Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchi in the lungs, which causes a narrowing of the airways due to a combination of tissue swelling and excess mucus production
Aetiology
In children, usually used to refer to inflammation of the bronchi as a feature of an acute infection
In adults, it should be more properly be referred to as chronic bronchitis, a chronic inflammation of the bronchi, which is a component of COPD
Pathophysiology
In acute bronchitis, infection irritates and inflames the bronchi → increased mucus production → productive cough
Clinical features of acute bronchitis
Cough (‘chesty cough’)
Often productive of sputum - typically clear, yellow or green coloured
Dark brown or grey coloured sputum may be more suggestive of a true pneumonia
Fever
Cough usually lasts about 2 weeks (can be longer with pertussis and mycoplasma infections)
Management of acute bronchitis
Generally, no treatments have been proven to speed up recovery and as the condition is self limiting, no treatment should be given