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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the lining of your bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from your lungs. Bronchitis may be either acute or chronic.
A common condition, acute bronchitis often develops from a cold or other respiratory infection. Chronic bronchitis, a more serious condition, is a constant irritation or inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, often due to smoking.
Acute bronchitis usually improves within a few days without lasting effects, although you may continue to cough for weeks. However, if you have repeated bouts of bronchitis, you may have chronic bronchitis, which requires medical attention. Chronic bronchitis is one of the conditions included in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Treatment for bronchitis focuses on relieving your symptoms and easing your breathing.
- What is bronchitis? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/brnchi/brnchi_whatis.html. Accessed Feb. 11, 2009.
- Acute bronchitis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec05/ch051/ch051a.html. Accessed Feb. 11, 2009.
- Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-ppv.pdf. Accessed Feb. 25, 2009.
- Chronic bronchitis. American Lung Association. http://www.lungusa.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=2058829&content_id={C79758B1-B58D-45C4-851D-2FD12958D1E3}¬oc=1. Accessed Feb. 25, 2009.
- Wei J, et al. Chinese medicinal herbs for acute bronchitis (review). Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews. 2008:CD004560.
- Agbabiaka T, et al. Pelargonium sidoides for acute bronchitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Phytomedicine 2008;15:378.
- Long MD, et al. Extra-esophageal GERD: Clinical dilemma of epidemiology versus clinical practice. Current Gastroenterology Reports. 2007;9:195.
- Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-PneumoConjugate.pdf. Accessed Jan. 25, 2009.
