Bronchitis: Symptoms, Causes, Types, Treatment & More

Causes of Bronchitis

The airway is lined by a mucus membrane which is highly sensitive to irritants. This causes a responsive increase in mucus production, as well as a thickening of the muscular layer within the walls of the bronchi.

Irritants that can cause bronchitis are:

• Tobacco
• Dust, especially if it contains asbestos, coal, cotton, silica, etc.
• Smog & chemical fumes such as those containing sulfur dioxide or nitrogen dioxide
• Gastric reflux
• Viral strains, such as those that are responsible for influenza & certain bacteria also play an important role in causing & maintaining bronchitis.

Cause of Bronchitis in Babies

The same factors can contribute to bronchitis in babies, producing dry cough or cough with sputum. Your child might also have:

• Runny or stuffy nose
• Fever
• Back pain
• General discomfort
• Gagging

Bronchiolitis, a similar condition affecting smaller airways called bronchioles, is common in children under the age of two. It is usually caused by the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). The symptoms of bronchiolitis are the same as those of bronchitis & usually resolve without elaborate treatment. However, some children might require more medical attention.

Types of Bronchitis

Bronchitis can be categorized into two main types depending on the duration of the condition & the consequent symptoms:

• Acute Bronchitis
• Chronic Bronchitis

Acute Bronchitis

Acute bronchitis, or ‘chest cold,’ is a term used to describe short-term bronchitis.  Acute bronchitis symptoms such as fever, chills, or fatigue, might subside in a period of 7 to 10 days. However, coughing might linger for a few weeks until your airway heals. In most cases, acute bronchitis does not generally require a lot of medical attention as long as you take relevant medication & avoid smoking & other irritants.

Chronic Bronchitis

Acute bronchitis can progress to chronic bronchitis if you don’t seek treatment or complete the prescribed course of treatment. Chronic bronchitis is defined as a persistent cough, often called ‘smoker’s cough,’ with sputum in recurring phases lasting at least 3 months each for 2 consecutive years. Smoking is a prominent cause of the development of chronic bronchitis.

You are likely to experience extreme fatigue as the typical bronchitis symptoms worsen. As the disease progresses, you might experience:

• Difficulty in breathing
• Wheezing
• Blue-ish discoloration or pallor of the skin, particularly the lips due to a lack of oxygen

Risk Factors for Bronchitis

The chances of developing bronchitis & experiencing harsher symptoms increase significantly based on biological & lifestyle factors. When evaluating the possibility of having bronchitis, you should be mindful of the following influences:

• Age, with very old or young individuals may have a weak immune system, resulting in recurrent infections
• Premature birth
• Bottle-fed babies can lack certain antibodies, contained in breast milk, which could prove useful in strengthening the immune system
• Being unvaccinated for influenza viruses
• Smoking, with 90% of chronic bronchitis patients having a history of smoking
• Occupational hazards, such as working in chemical factories 
• Pollution 
• Asthma