condition is usually preceded by serious, frequent respiratory infections, often starting in childhood. In one study nearly 30% of COLD patients had signs of bronchiectasis. It is also associated with rare genetic diseases, including cystic fibrosis and Kartagener's syndrome, a disorder that affects that cilia's ability to move.

• Review Date: 4/28/2006
• Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, M.D., Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital

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