Bronchitis

Lore & Background

Acute bronchitis, also known as a chest cold, is a short-term inflammation typically caused by a viral infection such as rhinovirus, adenovirus, parainfluenza, or influenza. Symptoms include coughing up mucus, wheezing, shortness of breath, fever, and chest discomfort, with the cough lasting around three weeks. Risk factors include exposure to tobacco smoke, dust, and other air pollution. Treatment involves rest, paracetamol, and NSAIDs for fever; antibiotics are generally not used except for pertussis.

Reader's Guide

Chronic bronchitis is defined by a productive cough lasting three months or more per year for at least two years. It is often associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), though most people with COPD do not have chronic bronchitis.

Tobacco smoking is the most common cause, with air pollution and genetics playing smaller roles. Treatments include quitting smoking, vaccinations, rehabilitation, inhaled bronchodilators and steroids, and sometimes long-term oxygen therapy. Acute bronchitis is the most common type of bronchitis, while chronic bronchitis is less common, with 9.3 million people diagnosed in the United States in 2018.