Diagnosis of bronchitis
Diagnosis Acute Bronchitis
Incase of acute bronchitis, the symptoms explained above are indicative enough for diagnosis. However, at times the doctor may take a chest X-ray in order to make sure that it is not a case of pneumonia or other lung problems.
Diagnosis Chronic Bronchitis
The diagnosis of chronic bronchitis involves complete evaluation of the patient’s medical history as well as his physical condition. It is done by a qualified health care professional. This determines the type and severity of chronic bronchitis and thereby the course of treatment suitable for the patient. However, a few diagnostic tests like lung function tests, such as a spirometry test is conducted to measure the intake and output of air to and from the lungs. This test is done for diagnosis purpose as well as on a regular basis in order to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment. A chest X-ray and
CT scan of the chest may also be done. These are conducted to make sure if conditions like
pneumonia and congestive
heart failure are present in the patient as it may worse as well as complicate the situation. The diagnosis also involves arterial blood gas test that evaluates parameters related to effective breathing. For example, arterial blood gas provides information related to the level of oxygen in the blood. Apart from these, a sample of the sputum is also tested to check for any bacterial infection in the lungs.
Written by: Healthplus24 team
Date last modified: August 29,2009
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