What is viral bronchitus?
Bronchitis is a respiratory disease in which the mucous membrane in the lungs’ bronchial passages becomes inflamed. As the irritated membrane swells and grows thicker, it narrows or shuts off the tiny airways in the lungs, resulting in coughing spells accompanied by thick phlegm and breathlessness. The disease comes in two forms: acute (lasting less than 6 weeks) and chronic (reoccurring frequently for more than two years). In addition, people with asthma also experience an inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes called asthmatic bronchitis. Acute bronchitis is responsible for the hacking cough and phlegm production that sometimes accompany an upper respiratory infection. In most cases the infection is viral in origin, but sometimes it’s caused by bacteria. If you are otherwise in good health, the mucous membrane will return to normal after you’ve recovered from the initial lung infection, which usually lasts for several days. Chronic bronchitis is a serious long-term disorde
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the air tubes that deliver air to the lungs. The inflammation is your body’s reaction that produces redness, swelling, mucus, and pain. There are two types of bronchitis: Acute bronchitis is caused in most cases by a viral infection and may begin after you develop a cold or sore throat. Bronchitis usually begins with a dry cough. After a few days it progresses to a productive cough, which may be accompanied by fever, fatigue, and headache. The cough may last up to several weeks. If not treated acute bronchitis can progress to pneumonia. Chronic bronchitis is caused in most cases by exposure to tobacco smoke or other irritants. As a result, the airways produce lots of mucus. Inflammation and extra mucus reduce air flow and cause severe coughing and spitting up of phlegm. Phlegm production and inflammation over many years may lead to permanent lung damage and cause disability or even death.
It is an infection in your bronchial airways that is very bothersome and will cause a severe cough, mucous, maybe even fever. Viral infections are not remedied by antibiotics. They can only be pacified by meds that relieve symptoms until the infection runs it’s course. Make sure a Dr. is aware of your condition. Some of these types of respiratory illnesses can be very serious and last up to 4-6 wks.
