Cough is generally the most common symptom observed amongst patients. It starts early in the course of many acute respiratory tract infections and goes on to become prominent as the disease continues to develop. It is often difficult to distinguish between upper respiratory infection and acute bronchitis within the first few days but cough lasting more than 5 days may suggest acute bronchitis [6].

In patients with acute bronchitis, cough generally lasts from 10-20 days. Sputum production is reported in more than 50% of individuals that present cough as symptom. The sputum may be green, yellow, clear or even blood tinged. In 50% of acute bronchitis cases, purulent sputum is reported. These changes in colour in the sputum is as a result of peroxidase released by leukocytes in sputum and this is why colour alone is not to be considered indicative of bacterial infection.

Fever is an unusual presentation and if this comes with the cough, pneumonia or influenza is often the case. Also, diarrhea, vomiting and nausea are rare. In severe cases, general malaise and chest pain may be presented. When there is severe involvement of the trachea, substernal chest pain association with respiration, coughing and burning will be presented.

Unless the patient has underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or another condition that impairs lung function dyspnea and cyanosis are not observed especially in adults.

Other symptoms of bronchitis include extreme fatigue, muscle aches, headache, runny or stuffy nose and sore throat [7].

• Inflammation

  It is caused due to the inflammation of the trachea (windpipe) and the large and small bronchi due to infection or other factors. This results in the mucous lining of the airways becoming swollen due to the inflammation. [organicfacts.net]

  One case of non-asthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis due to methylene diphenil isocyanates has been reported, but a similar condition in the instance of neutrophilic bronchial inflammation has never been described. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, the airways that carry air to your lungs. It causes a cough that often brings up mucus, as well as shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness. [icd9data.com]

  Under certain circumstances, however, irritants do enter the airways, causing inflammation of the mucosa and excess mucus production. [britannica.com]

• Pain

  Additional DIY Articles Sore Throat ; STI ; Sinus Infection ; UTI ; Cough ; Ear Infection ; Cold ; Bladder Infection ; Flu ; Rash ; Stomach Pain ; Earwax Buildup ; Yeast Infection ; Foot Pain ; Strep Throat ; Eye Infection ; Fever ; Back Pain ; Asthma [zoomcare.com]

  Some other strategies that may help include: taking pain relievers to reduce pain and control a person’s fever drinking plenty of fluids getting lots of rest using a humidifier or steam to help loosen mucus avoiding smoking While some people find relief [medicalnewstoday.com]

  If you are experiencing chest pains, call your health care professional or 911 immediately. [myphysiciansnow.com]

  They also share symptoms such as back and muscle pain, a cough, chest soreness, fatigue and wheezing. But that's where the similarities end. Acute bronchitis is generally brought on by a viral or bacterial infection. [uhhospitals.org]

• Fatigue

  Both cause cough, fever, fatigue, and a heavy feeling in your chest. Bronchitis can sometimes progress to pneumonia. Despite similarities, the conditions are different. [my.clevelandclinic.org]

  Bronchitis can cause: Cough Production of mucus Shortness of breath Wheezing Chest tightness Low fever and chills Fatigue Most bronchitis is caused by viruses. The same viruses that cause colds and flu often cause acute bronchitis. [aurorahealthcare.org]

  Sinus congestion Chest congestion Shortness of breath Wheezing Fatigue Body aches or chills Chest discomfort from coughing Here's a snapshot of the symptoms that distinguish acute bronchitis from chronic bronchitis, followed by more detailed information [verywell.com]

  They also share symptoms such as back and muscle pain, a cough, chest soreness, fatigue and wheezing. But that's where the similarities end. Acute bronchitis is generally brought on by a viral or bacterial infection. [uhhospitals.org]

• Swelling

  Acute bronchitis is swelling and inflamed tissue in the main passages that carry air to the lungs. This swelling narrows the airways, which makes it harder to breathe. Other symptoms of bronchitis are a cough and coughing up mucus. [nlm.nih.gov]

  Airflow into and out of your lungs is partly blocked because of the swelling and extra mucus in your bronchi. This makes you cough. [lung.ca]

