Cough is generally the most common symptom observed amongst patients. It starts early in the course of many acute respiratory tract infections and goes on to become prominent as the disease continues to develop. It is often difficult to distinguish between upper respiratory infection and acute bronchitis within the first few days but cough lasting more than 5 days may suggest acute bronchitis [6].

In patients with acute bronchitis, cough generally lasts from 10-20 days. Sputum production is reported in more than 50% of individuals that present cough as symptom. The sputum may be green, yellow, clear or even blood tinged. In 50% of acute bronchitis cases, purulent sputum is reported. These changes in colour in the sputum is as a result of peroxidase released by leukocytes in sputum and this is why colour alone is not to be considered indicative of bacterial infection.

Fever is an unusual presentation and if this comes with the cough, pneumonia or influenza is often the case. Also, diarrhea, vomiting and nausea are rare. In severe cases, general malaise and chest pain may be presented. When there is severe involvement of the trachea, substernal chest pain association with respiration, coughing and burning will be presented.

Unless the patient has underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or another condition that impairs lung function dyspnea and cyanosis are not observed especially in adults.

Other symptoms of bronchitis include extreme fatigue, muscle aches, headache, runny or stuffy nose and sore throat [7].

• Pain

  Additional DIY Articles Sore Throat ; STI ; Sinus Infection ; UTI ; Cough ; Ear Infection ; Cold ; Bladder Infection ; Flu ; Rash ; Stomach Pain ; Earwax Buildup ; Yeast Infection ; Foot Pain ; Strep Throat ; Eye Infection ; Fever ; Back Pain ; Asthma [zoomcare.com]

  Some other strategies that may help include: taking pain relievers to reduce pain and control a person’s fever drinking plenty of fluids getting lots of rest using a humidifier or steam to help loosen mucus avoiding smoking While some people find relief [medicalnewstoday.com]

  If you are experiencing chest pains, call your health care professional or 911 immediately. [myphysiciansnow.com]

  They also share symptoms such as back and muscle pain, a cough, chest soreness, fatigue and wheezing. But that's where the similarities end. Acute bronchitis is generally brought on by a viral or bacterial infection. [uhhospitals.org]

• Fatigue

  Both cause cough, fever, fatigue, and a heavy feeling in your chest. Bronchitis can sometimes progress to pneumonia. Despite similarities, the conditions are different. [my.clevelandclinic.org]

  Bronchitis can cause: Cough Production of mucus Shortness of breath Wheezing Chest tightness Low fever and chills Fatigue Most bronchitis is caused by viruses. The same viruses that cause colds and flu often cause acute bronchitis. [aurorahealthcare.org]

  Sinus congestion Chest congestion Shortness of breath Wheezing Fatigue Body aches or chills Chest discomfort from coughing Here's a snapshot of the symptoms that distinguish acute bronchitis from chronic bronchitis, followed by more detailed information [verywell.com]

  They also share symptoms such as back and muscle pain, a cough, chest soreness, fatigue and wheezing. But that's where the similarities end. Acute bronchitis is generally brought on by a viral or bacterial infection. [uhhospitals.org]

• High Fever

  If you have pneumonia, you are more likely to have a high fever and chills, feel sicker or feel short of breath. [health.govt.nz]

  Call your provider if you: Have a cough on most days, or have a cough that keeps returning Are coughing up blood Have a high fever or shaking chills Have a low-grade fever for 3 or more days Have thick, yellow-green mucus, especially if it has a bad smell [nlm.nih.gov]

  If your child has a high fever and difficulty breathing, it might be pneumonia. Your GP will work out what’s causing your child’s symptoms. Bronchitis is more common in adults, but it can occur in children. [raisingchildren.net.au]

• Anemia

  […] affordable Dallas community were left twisting in the wind," 21 Feb. 2020 The most common adverse reactions to the drug were upper respiratory infection, muscle spasms, hyperuricemia, back pain, abdominal pain or discomfort, bronchitis, pain in extremity, anemia [merriam-webster.com]

  Treatment, depending on severity of symptoms, typically starts with anticoagulants; the presence of ominous signs (low blood pressure) may warrant the use of thrombolytic drugs.[2] Anemia[edit] Anemia that develops gradually usually presents with exertional [en.wikipedia.org]

  Also, older age, heart disease, anemia, resting tachycardia, hypercapnia, and hypoxemia decrease survival, whereas a significant response to bronchodilators predicts improved survival. [msdmanuals.com]

• Candidiasis

  Maltese Rari: Bronkite, farinġite, sinusite English Rare: Bronchitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis Last Update: 2017-04-26 Usage Frequency: 1 Quality: Maltese Bronkite Farinġite Kandidajasi orali English Bronchitis Pharyngitis Oral candidiasis Last Update: [mymemory.translated.net]

• Pneumonia

  Sources: Acute Bronchitis Acute Bronchitis in Children Pneumonia Pneumonia in Children ‹ Previous Post Next Post › [chistlukeshealth.org]

  What is Pneumonia? Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs which can result from bacteria, viruses, or fungi. [floridamedicalclinic.com]

