Bronchitis
When the lining of the bronchial tubes becomes inflamed, this is known as bronchitis, a common condition of the lower respiratory tract.
The bronchi are the passages through which air flows in and out of the lungs. When the lining of the bronchial tubes becomes inflamed, this is known as bronchitis, a common condition of the lower respiratory tract. In the US, acute bronchitis affects about 5% of the adult population every year. The chronic form of bronchitis can be a serious illness, causing persistent irritation of the bronchial tubes.
What Causes Bronchitis?
Many cases of acute bronchitis follow a bout of the cold or flu, as these same respiratory viruses can end up causing an infection of the bronchi. This means you can catch the virus from an infected person when they sneeze, cough, or talk, releasing airborne droplets containing viral particles, or from touching contaminated surfaces. A much smaller percentage of acute bronchitis, less than 10%, may be caused by bacteria.
Conversely, chronic bronchitis is most commonly caused by tobacco smoking, including passive smoking (breathing in someone else’s cigarette smoke) and smoking marijuana. Long-term exposure to air pollution or other irritants in the air, such as chemical fumes or dust, can also cause chronic bronchitis. More recently, vaping with e-cigarettes has been linked to chronic bronchitis, too. Chronic bronchitis is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and can also increase your risk of pneumonia.
While children may be susceptible to acute bronchitis, chronic bronchitis in this age group is rare.
Bronchitis Symptoms
Since acute bronchitis is typically associated with a cold, most people will experience common cold or flu symptoms, including:
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Mild fever
- Body aches and chills
- Fatigue
- Runny or congested nose
- Discomfort in the chest
- Wheezing or shortness of breath
Due to the irritation of the lining of bronchial tubes, you can also expect excessive mucus and phlegm, which can be produced when you cough. This mucus is thick and may be green, white, or yellow.
If you have a high fever persisting for longer than three days, blood-tinged phlegm, a severe and persistent cough, chest pain, or confusion and drowsiness, these symptoms should be promptly assessed by a doctor.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Bronchitis
Diagnosing bronchitis is generally straightforward with a history of your symptoms and a physical exam to listen for wheezing or congestion in the chest. There are no specific tests to diagnose bronchitis, though your doctor may perform some additional measurements to determine the severity of your illness, such as:
- Oxygen saturation
- Pulse rate
- Body temperature
- Respiratory rate
If there is some uncertainty to your diagnosis, your doctor may recommend further testing to rule out other conditions that could be causing your symptoms, such as a lung function test to exclude emphysema or asthma, or a chest x-ray to identify pneumonia. Lab tests of a mucus sample can also help to rule out other respiratory illnesses, such as whooping cough, the flu, or COVID-19.
In most cases, acute bronchitis is self-resolving and only needs supportive therapy for symptom relief. To help you or your child through the discomfort, you should:
- Stay hydrated with lots of water, which can also help to thin and loosen the mucus
- Rest in bed
- Use a humidifier and avoid cold air, as warm, moist air can help to relieve a cough and thin out mucus
- Consider over-the-counter painkillers for fever and body aches
- Consider cough medicine
- Avoid irritants in the air, such as secondhand cigarette smoke
For children, always check with your family doctor before administering medicine, even if these medications are freely available over the counter. Your doctor may prescribe a bronchodilator medicine to help widen the airways and make breathing easier. Antibiotics are not often prescribed during acute bronchitis as the majority of these cases are caused by viruses.
People with chronic bronchitis will benefit from lifestyle modifications, such as:
- Quitting smoking
- Improving air quality around the home or workplace with an air purifier
- Wearing personal protective equipment when in environments with airborne irritants
In addition to these changes, your doctor may prescribe medications to open the airways, oxygen therapy, medications to loosen mucus, or pulmonary rehabilitation, a breathing exercise program designed to train you to breathe more efficiently. In the case of bacterial infection, you may be prescribed antibiotics.
Bronchitis is not an uncommon respiratory condition, and in the case of acute bronchitis, will self-resolve after a couple of weeks of discomfort. However, you can minimize your risk of developing bronchitis by taking steps to avoid catching the cold or flu, such as washing hands, wearing a mask in public during colder months, getting vaccinated against respiratory diseases, and reducing close contact with others when they have a cold or flu.