The article contained discussions about the disease called bronchitis. The term is defined as an inflammation or soreness of the mucous membrane of the bronchial tubes or bronchi commonly triggered by infection but can also be caused by irritation from a gas or an irritant. The Bronchi are the two main branches of the trachea leading directly to the lungs. The article mentioned the symptoms, types, and causes as well as the medications of the disease.

It is stated that a bronchitis, which could last up to ninety days or three months is known as acute bronchitis. If the signs last longer than the acute bronchitis such that it continues for months or years then it is categorized as chronic bronchitis. Such chronicity of the disease may even lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD when it tends to reduce or diminish the airflow.

The acute bronchitis is instigated by an infection or contamination, or by exposure to irritants. In this type of bronchitis, the portions of bronchial wall is inflamed and swollen resulting to production and upsurge of mucus that leads to constriction of the air passageway. If you examine the mucus under a microscope, the viruses and bacteria contained within are customarily seen.

It is during winter or cold season as well as sudden change of temperature that infectious or contagious bronchitis occur. This is oftentimes associated with and caused by viruses. After the viral infection has been treated, the soreness still persists for weeks. Such inflammation is now being triggered by bacteria leading to upper respiratory viral infection. The article cited the kinds of bacteria that cause the infectious bronchitis to different age groups of people. For the young adults, it is commonly brought about by the Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae. For the middle-aged and older group of people the culprits are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis. Influenza virus is one of the many widespread viruses that may trigger the viral bronchitis. As a result, the person with bronchitis does not only have viral bronchitis but also the bacterial bronchitis or their combination. This worsening is indicated by the change of color in the mucus that the patient expels. When the mucus is color white, it is usually due to viruses whereas if it turns to yellow, yellow green or green the disease has been intruded now by bacteria.

Smoking whether active or inactive, and having recurrent lung diseases can acquire continual bout of acute bronchitis due to the blockage of mucus that are not drained or expelled from the air passage ways. Malnutrition may also contribute to prolonged attack of bronchitis and raises the risks of acquiring upper respiratory tract infections, which commonly targets children and older people due to their weak immune and defense systems. Another reason of episodic acute bronchitis is due to chronic sinus infection, bronchiectasis, and allergies as well as when the person has swollen tonsils and adenoids.

Its symptoms are identified as runny nose, sore throat, fatigue, chilliness, muscle and back aches, and slight fever. The commencement of cough that starts dryly signifies the onset of acute bronchitis. When the fever increases and lasts for three to five days even with the treatment of antibiotics, the bronchitis may now be considered severe. The cough is the last one to abate and usually lasts for several weeks before it finally ends. The worst impairment of airflow can cause shortness of breathing of the patient. The wheezing sound after coughing is usual. Graver complications such as pneumonia or acute respiratory failure ordinarily happen to patients who originally have chronic lung diseases such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The article also cited the caused of industrial or environmental bronchitis. The said causes include exposure to minerals, vegetable dusts, and fumes from pungent acids, ammonia, certain organic solvents, and bromine among others.

Mentioned within the article are various medications in their trade names and generic names, especially antibiotics for the treatment of different types of bronchitis, as an additional knowledge and awareness for the readers. Corticosteroids, which are commonly used to treat asthma attacks, can also be prescribed in order to reduce coughing and irritation and hyper reactivity of the airways specifically when the cough persists after the infection has been treated.

The medical doctor or a pulmonary specialist may order for an x-ray examination to determine if the bronchitis has worsened into pneumonia or even lung cancer, or to exclude such suspicions.

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