Bronchitis symptoms

The acute inflammation of air passages in the lungs is called bronchitis. It occurs when the windpipe (trachea) and the small and large airways (bronchi) within the lungs are inflamed by infection.

Acute bronchitis symptoms normally begin 3-4 days after a cold or flu (upper respiratory infections). These includes:

• Cough – the main symptom, which may be dry (doesn’t produce mucus) at first but after a few days may bring productive cough (including mucus from the lungs). This mucus may be green, yellow, or clear. There may also be occasional streaks of blood present.
• Feeling of general tiredness.
• Mild fever that is less than 101 F (higher than this indicates pneumonia).
• Hoarseness.
• Wheezing (whistling noises) when breathing, especially when doing any physical exertions.
• Sensation of dull pain, burning, or tightness in the chest (located under the breastbone, which is usually worse when coughing or breathing deeply).

In healthy people, bronchitis lasts for only 2-3 weeks. However, there are people with bronchitis symptoms (more than 20%) who will have a cough lasting for over four weeks. Your tendency to get better depends on your age and health, whether you smoke, or whether your bronchitis is caused by a virus or bacteria (bacterial infection are often more severe than viral ones).

See a doctor when you experience the following:

• Severe wheezing
• Chest pain that is squeezing or crushing
• Continuous fever beyond 4-5 days (might be pneumonia, which is a serious complication)
• Severe coughing that already interferes with sleep or difficulty in breathing
• Coughing with increased green phlegm, rust-colored sputum, or blood

Even though most cases of this condition clear up by themselves, you may ease some of your bronchitis symptoms if you let your doctor prescribe some medications. Moreover, you can decrease your risk of developing bronchitis if you avoid smoking as well as living or working in a highly polluted area.