Bronchitis
What is bronchitis?
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. Bronchitis results when the windpipe and airways of the lungs become inflamed because of a bacterial or viral infection.
With bronchitis, the thin mucus lining of your airways can become irritated and swollen, and in response, the cells that make up this lining may leak fluids, causing you to cough as a reflex to clear these fluids from your lungs. In the early stages of bronchitis, the cough is dry and nonproductive. As bronchitis progresses, it is wet and brings up mucus.
Bronchitis affects both adults and children with similar symptoms, including coughing, fever, chills, sore throat, muscle aches, wheezing, and nasal congestion. Most cases of bronchitis are caused by a viral infection and can therefore not be treated by antibiotics. The best course of treatment for these cases is to address symptoms through cough suppressants, fever reducers, and plenty of fluid and rest.
