Bronchitis is a common complication of influenza, but can occur separately from other illnesses. Although bacterial or viral infections are usually the cause of bronchitis, irritants, such as chemicals or dust, can also cause bronchitis. Smokers, asthmatics, and anyone else with reduced lung function are naturally more prone to this illness, and especially to the chronic form.

Types

The two main types of bronchitis are acute and chronic. If acute bronchitis is severe or if the person with bronchitis has lung damage from smoking or pollutants, acute bronchitis can turn into chronic bronchitis. However, the chronic form is more frequently caused not by infection but by airborne pollutants, such as tobacco smoke.

Features

Bronchitis occurs when a virus, bacteria, or environmental irritants, such as chemical fumes or dust, cause bronchial inflammation. Acute bronchitis lasts for a week or longer but does not linger long after treatment. Chronic bronchitis lasts for several months, and may recur.

Effects

Although all bronchitis sufferers have chest congestion, initial bronchitis symptoms are frequently a dry cough rather than a productive cough. While you may cough up mucus from the onset of the illness, this is not always the case. Mucus associated with bronchitis is often thick and, therefore, cannot be easily coughed up.
A heavy feeling in the chest, fever, and nasal congestion are other common bronchitis symptoms you may experience. In addition, the hacking cough associated with bronchitis may cause soreness in your throat and ribs. Coughing fits related to bronchitis can be so severe you vomit.

Prevention/Solution

Prevent bacterial or viral bronchitis the same way you prevent the flu and the common cold—wash your hands and avoid touching your face. To prevent bronchitis caused by irritants, always wear protective masks when working around fumes or dust, and quit smoking. Unless symptoms are severe, you can treat viral bronchitis at home. Bacterial bronchitis, however, requires antibiotics. For all kinds of bronchitis, your doctor may also prescribe an expectorant to help loosen the congestion in your chest. If bronchitis causes breathing difficulty, an inhaler may help. Warm, soothing liquids such as tea with honey helps soothe throat pain associated with coughing, and will help keep you hydrated.

Warning

Bronchitis can easily become serious. If you are running a high fever or coughing is severe, see a physician. Parents whose children show signs of bronchitis should take them to a doctor to rule out whooping cough or pneumonia, and to get antibiotics if the bronchitis is bacterial.

Considerations

Continuous coughing often interferes with sleep and lying down may worsen the cough; you may have to sleep upright in a recliner until you have recovered. If you have bronchitis that lasts beyond a month, even if your symptoms are mild, you should see your doctor. It is possible you have lung damage or that you have a disease other than bronchitis.

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