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
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
Introduction
Approximately 17 million Americans have asthma. The cost of illness related to asthma is around $6.2 billion per year in the United States. Each year, an estimated 1.81 million people with asthma require treatment in the emergency department with approximately 500,000 hospitalizations. Children younger than 18 years of age account for 47.8% of the emergency department visits and 34.6% of the hospitalizations due to asthma exacerbations. The magnitude of the impacts of asthma in children is illustrated by the fact that asthma accounts for more hospitalizations in children than any other chronic illness. Moreover, asthma causes children and adolescents to miss school and causes parents to miss days at work. As might be expected, asthma also accounts for more school absences than any other chronic illness.
Asthma is a disorder caused by inflammation in the airways (called bronchi) that lead to the lungs. This inflammation causes airways to tighten ...
Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine
Bronchitis »
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, or bronchi.
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