  Less common causes may be Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Bordetella pertussis, and Chlamydia pneumoniae. Less than 5% of cases are caused by bacteria, sometimes in outbreaks. [merckmanuals.com]

  Many people develop pneumonia after a viral infection. It is also possible to get pneumonia after bronchitis. Some vaccinations can reduce the risk of pneumonia. The pneumococcal vaccination, for example, can help prevent pneumococcal pneumonia. [medicalnewstoday.com]

• Pertussis

  Nasopharyngeal samples can be tested for influenza and pertussis if these disorders are clinically suspected (eg, for pertussis, persistent and paroxysmal cough after 10 to 14 days of illness, only sometimes with the characteristic whoop and/or retching [merckmanuals.com]

  Bacterial infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Clamydia pneumoniae, and Bordetella pertussis (whooping cough), particulary in young adults, can lead to acute bronchitis. [healthcommunities.com]

  However, after the initial diagnosis, nucleic acid amplification tests of her sputum showed the absence of both Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Bordetella pertussis infections. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

• Chronic Productive Cough

  Except for chills and fever, someone with chronic bronchitis has a chronic productive cough and most of the symptoms of acute bronchitis, such as shortness of breath and chest tightness, on most days of the month, for months or years. [brennerchildrens.org]

  productive cough Medical condition: The medical condition that will be investigated is that of chronic productive cough (with or without a diagnosis of asthma but without a diagnosis of bronchiectasis, smoking related chronic bronchi... [clinicaltrialsregister.eu]

  […] bronchitis is defined as a productive cough – one that produces sputum – that lasts for three months or more per year for at least two years.[9][10] Many people with chronic bronchitis have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).[11] Tobacco smoking [en.wikipedia.org]

• Nasal Discharge

  The presence of nasal discharge (43.4%) was associated with more cough and sputum symptoms, whereas post-nasal drip (13.1%) was associated with more sputum symptoms. On multivariate analyses, nasal discharge was associated with more cough symptoms. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Cultures of nasal discharge and sputum. Testing the sputum you cough up or swab from your nose may be done. This helps find and identify the microorganism causing the infection. Pulmonary function tests. [uchealth.org]

  Cultures of nasal discharge and sputum. Testing the sputum you cough up or swab from your nose may be done to find and identify the microorganism causing the infection. Pulmonary function tests. [hopkinsmedicine.org]

• Rhinitis

  This study aims to investigate incidence of allergic rhinitis, bronchitis and asthma, in children living near a petrochemical complex with SO 2 pollution obtained by air monitoring stations. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Despite some conflicting data available, some patients with rhinitis benefit from using guaifenesin [ 12 ]. [doi.org]

  An antihistamine would be made use of to treat a cough caused by allergic rhinitis. A decongestant or an antihistamine would be utilized to treat a cough caused by a postnasal drip. [physio-pedia.com]

  […] tobacco or other types of smoke Asthma Early in life (often during childhood) Usually normal, possibly hyperinflation or segmental atelectasis Symptoms vary widely from day to day Symptoms often worse at night or early morning History of allergies, rhinitis [msdmanuals.com]

  PubMed Google Scholar Sichletidis L, Tsiotsios I, Gavriilidis A, Chloros D, Kottakis I, Daskalopoulou E, Konstantinidis T: Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and rhinitis in northern Greece. [dx.doi.org]

Bronchitis may be suspected in patients with an acute respiratory infection with cough; yet, because many more serious diseases of the lower respiratory tract cause cough, bronchitis must be considered a diagnosis of exclusion. A complete blood count with differential may be obtained.

Procalcitonin levels may be useful to distinguish bacterial infections from nonbacterial infections. Studies have shown that they may help guide therapy and reduce the use of antibioics.
If the cough is persistent sputum cytology may be helpful.

Chest radiography should be performed in those patients whose physical examination findings suggest pneumonia. Elderly patients may have no signs of pneumonia; therefore, chest radiography may be warranted in these patients, even without other clinical signs of infection [8].

Bronchoscopy may be needed to exclude foreign body aspiration, tuberculosis, tumors, and other chronic diseases of the tracheobronchial tree and lungs.

• Chlamydia

  Less common causes may be Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Bordetella pertussis, and Chlamydia pneumoniae. Less than 5% of cases are caused by bacteria, sometimes in outbreaks. [merckmanuals.com]

  In children and infants they are often haemophilus influenzae, mycoplasma or chlamydia. Very rarely, fungi also cause bronchitis. The most common fungal bronchitis is so-called "thrush bronchitis," caused by the yeast fungus candida albicans. [ims.uniklinik-freiburg.de]

  Some common types of bacteria which might cause bronchitis include: Bordetella pertussis Streptococcus species Mycoplasma pneumonia Chlamydia pneumonia Acute infectious bronchitis has an incubation period of four to six days. [healthline.com]

Therapy is generally focused on alleviation of symptoms. Toward this goal, a doctor may prescribe a combination of medications that open obstructed bronchial airways and thin obstructive mucus so that it can be coughed up more easily. Care for acute bronchitis is primarily supportive and should ensure that the patient is oxygenating adequately. Bed rest is recommended [9].

