Bronchitis
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Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchi of the lungs, that causes the cilia of the bronchial epithelial cells to stop functioning.
Like many disorders, bronchitis can be acute (short-term), or chronic (long-lasting). Chronic bronchitis is a problem commonly seen in smokers, whereas acute bronchitis is almost always caused by viral infection, as elucidated by recent studies.
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Symptoms
The symptoms of acute and chronic bronchitis include:
- Discolored mucus (white, yellow, or green) caused by peroxidase released by neutrophils
- Bloody (pink, red or rust-streaked) mucus (should be evaluated by a doctor)
- Shortness of breath, worsened by activity
- Wheezing
- Fatigue
- Low-grade fever
- Chest discomfort
- Malaise
Acute bronchitis
- usually lasts about 7 to 10 days.
- can last up to 90 days.
- rarely responds to antibiotics due to its primarily viral etiology and should be treated symptomatically.
- complications are more likely with comorbidities such as smoking, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Chronic bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis is a chronic obstructive respiratory disease, where the airways are obstructed by plugs of mucus.
External links
Section Online medical references
- Acute bronchitis (http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/section6/chapter69/69a.jsp) Merck Manual of Diagnosis & Therapy
- Bronchitis (http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual_home2/sec04/ch041/ch041a.jsp) The Merck Manual - Second Home Edition
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual_home2/sec04/ch045/ch045a.jsp) The Merck Manual - Second Home Edition
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mm_geriatrics/sec10/ch78.jsp) The Merck Manual of Geriatrics
- Lungs OnLine - Bronchitis (http://www.lungsonline.com/bronchitis.html)
- [1] (http://familydoctor.org/677.xml) FamilyDoctor.org (American Academy of Family Physicians)
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