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Bronchitis

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Bronchitis

Definition

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the main air passages to the lungs. Bronchitis may be short-lived (acute) or chronic, meaning that it lasts a long time and often recurs.

See also: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Alternative Names

Inflammation - bronchi

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Acute bronchitis generally follows a viral respiratory infection. At first, it affects your nose, sinuses, and throat and then spreads to the lungs. Sometimes, you may get another (secondary) bacterial infection in the airways.This means that bacteria infect the airways, in addition to the virus.

People at risk for acute bronchitis include:

  • Elderly, infants, and young children
  • Persons with heart or lung disease
  • Smokers

Chronic bronchitis is a long-term condition. People have a cough that produces excessive mucus. To be diagnosed with chronic bronchitis, you must have a cough with mucus most days of the month for at least 3 months.

Chronic bronchitis is also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD for short. (Emphysema is another type of COPD.) As the condition gets worse, you become increasingly short of breath, have difficulty walking or exerting yourself physically, and may need supplemental oxygen on a regular basis.

Cigarette smoke, including long-term exposure to second-hand smoke, is the main cause of chronic bronchitis. The severity of the disease often relates to how much you smoked or how long you were exposed to the smoke.

The following things can make bronchitis worse:

  • Air pollution
  • Allergies
  • Certain occupations (such as coal mining, textile manufacturing, or grain handling)
  • Infections

Symptoms

The symptoms of either type of bronchitis may include:

  • Chest discomfort
  • Cough that produces mucus; if it's yellow-green, you are more likely to have a bacterial infection
  • Fatigue
  • Fever -- usually low
  • Shortness of breath worsened by exertion or mild activity
  • Wheezing

Even after acute bronchitis has cleared, you may have a dry, nagging cough that lingers for several weeks.

Additional symptoms of chronic bronchitis include:

  • Ankle, feet, and leg swelling
  • Blue-colored lips from low levels of oxygen
  • Frequent respiratory infections (such as colds or the flu)

Signs and tests

The health care provider will listen to your lungs with a stethoscope.

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Industrial bronchitis (4 images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Industrial bronchitis is swelling(inflammation) of the large airways of the lungs that occurs in some people who work around certain dusts, fumes, smoke, or other substances.Reviewer: Allen J. Blaivas, DO, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine UMDNJ-NJMS, Attending Physician in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Veterans Affairs, VA New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 04/24/2009

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (7 images) Average Rating: (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) is lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe. There are two main forms of COPD:.Chronic bronchitis, which causes long-term swelling and a large amount of mucus in the main airways in the lungs Emph...Reviewer: Benjamin Medoff, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Pulmonary and Critical Care Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 09/24/2008

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