The most effective means for controlling cough and sputum production in patients with chronic bronchitis is the avoidance of environmental irritants, especially cigarette smoke.

Prognosis is positive for most bronchitis cases [5]. It may result in absenteeism from work and school but it is generally self-limiting in individuals who are otherwise healthy. Severe cases however may produce deterioration in patients with significant underlying cardiopulmonary disease.

The most common causes of acute bronchitis are respiratory viruses while cigarette smoking is undoubtedly the chief cause of chronic bronchitis.

The most common viral causes of acute bronchitis are influenza A and B virus, parainfluenza, coronavirus and respiratory syncytial virus. However, an etiologic agent is identified in very few cases. Acute bronchitis is also caused by infections like those caused by Haemophilus influenza, catarrhalis, Moraxella, Streptococcus pneumonia, Chlamydia pneumonia and the Mycoplasma species. Exposure to irritants like pollution, chemicals and tobacco smoke can also bring about acute bronchial irritation. 70-80% of acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis arise from respiratory infections.

For chronic bronchitis, cigarette smoking is the major cause [2] [3]. The risk factors that are common for acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis include low forced expiratory volume in one second and old age. For chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cigarette smoking is responsible for about 85-90% of cases. According to research, smoking cigars, pipes and marijuana causes the same damage as the cigarettes. All forms of smoking inhibits ciliary movement and the function of the alveolar macrophages. This leads to hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the mucus-secreting glands.

Bronchitis is common worldwide and is one of the top 5 reasons why people seek medical help in many countries. No difference in racial distribution has been reported. Bronchitis most often occurs in autumn or winter. The disorder is seen frequently in countries with a low socioeconomic status and in people who live in urban and industrialized regions. The condition affects more males than females around the world.

The cells of the bronchial-lining tissue of an individual suffering from acute bronchitis are irritated and the mucous membranes become oedematous and hyperaemic [4]. This brings about reduced mucociliary function and clogs up the air passaged with debris thereby increasing irritation. In response, to this a large amount of secretion ensues and this is what brings about the characteristic cough seen with bronchitis.

Chronic bronchitis may equally result due to persistent acute bronchitis attacks or it may arise as a result of heavy smoking or inhalation of air that is contaminated with other pollutants in the environment. When the cough of the smoker is continual instead of occasional, it shows a bronchial lining that has thickened and narrowed the airways to a point where breathing is no longer easy.

There is no way to prevent all cases of acute bronchitis. However, the risk of bronchitis and complications can be reduced by not smoking and by getting flu shots to reduce the risk of getting the flu, which can lead to acute bronchitis [10].

Bronchitis is the inflammation of the mucous membranes found the bronchi. The bronchi is the medium and larger sized airways which carry airflow from the trachea down to the distal parts of the lung [1]. Bronchitis is of two types: acute and chronic.

With acute bronchitis, there is cough and a small sensation at the back of the throat and sputum may or may not be present. This type of bronchitis is seen during the course of an acute viral illness like common cold or influenza.

Chronic bronchitis is characterised by the presence of cough lasting more than 3 months or more every year for at least two consecutive years. It is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This type of bronchitis often develops because of a recurrent injury to the airways caused by irritants inhaled by the individual.

Bronchitis occurs when there is inflammation of the lining of your bronchial tubes. The bronchial tubes are responsible for carrying air to and from the lungs. Individuals with bronchitis have cough that produces mucus that is thickened. The mucus may be discolored. Bronchitis can either be acute or chronic. 

Acute bronchitis is the most common type of bronchitis and it often arises as a result of cold or other respiratory infections. On the other hand, chronic bronchitis is the more serious of the two and it arises from regular irritation and inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes. The irritation arises from smoking most of the time. 

Acute bronchitis eases off within a few days without any lasting effects but the accompanying cough may last for weeks or more. If repeated cases of  bronchitis happens it is most likely the chronic form that requires medical attention. 

In many cases, bronchitis doesn't lead to any serious physical damages as outlook is very positive. 

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2. Black S. Epidemiology of pertussis. Pediatr Infect Dis J. Apr 1997;16(4 Suppl):S85-9.
3. Jivcu C, Gotfried M. Gemifloxacin use in the treatment of acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2009;4:291-300. 
4. Sethi S, Murphy TF. Infection in the pathogenesis and course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. N Engl J Med. Nov 27 2008;359(22):2355-65. 
5. Macfarlane J, Holmes W, Gard P, et al. Prospective study of the incidence, aetiology and outcome of adult lower respiratory tract illness in the community. Thorax. Feb 2001;56(2):109-14. 
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7. Gonzales R, Steiner JF, Lum A, Barrett PH Jr. Decreasing antibiotic use in ambulatory practice: impact of a multidimensional intervention on the treatment of uncomplicated acute bronchitis in adults. JAMA 1999; 281:1512.
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