  Inflammation (swelling and reddening) of the bronchi. [icd9data.com]

• Malaise

  Symptoms Symptoms of acute bronchitis include: Cough Shortness of breath Wheezing “Rattle” sensation in chest General ill feeling, or malaise Slight fever Tickle feeling in back of throat that leads to soreness Chest pain, soreness, and tightness in the [hopkinsmedicine.org]

  Pneumonia may also cause confusion, clammy or sweaty skin, headache, malaise, loss of appetite, sharp chest pain, or leukonychia (white nail syndrome). Unlike bronchitis, pneumonia can be life-threatening. [floridamedicalclinic.com]

  In severe cases, general malaise and chest pain may be presented. When there is severe involvement of the trachea, substernal chest pain association with respiration, coughing and burning will be presented. [symptoma.com]

  […] child, and the stage of the disease, but may include the following: runny nose dry, hacking unproductive cough that may change to a loose cough with increased mucus sore throat back and other muscle pains chills and low grade fever headache and general malaise [healthofchildren.com]

  […] following: Cough (the most commonly observed symptom) Sputum production (clear, yellow, green, or even blood-tinged) Fever (relatively unusual; in conjunction with cough, suggestive of influenza or pneumonia) Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (rare) General malaise [emedicine.medscape.com]

• Cough

  The cough can last for several weeks and will generally be either wet (mucus-based) or dry. With acute bronchitis, the cough will go away on its own as the lungs regain strength. [lunginstitute.com]

  After a winter cold seems cured, you may continue to cough and produce large amounts of mucus for several weeks. Since people who get chronic bronchitis are often smokers, the cough is usually dismissed as only "smoker's cough." [web.archive.org]

  BACKGROUND: Wet or productive cough is common in children with chronic cough. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Honey Honey aids in soothing sore throats and relieves coughs. [organicfacts.net]

  Cough resolves within 2 wk in 75% of patients. Patients with persistent cough should undergo a chest x-ray. [merckmanuals.com]

• Pneumonia

  Sources: Acute Bronchitis Acute Bronchitis in Children Pneumonia Pneumonia in Children ‹ Previous Post Next Post › [chistlukeshealth.org]

  What is Pneumonia? Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs which can result from bacteria, viruses, or fungi. [floridamedicalclinic.com]

  Less common causes may be Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Bordetella pertussis, and Chlamydia pneumoniae. Less than 5% of cases are caused by bacteria, sometimes in outbreaks. [merckmanuals.com]

  Many people develop pneumonia after a viral infection. It is also possible to get pneumonia after bronchitis. Some vaccinations can reduce the risk of pneumonia. The pneumococcal vaccination, for example, can help prevent pneumococcal pneumonia. [medicalnewstoday.com]

• Chronic Cough

  RESULTS: A total of 15 studies involving 2187 adults with chronic cough were identified. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Keywords: Bronchoscopy, Dyspnea, Chronic Cough, Plastic Bronchitis Mehmet Bayram, Isa Döngel, Muhammed Emin Akkoyunlu, Levent Kart. A Rare Cause of Chronic Cough: Plastic Bronchitis. [respircase.com]

• Pertussis

  Nasopharyngeal samples can be tested for influenza and pertussis if these disorders are clinically suspected (eg, for pertussis, persistent and paroxysmal cough after 10 to 14 days of illness, only sometimes with the characteristic whoop and/or retching [merckmanuals.com]

  Bacterial infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Clamydia pneumoniae, and Bordetella pertussis (whooping cough), particulary in young adults, can lead to acute bronchitis. [healthcommunities.com]

  However, after the initial diagnosis, nucleic acid amplification tests of her sputum showed the absence of both Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Bordetella pertussis infections. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

• Dyspnea

  Shortness of breath Other names Dyspnea, dyspnoea, breathlessness, difficulty of breathing, respiratory distress Pronunciation Dyspnea: /dɪspˈniːə/ Specialty Pulmonology Shortness of breath (SOB), also known as dyspnea, is a feeling of not being able [en.wikipedia.org]

  However, patients who complain of dyspnea should have pulse oximetry to rule out hypoxemia. [merckmanuals.com]

