Tracheitis Health Dictionary

Also known as laryngo-tracheo-bronchitis, croup is a household term for a group of diseases characterised by swelling and partial blockage of the entrance to the LARYNX, occurring in children and characterised by crowing inspiration. There are various causes but by far the commonest is acute laryngo-tracheobronchitis (see under LARYNX, DISORDERS OF). Croup tends to occur in epidemics, particularly in autumn and early spring, and is almost exclusively viral in origin – commonly due to parain?uenza or other respiratory viruses. It is nearly always mild and sufferers recover spontaneously; however, it can be dangerous, particularly in young children and infants, in whom the relatively small laryngeal airway may easily be blocked, leading to su?ocation.

Symptoms Attacks generally come on at night, following a cold caught during the previous couple of days. The breathing is hoarse and croaking (croup), with a barking cough and harsh respiratory noise. The natural tendency for the laryngeal airway to collapse is increased by the child’s desperate attempts to overcome the obstruction. Parental anxiety, added to that of the child, only exacerbates the situation. After struggling for up to several hours, the child ?nally falls asleep. The condition may recur.

Treatment Most children with croup should be looked after at home if the environment is suitable. Severe episodes may require hospital observation, with treatment by oxygen if needed and usually with a single dose of inhaled steroid or oral PREDNISONE. For the very few children whose illness progresses to respiratory obstruction, intubation and ventilation may be needed for a few days. There is little evidence that putting the child in a mist tent or giving antibiotics is of any value. Of greater importance is the reassurance of the child, and careful observation for signs of deterioration, together with the exclusion of other causes such as foreign-body inhalation and bacterial tracheitis.... croup

Linn.

Synonym: V. phlomoides L.

Family: Scrophulariaceae.

Habitat: Temperate Himalayas, Western Ghats and the Nilgiris.

English: Cow's Lungwort, Common Mullein. (Large-flowered Mullein is equated with V. densiflorum Bertol.)

Ayurvedic: Ban Tambaaku, Gidar Tambaaku, Phullaa.

Action: Herb—soothing and relaxant for irritable respiratory conditions (asthma, emphysema, tracheitis), pectoral demulcent, antispasmodic, mild sedative.

Key application: In catarrh of the respiratory tract. (German Commission E.)

The capsule contains saponins, thap- suines A and B and hydroxythap- suines A and B. The plant also contains varatric acid, 5-ethoxymethyl furfural, saikogenin, alpha-spinasterol and iri- doids, aucubin and catalpol. The leaves contain rotenone.

The flower extract showed activity against influenza and herpes simplex virus.

The plant has been employed for the treatment of asthma. There is little evidence to indicate that the plant can offer more than mild astringent and topical soothing effects.... verbascum thapsus

Anise. Pimpinella anisum. German: Anis. French: Anis. Italian: Anice. Spanish: Simiente de anis. Chinese: Huai-hsiang.

Malayan: Jira-manis. Dried ripe fruits.

Action: Carminative, Expectorant, Antispasmodic, Oestrogenic, Anti-parasitic.

Uses: Flatulence, dry coughs, whooping cough, tracheitis, bronchitis. Externally for scabies and lice infestation.

Preparations: Tea. 2 crushed seeds to each cup boiling water, taken hot. Spirit BPC (1949): 0.3-1.2ml in water or honey when necessary. For acidity, bad breath, infant spasms. Anise oil BP, dose: 0.05-0.2ml. ... aniseed

Simple and uncomplicated. Sometimes a cold in the head will travel down to the chest with cough and difficult breathing. Tracheitis, bronchitis.

Alternatives. Teas. Boneset, Yarrow, Angelica. White Horehound, Hyssop.

Irish Moss. 1 teaspoon to 2 cups water gently simmered 20 minutes. Do not strain but eat with a spoon, sweetened with honey.

Tablets/capsules. Lobelia. Iceland Moss.

Foot-bath. Immerse feet in hot infusion of Chamomile or Mustard to divert blood to lower extremities. Supplementation: Vitamin C, 2-3 grams daily. ... cold – on the chest

A reflex action that occurs as an attempt to clear the airways of mucus, sputum, a foreign body, or any othe.

irritants or blockages. A cough is productive when it brings up mucus or sputum and unproductive, or dry, when it does not. Many coughs are due to irritation of the airways by dust, smoke (see cough, smoker’s), or a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract (see cold, common; laryngitis; pharyngitis; tracheitis). Coughing is a feature of bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, and lung cancer.

Over-the-counter cough remedies are available; but, in general, they just ease symptoms. More specific treatment is directed at the underlying disorder.... cough

Candlewort. Aaron’s rod. Verbascum thapsus L. German: Wollkraut. French: Bouillon blanc. Spanish: Gordolobo. Italian: Candela regia. Iranian: Busir. Arabian: Makizahraj. Parts used: leaves and flowers.

