Bronchitis

Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchial tubes, the airways that carry air into the lungs. It commonly causes coughing and mucus production and may be acute or chronic.

Bronchial tree: The branching network of airways that carries air from the trachea into the lungs. Bronchitis inflames branches of this airway network.
Acute bronchitis: A short-term inflammation of the bronchial tubes, usually associated with a respiratory infection and cough. This common form usually follows an infection and improves over days to weeks.
Respiratory syncytial virus: A contagious virus that infects the respiratory tract and can cause illness ranging from mild cold symptoms to severe lung disease. This virus is one of several infectious causes of acute bronchitis.
Chronic cough: A cough lasting longer than the usual duration of an acute respiratory illness, commonly defined in adults as more than eight weeks. A cough that persists beyond an acute episode warrants consideration of other causes.
Airway inflammation: An immune response in the respiratory passages that can cause swelling, excess mucus, and narrowed airflow. Inflamed bronchial lining drives many symptoms of bronchitis.
Chronic bronchitis: A productive cough lasting at least three months per year for two consecutive years, after other causes are excluded. This long-lasting form is defined by persistent productive cough rather than a brief illness.
Influenza: A contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses, often producing fever, aches, and cough. Influenza can trigger acute bronchitis as part of a respiratory infection.
Exacerbation: A sustained worsening of symptoms beyond ordinary day-to-day variation in a chronic disease. Respiratory infections can sharply worsen symptoms in people with chronic bronchitis.
Mucus: A slippery secretion that traps particles and helps protect and clear the body’s epithelial surfaces. Bronchial inflammation can increase mucus production and make coughing productive.
Pneumonia: An infection that inflames the air sacs or surrounding tissue in one or both lungs. Pneumonia affects lung tissue and may require different evaluation and treatment.

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