DEFINITION - Bronchitis is inflammation of the lining of bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from the lungs.

TYPES                           

ACUTE BRONCHITIS - Acute bronchitis can occur either as a primary infection of the respiratory tract or can occur as a complication of upper respiratory tract infection or as an exacerbation of acute infections in chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

ACUTE BRONCHITIS IN PREVIOUSLY HEALTHY PERSON

  • Usually preceded by an upper respiratory tract infection.
  • Caused by viral infections particularly adenovirus, rhinovirus, or influenza virus in adults and respiratory syncytial virus or parainfluenza virus in children and elderly.      
  • Secondary bacterial infections with strep. pneumonia and H. influenza have been seen to set in.      
  • Atypical infections due to mycoplasma pneumonia, chlamydia pneumonia, and chlamydia psittaci sometimes come up as acute bronchitis in young adults.
  • Organisms causing acute bronchitis are very similar to those causing severe infections like community-acquired pneumonia.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION      

  • Common symptoms are mild general malaise with soreness. 
  • Initially irritating unproductive cough accompanied by retrosternal discomfort occurs.        
  • Sputum is initially mucoid and later becomes mucopurulent.        
  • Associated upper respiratory tract infections are seen which include sore throat and running nose.     
  • Chest tightness with wheeze and breathlessness are seen when bronchi are involved.     
  • Infection is often associated with pyrexia of38-39 degrees.