Bronchitis is an inflammatory disease of the bronchioles in the lungs, with acute and chronic forms. Acute bronchitis is caused by an infection and can be treated with antibiotics, while chronic bronchitis is caused by long-term inflammation and is not curable. Symptoms include coughing, mucus production, difficulty breathing, and fatigue. Quitting smoking and medication can help manage the disease.
Bronchitis is an inflammatory disease that develops in the bronchioles of the lungs. There are two forms of bronchitis: acute and chronic. Acute bronchitis is a sudden illness of short duration. In contrast, chronic bronchitis is inflammation that lasts three months or more. Most of the symptoms of chronic bronchitis, including coughing and mucus production, are caused by the short- and long-term effects of inflammation.
Acute and chronic bronchitis differ in causes and symptoms. Acute bronchitis is usually a complication of an upper respiratory tract infection, causing coughing, mucus production, difficulty breathing, fatigue, fever, chest tightness, and other respiratory symptoms for several weeks. These symptoms are caused by the infection, so they can usually be resolved with antibiotic or antiviral medications.
Unlike the acute form of the disease, the symptoms of chronic bronchitis are not caused by an infection and cannot be treated with antibiotics or antivirals. Instead, chronic bronchitis is usually the result of long-term inflammation or irritation such as that caused by cigarette smoke or environmental pollution. People with other respiratory diseases, such as emphysema, asthma, sinusitis or tuberculosis, have a higher risk of developing chronic bronchitis. Also, acute bronchitis, if not treated properly, can become a chronic version of the disease.
Common symptoms of chronic bronchitis include coughing, excessive mucus production, coughing up blood or bloody mucus, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, frequent or recurring respiratory infections, wheezing, fatigue, and headaches. People with chronic bronchitis often have a cough that gets worse in wet weather and may have swelling in their ankles, feet, and legs. In the short term, most symptoms are the result of excessive mucus production, and as the disease progresses, chronic inflammation can cause scar tissue to develop in the bronchioles.
For a diagnosis of chronic disease, symptoms of chronic bronchitis must have been present for at least three months in two consecutive years. Also, the symptoms must not have another recognizable cause. To diagnose the condition, a doctor will take a medical history, including symptoms, and may order tests such as a pulmonary function test, arterial blood gas test, other blood tests, exercise stress testing, and a chest X-ray or a computed tomography (CT) scan.
Chronic bronchitis can lead to permanent damage to lung tissue and, as such, is not curable. There are treatments available that can relieve symptoms and improve lung function. If someone with chronic bronchitis is a smoker, the best thing they can do to manage the disease is to quit smoking. Medications to treat the condition include steroids to reduce inflammation and bronchodilators to open up the airways and make breathing easier.
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