  Keywords: Bronchoscopy, Dyspnea, Chronic Cough, Plastic Bronchitis Mehmet Bayram, Isa Döngel, Muhammed Emin Akkoyunlu, Levent Kart. A Rare Cause of Chronic Cough: Plastic Bronchitis. [respircase.com]

• Hiccup

  How To Get Rid Of Hiccups: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaxJf... How To Get Rid Of Heartburn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7MGm... How To Lower High Blood Pressure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLzIg... [youtube.com]

• Skin Rash

  Children experiencing adverse effects of antibiotics (e.g. diarrhoea, nausea, skin rash, allergic reactions (proportion of participants)). [doi.org]

  The most common adverse effects reported were nausea, diarrhea, headache, skin rash, and vaginitis with a number needed to harm of 5. [aafp.org]

• Dermatitis

  […] evening mother, children were last seen alive," 17 Feb. 2020 The National Institutes of Health page lists bacteria, fungi, viruses, surface injuries like scrapes and punctures, and the group of inflammatory conditions that includes cystitis, bronchitis, dermatitis [merriam-webster.com]

• Urticaria

  […] dyspnea, tachycardia, elevated jugular venous pressure, and pulsus paradoxus.[15] The gold standard for diagnosis is ultrasound.[15] Anaphylaxis typically begins over a few minutes in a person with a previous history of the same.[5] Other symptoms include urticaria [en.wikipedia.org]

• Hyperactivity

  Side effects were rare and included one child with loose stools in the placebo group and one child reported to be hyperactive in the active drug group. A second child in the drug group was reported to be sleepier than usual. 5. [doi.org]

Bronchitis may be suspected in patients with an acute respiratory infection with cough; yet, because many more serious diseases of the lower respiratory tract cause cough, bronchitis must be considered a diagnosis of exclusion. A complete blood count with differential may be obtained.

Procalcitonin levels may be useful to distinguish bacterial infections from nonbacterial infections. Studies have shown that they may help guide therapy and reduce the use of antibioics.
If the cough is persistent sputum cytology may be helpful.

Chest radiography should be performed in those patients whose physical examination findings suggest pneumonia. Elderly patients may have no signs of pneumonia; therefore, chest radiography may be warranted in these patients, even without other clinical signs of infection [8].

Bronchoscopy may be needed to exclude foreign body aspiration, tuberculosis, tumors, and other chronic diseases of the tracheobronchial tree and lungs.

Therapy is generally focused on alleviation of symptoms. Toward this goal, a doctor may prescribe a combination of medications that open obstructed bronchial airways and thin obstructive mucus so that it can be coughed up more easily. Care for acute bronchitis is primarily supportive and should ensure that the patient is oxygenating adequately. Bed rest is recommended [9].

The most effective means for controlling cough and sputum production in patients with chronic bronchitis is the avoidance of environmental irritants, especially cigarette smoke.

Prognosis is positive for most bronchitis cases [5]. It may result in absenteeism from work and school but it is generally self-limiting in individuals who are otherwise healthy. Severe cases however may produce deterioration in patients with significant underlying cardiopulmonary disease.

The most common causes of acute bronchitis are respiratory viruses while cigarette smoking is undoubtedly the chief cause of chronic bronchitis.

The most common viral causes of acute bronchitis are influenza A and B virus, parainfluenza, coronavirus and respiratory syncytial virus. However, an etiologic agent is identified in very few cases. Acute bronchitis is also caused by infections like those caused by Haemophilus influenza, catarrhalis, Moraxella, Streptococcus pneumonia, Chlamydia pneumonia and the Mycoplasma species. Exposure to irritants like pollution, chemicals and tobacco smoke can also bring about acute bronchial irritation. 70-80% of acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis arise from respiratory infections.

For chronic bronchitis, cigarette smoking is the major cause [2] [3]. The risk factors that are common for acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis include low forced expiratory volume in one second and old age. For chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cigarette smoking is responsible for about 85-90% of cases. According to research, smoking cigars, pipes and marijuana causes the same damage as the cigarettes. All forms of smoking inhibits ciliary movement and the function of the alveolar macrophages. This leads to hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the mucus-secreting glands.