Constituents: rutin, hesperidin, saponin, volatile oil.

Action: a soothing relaxant for irritable respiratory conditions; pectoral demulcent, antitussive, mild sedative, diuretic, vulnerary, mild antispasmodic.

Uses: asthma, deep hollow cough, emphysema, tracheitis, hay fever, wet pleurisy, bronchitis, bed-wetting (1-2 drops oil thrice daily).

Topical: for earache and temporary deafness, inject 1-3 drops oil to relieve irritation and promote sleep. The oil is used as an emollient for wounds, ulcers, piles, pain in the rectum, itching anus, and to soften hard dry schirrhous tumours. A bruised fresh leaf over the anus was once a gardener’s pile relief.

Quinlan Cure. Dr Quinlan initiated what became an Irish traditional treatment for tuberculosis. He obtained best results with green leaves of Mullein. Hot-house cultivation makes it possible for leaves to be available throughout the year. Irish peasantry prepared it by boiling one handful in 2 pints fresh milk, strained, and sweetened with honey. The whole quantity was drunk once or more times daily, as tolerated. Soothes the lungs, increases weight and restores vitality.

Preparations: Average dose, leaves: 4-8 grams. (Flowers: 1-2 grams.) Thrice daily.

Tea: 2-3 teaspoons to cup, or 2oz to 1 pint boiling water; infuse 15 minutes; half-1 cup. Best results have followed the tea, instead of alcohol.

Liquid Extract: 1-2 teaspoons in water.

Tincture is made from the fresh plant at the time of flowering: 1 part to 5 parts 45 per cent alcohol, macerated 8 days; dose, 2-3 teaspoons in water.

Oil of Mullein: gently heat 1 pint Olive, Sunflower, Safflower or Almond oil in a non-aluminium vessel. Add fresh flowers to saturation point. Continue in gentle heat until all colour fades from the flowers. Press out, bottle. As an injection for ear troubles, a chestrub for respiratory disorders, healer for ulcers, and for general purposes. ... mullein

A common viral infection that causes inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the nose and throat. Symptoms include a stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, headache, and cough. The symptoms of a common cold usually intensify over 24–48 hours, unlike those of influenza, which worsen rapidly over a few hours.

There are at least 200 highly contagious viruses that are known to cause the common cold. These viruses are easily transmitted in the minute airborne drolets sprayed from the coughs or sneezes of infected people. In many cases, the viruses are also spread to the nose and throat by way of hand-to-hand contact with an infected person or by way of objects that have becom contaminated with the virus.

Most colds clear up within about a week.

In some cases, infection spreads and causes laryngitis, tracheitis, acute bronchitis, sinusitis, or otitis media.

In these cases, a more serious secondary bacterial infection may follow.

Antibiotic drugs may be needed if this happens.... cold, common

The most common lung disorders are infections. These diseases include pneumonia, tracheitis, and croup. Bronchitis and bronchiolitis, which are inflammatory disorders affecting the airways within the lungs, can be complications of colds or influenza. The disorder bronchiectasis may occur as a complication of severe bacterial pneumonia o.

cystic fibrosis. The lungs can also be affected by allergic disorders. The most important of these is asthma. Another such disorder is allergic alveolitis, which is usually a reaction to dust of plant or animal origin. Irritation of the airways, usually by tobacco-smoking, can cause diseases characterized by damage to lung tissue and narrowing of the airways (see pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive). The lungs can also be affected by cancerous tumours; lung cancer is one of the most common cancers. Noncancerous lung tumours are uncommon.

Injury to a lung, usually resulting from penetration of the chest wall, can cause the lung to collapse (see pneumothorax; haemothorax). Damage to the interior of the lungs can be caused by inhalation of toxic substances (see asbestosis; silicosis). Blood supply to the lungs may be reduced by pulmonary embolism.

Lung disorders can be investigated in various ways, such as chest X-ray, bronchoscopy, and pulmonary function tests.... lung, disorders of

The air passage, also called the windpipe, that runs from immediately below the larynx to behind the upper part of the sternum, where it divides to form the bronchi. The trachea is made of fibrous and elastic tissue and smooth muscle. It also contains about 20 rings of cartilage, which keep it open. The lining of the trachea has cells (goblet cells) that secrete mucus and cells with cilia,which beat the mucus upwards to help keep the lungs and airways clear. tracheitis Inflammation of the trachea. Tracheitis is usually caused by a viral infection and is aggravated by inhaled fumes, especially tobacco smoke. It often occurs with laryngitis and bronchitis in a condition known as laryngotracheobronchitis. Symptoms include a painful dry cough and hoarseness. In most cases, no treatment is needed.... trachea