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Acute episode of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - COPD flare-up

Low urgency
Very commonModerately severe

Worsening of chronic airflow limitation due to increased inflammation and mucus in the airways.

The most common cause of decompensation is viral or bacterial respiratory infection.

It manifests as an increase in regular coughing and sputum production, which may be accompanied by a progressive deterioration in breathing capacity and wheezing.

It is diagnosed by a medical history and physical examination.

A blood test with blood gases and a lung imaging test, usually an X-ray, will be done.

The cause should be treated early, with antibiotic therapy started if bacteria are responsible. In more severe cases, lung ventilation may be required to ensure the correct levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.

It is a chronic condition that causes many consultations and hospital admissions for exacerbations of the underlying condition.

Bibliographic references
  1. John J. Reilly, Jr., Edwin K. Silverman, Steven D. Shapiro. Enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica. Harrison. Principios de Medicina Interna. Volumen 2. 19ª Edición. 1700:1708.
  2. MeiLan King Han, Mark T Dransfield, Fernando J Martinez. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Definition, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and staging. UpToDate. Apr 08, 2016.
  3. Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management and Prevention of COPD, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 2016. www.goldcopd.org (Accessed on March 17, 2016).
  4. Buist AS, McBurnie MA, Vollmer WM, et al. International variation in the prevalence of COPD (the BOLD Study): a population-based prevalence study. Lancet 2007; 370:741.
  5. Han MK, Agusti A, Calverley PM, et al. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease phenotypes: the future of COPD. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2010; 182:598.
  6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults--United States, 2011. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2012; 61:938.
Author
Dr. Oscar Garcia-Esquirol
Copyright
© TeckelMedical 2026

Symptoms

    Shortness of breath at rest

    Greenish-yellow sputum

    Coughing up more than usual

    Short of breath

    Daytime sleepiness

Symptoms to watch out for

Difficulty breathing
A feeling of shortness of breath
Fever (temperature higher than 38 ºC)
Cough alongside blood or pus
Palpitations

Self-care

Reduce tobacco consumption.
Check with your general practitioner about the prescription for anticholinergic bronchodilators and short-acting beta-2 agonists.
Check with your general practitioner about the prescription for antibiotics.
Consume expectorants and mucolytics.
Maintain hydration of 2 litres per day.
Engage in regular physical activity, adapted to age and physical condition, at least 3 times a week.
Get the flu, pneumococcal, whooping cough and COVID-19 vaccines.
Check with your general practitioner about the prescription for oral corticosteroids.
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