Acute bronchitis, also known as a chest cold, is short-term bronchitis – inflammation of the bronchi (large and medium-sized airways) of the lungs. The most common symptom is a cough. Other symptoms include coughing up mucus, wheezing, shortness of breath, fever, and chest discomfort. The infection may last from a few to ten days. The cough may persist for several weeks afterward with the total duration of symptoms usually around three weeks. Some have symptoms for up to six weeks.In more than 90% of cases, the cause is a viral infection. These viruses may be spread through the air when people cough or by direct contact. Risk factors include exposure to tobacco smoke, dust, and other air pollution. A small number of cases are due to high levels of air pollution or bacteria such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae or Bordetella pertussis. Diagnosis is typically based on a persons signs and symptom. The color of the sputum does not indicate if the infection is viral or bacterial. Determining the underlying organism is typically not needed. Other causes of similar symptoms include asthma, pneumonia, bronchiolitis, bronchiectasis, and COPD. A chest X-ray may be useful to detect pneumonia.Prevention is by not smoking and avoiding other lung irritants. Frequent hand washing and flu vaccination may also be protective. Treatment of acute bronchitis typically involves rest, paracetamol (acetaminophen), and NSAIDs to help with the fever. Cough medicine has little support for its use and is not recommended in children less than six years of age. Antibiotics should generally not be used.
Inhibited fetal growth: Fetuses tend to develop more slowly when associated with a circumvallate placenta, largely due to the reduced supply of blood and nutrients from mother to fetus. Physicians will order tests to determine the cause of inhibited fetal growth when a developing fetus does not meet growth expectations during the course of the pregnancy. Premature rupture of membranes (PROM): PROM happens when the protective covering of the amniotic sac ruptures before the onset of labor and delivery. If PROM occurs within the first 37 weeks of pregnancy, it is termed preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). PROM itself has many causes and risk factors. When PROM occurs along with vaginal bleeding in the second trimester of pregnancy, it is suspected that a mother likely has a circumvallate placenta. Complications
Circumvallate placenta has also been associated with a higher incidence of complications including placental abruption, low birth weight, premature delivery, perinatal death, and fetal abnormalities. Low birth weight: Lack of proper nutrition and blood flow to the fetus during pregnancy often results in decreased weight of the baby at birth. Placenta abruption: Placenta abruption, in which the placenta divides from the wall of the uterus prior to birth, can have severe outcomes for a mother and her baby. Such consequences include vaginal bleeding, decreased birth weight, preterm delivery, and stillbirth. Significant vaginal bleeding can induce maternal anemia and dangerously low blood pressure. Oligohydramnios: Insufficiency of proper volumes of amniotic fluid, a condition called oligohydramnios, can also occur as a result of a circumvallate placenta.