| Bronchitis is a common respiratory | | | | disease, bronchitis can also be |
| disease that involves inflammation and | | | | categorized into infectious and |
| often infection of the bronchial mucosal | | | | non-infectious bronchitis. |
| membranes. The symptoms generated by | | | | Non-infectious bronchitis is generally |
| bronchitis vary according to the causes | | | | the result of prolonged exposure to |
| and the seriousness of the disease. | | | | chemicals, cigarette smoke and |
| Judging by the intensity and the | | | | pollutants. Allergens (pollen, dust |
| duration of the disease, bronchitis can | | | | particles) are also triggers of |
| be either acute or chronic. | | | | non-infectious bronchitis, causing the |
| Acute bronchitis has a rapid onset and | | | | disease to reoccur on a regular time |
| generates intense symptoms. However, | | | | basis. Infectious bronchitis involves |
| most people with acute bronchitis | | | | infection with microorganisms and its |
| respond well to specific treatments and | | | | generated symptoms are usually more |
| are usually recovered quickly and | | | | intense. Common infectious agents |
| permanently, with minimal risks of | | | | responsible for causing this type of |
| relapse. Acute bronchitis is very common | | | | bronchitis are bacteria, viruses, |
| among children and thus it is also | | | | mycoplasmas and fungal organisms. |
| commonly referred to as "childhood | | | | Acute bronchitis is often associated |
| bronchitis". This type of bronchitis may | | | | with bacterial or viral infections. The |
| last from a few days to 2-3 weeks. Acute | | | | disease is commonly acquired in the flu |
| bronchitis is highly treatable and it | | | | seasons and it generates symptoms such |
| rarely leads to complications. However, | | | | as: dry or low-productive cough, chills, |
| in the absence of medical treatment, | | | | low or moderate fever, sore throat, |
| acute bronchitis may eventually become | | | | chest discomfort and pain, wheezing and |
| chronic, or it can further lead to | | | | difficulty breathing. With appropriate |
| pulmonary diseases (pneumonia, | | | | treatment, the symptoms of acute |
| emphysema). | | | | infectious bronchitis are quickly |
| Unlike acute bronchitis, chronic forms | | | | alleviated and the disease can be |
| of the disease generate persistent, | | | | completely overcome within a couple of |
| recurrent symptoms. Although the | | | | weeks. |
| clinical manifestations of chronic | | | | Chronic bronchitis is usually the result |
| bronchitis are less intense, this type | | | | of mistreated or untreated previous |
| of disease is very difficult to treat. | | | | respiratory diseases. This type of |
| Even if patients with chronic bronchitis | | | | bronchitis often occurs when the |
| respond well to specific medical | | | | bronchial mucosal membranes become |
| treatments, they often experience | | | | inflamed and infected multiple times |
| relapse after completing their | | | | over a short period of time. Chronic |
| prescribed course of medications. | | | | bronchitis is usually the consequence of |
| Chronic bronchitis can last for around | | | | exposure to both infectious and |
| three months, regularly reoccurring on | | | | non-infectious agents. The occurrence |
| the period of two years or even more. | | | | and the progression of chronic |
| Chronic bronchitis often involves the | | | | bronchitis are strongly influenced by |
| lungs, and it can lead to serious | | | | smoking, which augments the symptoms of |
| pulmonary diseases. In fact, chronic | | | | the disease and slows down the healing |
| bronchitis is one of the most commonly | | | | of the respiratory tissues and organs. |
| diagnosed types of chronic obstructive | | | | Chronic bronchitis generates symptoms |
| pulmonary disease (COPD). Chronic | | | | such as highly productive cough, |
| bronchitis has a very high incidence in | | | | pronounced difficulty in breathing, |
| smokers and it is also known as "the | | | | shallow breathing, wheezing, chest |
| smokers' disease". | | | | discomfort and pain. |
| According to the triggers of the | | | | |