The air enters the lungs via the nostrils or the mouth, reaches the trachea and then the bronchial tubes and the bronchioles. At the end of this journey, we have the alveoli, where the air exchange takes place. Due to various reasons, including bacterial and viral infections, air pollution, and smoking, the bronchial tubes undergo inflammation, and this is known as bronchitis.
Bronchitis is the inflammation of the bronchial tubes that carry air to the lungs. It can be acute or chronic depending on the cause and duration of the disease. Symptoms of acute bronchitis last for 10 days up to 3 weeks, and don’t have longer duration. People of all ages may get acute bronchitis, but it is more prevalent in children under the age of 5.
Chronic Bronchitis is a more serious condition. Symptoms are maintained for more than 3 months, and does not cure completely. The most common cause is smoking and air pollution, which makes the lungs secrete more mucus. Chronic Bronchitis is a type of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), and it usually affects adults over the age of 40.
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Some of the symptoms of Acute and Chronic Bronchitis are explained below:
Shortness of breath
In cases of bronchitis, there is excessive mucus production in response to the irritation of the bronchial linings. This accumulation of bronchial fluid makes it difficult for the lungs to expand properly. The airway tubes below the bronchi don’t get enough air because of the accumulated mucus in the airway, and in the respiration becomes compromised. Trying to overcome the problem, patients feel urged to take deep breaths more frequently, and may report breathing discomfort.
Wheezing
When a patient has bronchitis, the airway tubes are filled with mucus, which can either thick or thin depending on the cause. Whenever air passes through these narrow tubes, a whistling sound comes while the patient breathes which is called a wheeze. This symptom should be examined carefully with a stethoscope because there are different variations depending on different types of lung disease. It is very important to go to your doctor if your child starts breathing with a wheezing sound because asthma attacks are another possible diagnosis for this type of sound.
Cough
An irritation of the airway gives rise to the natural cough reflex as the pressure in the chest builds up when there is mucus production in the airway tubes. Cough is the most common symptom in bronchitis, both acute and chronic. In acute bronchitis, patients complain from a persistent cough lasting a few weeks, and in chronic type, patients continue coughing for months and longer, depending on the severity of the disease.
A metallic taste when coughing
Coughing and having a metallic or foul-tasting fluid in your mouth is very common in cases of bronchitis. This fluid, as we will mention below, is formed as a result of the inflammation in the airways. It is not only common in bronchitis but other respiratory diseases, too.
Reddened and inflamed mucosa
In acute bronchitis, and in response to prolonged coughing, it is possible that the cells in the bronchial lining get irritated. Thus, the mucous membrane start looking reddened and inflamed because of increased blood flow towards the inflamed site. This inflammation leads to impaired function of the bronchial lining, which is responsible for clearance of the irritants that comes along the airway. Sometimes, the reddened area extends to your throat, in which case it will be necessary to rule out pharyngitis, too.
Excessive Production of Sputum
Gradually, the air passages get narrower by accumulation of irritants forming debris resulting in more irritation. In response to this process, there is secretion of copious mucus which causes the characteristic cough of bronchitis. Cough in bronchitis is productive, which means there will be sputum production, and the patient will either spit mucus or hear it moving in the airways as they cough.
The sputum in bronchitis can be clear or white, or may also be yellowish, green or blood filled when the disease is not managed in time, and in cases of chronic bronchitis. Another difference between acute and chronic bronchitis is that sputum in chronic bronchitis is usually excessive, while acute bronchitis has less amount of sputum unless complicated or in severe cases.
Fatigue
In acute bronchitis, the patient feels dehydrated, and due to decreased intake of fluids and improper diet, patients may feel tired all the time. Additionally, excessive coughing and various immune processes that increase our metabolic rate make use spend more energy, making patients feel weak and tired, even after a full night’s rest. This symptom is clinically named fatigue, and it is common in many different infectious diseases.
Fever
Bronchitis is an infectious disease, which means fever is always a possibility. However, there is not always fever in these patients, and this highly depends on the immunity of the patient and the cause of the disease. In viral infections, the fever may not be very high but a low-grade fever instead, and it may persist throughout the day. Conversely, bacterial infections causing pneumonia and bronchitis may cause high-grade fever.
Chills
Fever and chills are usually found in the same patient around the same interval of time. That’s because chills is a way our body has to increase body temperature. It all starts in the central nervous system, where the brain sends the signal to the rest of the body, and the muscles start creating heat by performing involuntary jerking movements. Chills are not especially common in patients with pneumonia, unless there’s a severe infection.
Muscle aches
Fever and cough makes patients feel exhausted, as mentioned before. Additionally, during the illness fluid is quickly lost through deep breathing, mucus formation, and sweat. This causes dehydration if the patient’s fluid intake is not enough. Since muscles need energy and blood flow to function well, muscle aches and cramps may appear when fluids are not replenished. This symptom is also common in many different diseases, respiratory or not, and it is important to talk to your doctor about it to find out the root cause.
Chest Pain
Patients with bronchitis may also complain of chest pain, describing it as a pain behind the sternum which increases during deep breathing or coughing. This should not be taken as a heart disease unless there is any abnormality of the heart or any additional signs and symptoms to suspect heart disease. Still, it is important to visit your doctor if you have chest pain, especially if you’ve been previously diagnosed with a heart condition.
Nasal congestion
Bronchitis is a problem in the bronchi, the lower airways, but the majority of cases are not isolated bronchitis, and other parts of the respiratory system might be taken by the infection. One of the most common is the nose, and one of the most prevalent symptoms is nasal congestion. Other symptoms include postnasal drip, and they are all annoying and difficult to handle. It is very important to diagnose your health condition as soon as possible and evaluate where is the infection located and whether or not it has reached your lungs in order to recommend the most appropriate treatment.
Cyanosis
It is the bluish coloration of the skin, especially prevalent in the hands and feet. This is an important symptom in children and infants, and not common in adults unlesof s they have a severe condition that impairs lung function.
Sleeping problems
Patients with moderate and severe symptoms may have a difficulty to get asleep or continue sleeping the entire night. Continuous coughing, nasal congestion, and other respiratory symptoms are usually aggravated as the patient lays down, and it may be necessary to use extra pillows and other means to elevate your torso and reduce the severity of your symptoms.
Acute Bronchitis usually does not cause complications but may lead to pneumonia in some people. In the acute stage, it can be difficult to differentiate the signs and symptoms of bronchitis and those of a common cold. A physical examination and a few tests will be necessary to do a distinction. Your doctor will examine your chest with his stethoscope and may suggest a Chest X-ray to determine if there is pneumonia or another condition that may explain the cough. Other tests include sputum tests and pulmonary function tests.
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You can take self-care measures by avoiding smoking, wearing a facemask when the air is polluted or avoiding irritants such as paint or strong fumes. People at an increased risk of developing bronchitis and progressing into pneumonia include older adults, people who smoke, those suffering heart, liver or kidney diseases, and those with a weakened immune system.
Even if you suspect a cold, and not bronchitis, it is recommended to visit a doctor when the cough does not improve in 2 weeks’ time, if the cough is making the person uncomfortable and not allowing you to sleep. Talk to your doctor if you have an associated chest pain with coughing, difficult breathing, and if you have blood in the sputum or unexplained weight loss.