Bronchitis: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Prevention

Bronchitis is a respiratory condition that affects the airways leading to the lungs, causing inflammation and filling them with mucus.  One of the most common indicators of bronchitis is a nagging cough, which results from the body trying to get rid of the mucus.

Bronchitis is of two kinds: acute and chronic. While acute bronchitis can go away in a week to ten days, chronic bronchitis is long-term and requires medical attention.

This article breaks down the causes of bronchitis, its symptoms, risk factors, and more.

What is Bronchitis?

Bronchitis results from the inflammation of the airways directed to the lungs. When these airways, called bronchial tubes, get inflamed, mucus builds up, leading to a nagging cough.

There are two types of bronchitis:

1. Acute Bronchitis: Acute bronchitis is usually caused by a virus and goes away on its own typically after ten days. Although the resulting cough can last a bit longer. Most people with acute bronchitis don’t require any special treatment.
2. Chronic bronchitis: Chronic bronchitis lasts long (typically three months) and can come back (for at least two consecutive years). People with asthma (asthmatic bronchitis) or emphysema are usually prone to chronic bronchitis. It requires medical attention.

What Causes Bronchitis?

The common causes of bronchitis include:

1. Virus (same as those causing flu)
2. Bacteria
3. Pollution
4. Cigarette smoke

Out of these, viruses are one of the most common causes of acute bronchitis.

What are the Risk Factors of Bronchitis?

The common risk factors of bronchitis include:

1. Cigarette Smoke: Smoking cigarettes or living with a smoker can elevate one’s risk of both acute and chronic bronchitis significantly.
2. Low Immunity: A compromised immune system due to a cold or a chronic condition can make one more prone to bronchitis.
3. Exposure to Irritants: Exposure to gases, fumes or discharge at home, work or while travelling increases the risk of bronchitis.
4. Acid Reflux: Conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease, where the acid in the stomach flows back to the tube connecting the stomach to the mouth, can cause throat irritation and increase the risk of bronchitis.

What are the Symptoms of Bronchitis?

Typical bronchitis symptoms are:

1. Cough
2. Mucus production, which can be yellow, white, grey or green
3. Fatigue
4. Shortness of breath
5. Low-grade fever and chills
6. Chest congestion and discomfort

Some cold symptoms can also appear with acute bronchitis, such as mild headaches and body aches.

How is Bronchitis Diagnosed?

The early symptoms of bronchitis can often be confused with the common cold. Usually, the first step in a bronchitis diagnosis by a doctor is examining the physical symptoms and listening to the lungs using a stethoscope to evaluate breathing sounds.

The doctor can also suggest a few tests in some cases to diagnose bronchitis or other conditions:

1. Chest X-ray: A chest X-ray can determine the exact cause of the cough.
2. Sputum Tests: Sputum is the mucus which is coughed out from the lungs. The sputum tests can help determine any infection or allergies.
3. Pulmonary Function Test: In this test, the patient is asked to blow air into a device called a spirometer. This device measures how much air a person can hold and how much air the person can quickly discharge out of the lungs. Pulmonary function test check for signs of asthma or emphysema.

How can Bronchitis be Prevented?

The following tips can help lower bronchitis risk:

1. Avoiding Cigarette Smoke: Both active and passive smoking increases the risk of bronchitis significantly. Hence, avoiding cigarette smoke can prevent bronchitis.
2. Getting Vaccinated: In many cases, the root cause of bronchitis is a flu or lung infection. Getting vaccinated adequately against these two conditions can help lower the risk of bronchitis.
3. Washing Hands Properly: Practising proper hand hygiene through hand washing and using alcohol-based sanitizers is necessary to avoid viral infection.
4. Wearing a Surgical Mask: For someone with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, wearing a mask when exposed to irritants at work, in traffic, in a large gathering or while travelling can reduce the risk of bronchitis.

Bronchitis results from the inflammation of the airways leading to the lungs. While acute bronchitis can go away on its own typically in ten days, chronic bronchitis can last for months and recur again. Chronic bronchitis also comes under the umbrella of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often requiring medical attention.

Upon noticing symptoms of bronchitis given here, it is a good idea to consult a doctor and get tested at Dr Lal PathLabs.

FAQs

1. Does bronchitis go away on its own?

Acute bronchitis due to a virus can often go away on its own. Bronchitis caused by some other condition does not go away on its own. Chronic bronchitis never goes away entirely but can be managed.

2. What is the difference between bronchitis and pneumonia?

Bronchitis is the inflammation of airways leading to the lungs, while pneumonia is the inflammation of the lungs.