Bronchitis
- Bronchitis Overview
- Bronchitis Causes
- Bronchitis Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Bronchitis Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medical Treatment
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
- Pictures of Bronchitis - Slideshow
- Asthma Myths Quiz - Slideshow
- Viewer Comments: Bronchitis - Length Symptoms Lasted
Bronchitis Overview
Bronchitis is an acute inflammation of the air passages within the lungs. It occurs when the trachea (windpipe) and the large and small bronchi (airways) within the lungs become inflamed because of infection or other causes.
- The thin mucous lining of these airways can become irritated and swollen.
- The cells that make up this lining may leak fluids in response to the inflammation.
- Coughing is a reflex that works to clear secretions from the lungs. Often the discomfort of a severe cough leads you to seek medical treatment.
- Both adults and children can get bronchitis. Symptoms are similar for both.
- Infants usually get bronchiolitis, which involves the smaller airways and causes symptoms similar to asthma.
Next: Bronchitis Causes »
Viewer Comments & Reviews
Bronchitis - Length Symptoms Lasted
The eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:
How long did the symptoms of your bronchitis last? Was there anything in particular that helped with pain/symptom relief?
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Bronchitis
Bacterial Pneumonia Overview
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. People with pneumonia usually complain of coughing, fever, shortness of breath, and chest pain.
- Your body's immune system usually keeps bacteria from infecting your lungs. In
bacterial pneumonia, bacteria reproduce in your lungs, while your body tries to fight off the infection. This response to bacterial invaders is called inflammation.
- When the inflammation occurs in the alveoli (microscopic air sacs in the lungs), they fill with fluid. Your lungs become less elastic and cannot take oxygen into the blood or remove carbon dioxide from
the blood as efficiently as usual.
- When the alveoli don't work efficiently, your lungs have to work harder to satisfy your body's need for oxygen. This causes the feeling of being short of breath, which is one of the most common symptoms of pneumonia. Inflammation causes many of ...
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Bronchitis »
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, or bronchi.
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