Role of mucoactive therapy in the treatment of acute bronchitis

Abstract

Patients with a new-onset cough and poorly expectorated sputum are quite often in the practice of both a general (family) practitioner and a pulmonologist. In this case, doctors often have difficulty diagnosing a disease and determining the correct approach to the management of the patient. Acute bronchitis (AB) is one of the reasons for this kind of cough that develops in a patient who underwent an acute respiratory infection (ARVI). AB is an inflammatory bronchi disease predominantly of infectious origin, which is manifested by a cough (dry or productive) and lasts up to 3 weeks. The prevalence of AB in the population is extremely high: 5% of the adult population falls ill annually. Acute cough is one of the most common reasons to see a therapist. However, other diseases, both respiratory and extrapulmonary, can mask under an occurrence of AB. The success of antitussive therapy primarily depends on the timely diagnosis of the disease and on the correct assessment of the characteristics of the cough: the nature, quantity and viscosity of the bronchial secretion (mucous or purulent), and the degree of expectoration. The article pays great attention to the mucoactive therapy. Mucolytics are the most effective antitussive drugs with efferent peripheral action. Erdosteine is one of them. It has not only mucolytic, but also anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The main mechanisms of action of erdosteine, indications and experience in the treatment of AB in clinical practice are described. The presented article discusses the issues of etiology, diagnosis, differential diagnosis and therapy of AB, and offers a clinical case report of a patient with suspected AB.