Bronchitis is common worldwide and is one of the top 5 reasons why people seek medical help in many countries. No difference in racial distribution has been reported. Bronchitis most often occurs in autumn or winter. The disorder is seen frequently in countries with a low socioeconomic status and in people who live in urban and industrialized regions. The condition affects more males than females around the world.

The cells of the bronchial-lining tissue of an individual suffering from acute bronchitis are irritated and the mucous membranes become oedematous and hyperaemic [4]. This brings about reduced mucociliary function and clogs up the air passaged with debris thereby increasing irritation. In response, to this a large amount of secretion ensues and this is what brings about the characteristic cough seen with bronchitis.

Chronic bronchitis may equally result due to persistent acute bronchitis attacks or it may arise as a result of heavy smoking or inhalation of air that is contaminated with other pollutants in the environment. When the cough of the smoker is continual instead of occasional, it shows a bronchial lining that has thickened and narrowed the airways to a point where breathing is no longer easy.

There is no way to prevent all cases of acute bronchitis. However, the risk of bronchitis and complications can be reduced by not smoking and by getting flu shots to reduce the risk of getting the flu, which can lead to acute bronchitis [10].

Bronchitis is the inflammation of the mucous membranes found the bronchi. The bronchi is the medium and larger sized airways which carry airflow from the trachea down to the distal parts of the lung [1]. Bronchitis is of two types: acute and chronic.

With acute bronchitis, there is cough and a small sensation at the back of the throat and sputum may or may not be present. This type of bronchitis is seen during the course of an acute viral illness like common cold or influenza.

Chronic bronchitis is characterised by the presence of cough lasting more than 3 months or more every year for at least two consecutive years. It is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This type of bronchitis often develops because of a recurrent injury to the airways caused by irritants inhaled by the individual.

Bronchitis occurs when there is inflammation of the lining of your bronchial tubes. The bronchial tubes are responsible for carrying air to and from the lungs. Individuals with bronchitis have cough that produces mucus that is thickened. The mucus may be discolored. Bronchitis can either be acute or chronic. 

Acute bronchitis is the most common type of bronchitis and it often arises as a result of cold or other respiratory infections. On the other hand, chronic bronchitis is the more serious of the two and it arises from regular irritation and inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes. The irritation arises from smoking most of the time. 

Acute bronchitis eases off within a few days without any lasting effects but the accompanying cough may last for weeks or more. If repeated cases of  bronchitis happens it is most likely the chronic form that requires medical attention. 

In many cases, bronchitis doesn't lead to any serious physical damages as outlook is very positive. 

1. Knutson D, Braun C. Diagnosis and management of acute bronchitis. Am Fam Physician. May 15 2002;65(10):2039-44. 
2. Black S. Epidemiology of pertussis. Pediatr Infect Dis J. Apr 1997;16(4 Suppl):S85-9.
3. Jivcu C, Gotfried M. Gemifloxacin use in the treatment of acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2009;4:291-300. 
4. Sethi S, Murphy TF. Infection in the pathogenesis and course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. N Engl J Med. Nov 27 2008;359(22):2355-65. 
5. Macfarlane J, Holmes W, Gard P, et al. Prospective study of the incidence, aetiology and outcome of adult lower respiratory tract illness in the community. Thorax. Feb 2001;56(2):109-14. 
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7. Gonzales R, Steiner JF, Lum A, Barrett PH Jr. Decreasing antibiotic use in ambulatory practice: impact of a multidimensional intervention on the treatment of uncomplicated acute bronchitis in adults. JAMA 1999; 281:1512.
8. Evertsen J, Baumgardner DJ, Regnery A, Banerjee I. Diagnosis and management of pneumonia and bronchitis in outpatient primary care practices. Prim Care Respir J 2010; 19:237.
9. Kroening-Roche JC, Soroudi A, Castillo EM, Vilke GM. Antibiotic and bronchodilator prescribing for acute bronchitis in the emergency department. J Emerg Med 2012; 43:221.
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