Bronchitis: Causes, Symptoms, Types & Tests

Bronchitis is when the airways that lead to and from the lungs become inflamed. It can lead to coughing, wheezing, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. Depending on the type and cause, it may improve within a few days or persist for several weeks. Understanding the symptoms, causes, types, and diagnosis of bronchitis can help people know when to seek medical evaluation. Diagnostic services that assess respiratory symptoms are available at Molecular Diagnostics and Therapy and can help healthcare professionals determine the patient's condition.

What Is Bronchitis?

For those who have been diagnosed with bronchitis, the condition brings about irritation and inflammation of their bronchial tubes. This causes an increase in the amount of mucus produced and can cause breathing problems. There are two types of bronchitis: acute and chronic. Acute bronchitis generally tends to be short-lived and frequently develops after a viral respiratory infection has occurred. Chronic bronchitis is a chronic disease and is known to be associated with other diseases collectively called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

What Causes Bronchitis?

Acute bronchitis is usually the result of a viral infection, while chronic bronchitis is usually related to long-term exposure to irritants rather than infection. Nearly all cases of acute bronchitis are caused by viruses associated with the common cold and other respiratory infections.

Tobacco cigarettes have been reported to be a major factor in the development of chronic bronchitis. Secondhand smoke, as well as air pollution, dust, and chemical fumes, are other irritants that can cause continued irritation to the airways. People with a lung disease, or those who are exposed to more irritants to their lungs, have a greater risk of developing chronic lung disease.

What Are the Symptoms of Bronchitis?

Common bronchitis symptoms include:

• Persistent cough, sometimes producing mucus
• Mucus that may be clear, white, yellow, or green
• Chest discomfort or soreness from frequent coughing
• Tiredness
• Mild fever or chills in some cases
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath

Most symptoms of acute bronchitis will resolve within a couple of weeks, but coughing can last longer. If symptoms are severe, progressive, or persistent, it is always important to consider possible underlying issues such as pneumonia, asthma, COPD, and, of course, other respiratory conditions, and to seek the opinion of your health care professional.

Types of Bronchitis

There are two main types of bronchitis: acute bronchitis and chronic bronchitis.

Acute Bronchitis

Acute bronchitis, an infection of the airways, is usually caused by a virus and develops quickly. It usually follows a cold or other upper respiratory infection (URI). But, the cough may persist for several weeks after the infection has been better. Viral bronchitis itself is not treated with antibiotics and, unless a doctor/care professional suspects some sort of bacterial infection, antibiotics are not useful for the treatment of the viral cause of the condition. 

Chronic Bronchitis

Chronic Bronchitis is when a person constantly coughs and has to produce mucus. It's linked to a medical condition known as COPD and frequently linked to long-term irritating contact with cigarette smoke and airways. Some chronic bronchitis symptoms are often exacerbated by winter weather, and those with chronic bronchitis can suffer exacerbations during winter with more cough, sputum, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

How Is Bronchitis Diagnosed?

The first step in diagnosis is typically a medical history and physical examination. When you see your health care provider, they may ask you about a cough that has lasted more than two weeks, how much material you have coughed up, how hard it is to breathe, how much you have smoked in your lifetime, if you have any allergies, or if you've been exposed to anything at work or in the environment. 

A stethoscope might be used to listen for any problems with the lungs' breathing. No single test is used for diagnosing bronchitis. Further testing will be indicated in more severe, prolonged, or recurrent symptoms or if there is a need to rule out another type of lung disease.

Which Tests May Be Used?

A chest X-ray, blood tests, and sputum or lung function tests may also be requested, contingent upon the symptoms and the clinical situation. Should pneumonia or another infection of the lungs be suspected, a chest X-ray might be requested. Should asthma or COPD be suspected, tests of lung function such as spirometry may be employed to assist in determining airflow.

On occasion, a test of sputum may be carried out in order to ascertain the cause of certain infections, particularly in cases where the symptoms are different or where they do not resolve. Testing is contingent upon the symptoms and/or medical history of the person, and it follows the results of a physical examination together with the clinical question that is being investigated.

Conclusion

The most important step towards the prevention of chronic bronchitis is to cease smoking. Avoidance of secondhand smoke should be encouraged, and the elimination of unnecessary dust, emissions, and fumes is also of assistance. Frequent handwashing, in combination with avoiding contact with individuals who are suffering from respiratory illnesses, can contribute to a reduction in the spread of certain infections that are responsible for triggering acute bronchitis. In addition, those persons who continue to experience respiratory symptoms are advised to follow the treatment and monitoring recommendations provided by their health care provider.

In Molecular Diagnostics and Therapy, diagnostics facilitate the investigation of respiratory symptoms and the diagnosis of possible underlying diseases. Based on the clinical need, laboratory testing and imaging are suggested. Instead of all available tests being performed, the right test is chosen based on the symptomatology, medical history, findings from the examination, and the hypothesized condition.