Bronchitis is a condition where the airways leading from your mouth to your lungs become inflamed. These airways are known as be bronchi. There are two major subtypes of bronchitis; acute bronchitis, and chronic bronchitis. Despite the similarities in their names and symptoms, the causes of acute and chronic bronchitis are somewhat different. Most cases of acute bronchitis are caused by a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. Chronic bronchitis is a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is almost always caused by smoking cigarettes.
Acute bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is one of the most common reasons that a person goes to see a doctor. The symptoms of acute bronchitis go hand-in-hand with the symptoms of the common cold. The most common sign of an acute bronchitis infection is a persistent cough. This cough can go on for several weeks. The cough can be dry, or in some cases it can produce a thick sputum. Very few people with acute bronchitis will have any significant fever.
Your doctor will diagnose acute bronchitis almost entirely based on the clinical presentation. There are some tests which can be done to rule out more significant causes of a cough (such as pneumonia), but in most cases these tests are not necessary. If a person has a high fever, is coughing up any amount of blood, or is experiencing chest pain, a more detailed evaluation by your doctor may be necessary.
Because most cases of acute bronchitis are caused by viral infections, there is often very little that can be done to actively treat them. Most treatment is supportive. Keeping well hydrated and rested is important until the viral infection is cleared by your immune system. Throat pain can be controlled with the use of Tylenol, or ibuprofen. If a person is experiencing nasal congestion, medications such as Sudafed can be useful to keep your sinuses and nose clear. Most cases of acute bronchitis do not require antibiotics, as viruses are not affected by these medications.
Chronic bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis is a long-term condition which has a very specific definition. In order to be diagnosed with chronic bronchitis a person must have a chronic cough for at least three months in two consecutive years. In addition, the cough must produce sputum. Chronic bronchitis is one of two subtypes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also known as COPD.
Chronic bronchitis is a progressive disease. It typically begins with very few or minimal symptoms, and gets worse over the years. Chronic bronchitis is almost always associated with cigarette smoking. Symptoms include a progressive shortness of breath, and a chronic cough. In addition, a person will often become chronically fatigued.
Bronchitis is diagnosed using a wide variety of tools. First, your doctor will take an extensive medical history, in order to determine your potential risk factors. Chest x-rays, CT scans, and blood tests can also be used to help determine the extent of damage to your lungs. Pulmonary function tests are often used to assess the lung function in a person with chronic bronchitis.
If you are experiencing a cough which has become frustrating and difficult to deal with, make an appointment to see your doctor. Your doctor can assess your cough and determine the exact cause, after which the appropriate treatments can be initiated.
