Bronchitis symptoms, causes, forms

Just when you think you're getting better, the coughing begins. Your cold and flu symptoms finally subside, but what follows is a hacking cough and sudden fever—clear signs of bronchitis.

Bronchitis involves inflammation, irritation, or infection of the breathing tubes, or bronchi, in the upper part of the lungs. It can be triggered by a bacterial or viral infection or by an allergic reaction to something you have inhaled, such as pollens, cat dander, or dust. As the lining of the bronchi swell, mucus builds up, causing an irresistible urge to cough and clear the throat.

Bronchitis comes in two forms. Acute bronchitis has a viral cause in 90 percent of cases and is characterized by a hacking cough, fever, chills, tightness in the chest, and yellow, green, or white phlegm that usually appears twenty-four to forty-eight hours after the cough begins. Chronic bronchitis is more serious and usually develops in people who are overweight, sedentary, and exposed to smoke.

Symptoms include a persistent cough that results in yellow, green, or white phlegm that lasts for at least three months of the year and for more than two consecutive years. People with chronic bronchitis are at high risk of developing heart disease and more serious lung disease.

Most bouts with bronchitis last only a week or so. If symptoms persist, call your doctor, who can determine if the condition is caused by a bacterial infection, in which case antibiotics may be needed.

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