Bronchitis: Causes, Symptoms and ER Treatment, Acute vs. Chronic
Bronchitis is when the tubes that carry air to your lungs, called the bronchial tubes, get inflamed and swollen. You end up with a nagging cough and mucus.
What is Bronchitis?
Bronchitis is a respiratory disease that occurs when the lining of the lungs is inflamed leading to coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. The respiratory disorder may last a few days or it may occur for months at a time.
Types of Bronchitis
There are two types of Bronchiti:
- Acute bronchitis. This is more common. Symptoms last a few weeks, but it doesn’t usually cause problems past that time.
- Chronic bronchitis. This one is more serious. It keeps coming back or doesn’t go away.
Recurring acute bronchitis can sometimes lead to chronic bronchitis infection.
Are you suffering from symptoms of bronchitis? Don’t take a chance and wait for it to go away, visit ER of Texas Emergency Center’s 24-hour ER today. Our trained emergency room staff will diagnose your respiratory illness and provide treatment in our clean, fast, state-of-the-art facilities.
Common Causes of Acute Bronchitis:
Acute bronchitis occurs when bronchial tubes in the lungs are inflamed for a short period of time, usually between 1 to 3 weeks. Symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing and fever.
There are three main causes of Acute Bronchitis.
- Viral infections – Viral infections such as colds, RSV, and other upper respiratory infections may cause bronchitis. If the disease is viral in nature, it cannot be treated with antibiotics.
- Bacterial infections – A bacterial infection may lead to the disease. If a bacterial infection is the cause of the inflammation, the phlegm will be dark yellow or green, and the disease can be treated with antibiotics.
- Industrial pollution – Dust, smoke and other particles can irritate the bronchial tubes and cause them to swell.
Common Causes of Chronic bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis occurs when the inflammation in the lungs lasts for 3 months or more. Since it can lead to coughing fits and difficulty breathing, it may be accompanied by insomnia and fatigue. It is caused mainly by the following:
Smoking – Smoking is the primary cause because of the smoke damages and irritates the bronchial tubes. If a person has the illness and emphysema, then he will be diagnosed with COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Overexposure to fumes, vapors or other irritants – People who work in coal mines, grain mills, and metal molding factories are exposed to irritants that can cause chronic form of the respiratory disorder.
Frequent episodes of acute bronchitis – If a person has had the disease multiple times, his lung tissue may be damaged, which can lead to chronic form of the illness. In some cases, a patient may have the chronic disease that is temporarily made worse by a case of acute bronchitis.
Bronchitis Symptoms
Symptoms of both acute and chronic bronchitis include breathing problems, such as:
- Chest congestion, when your chest feels full or clogged
- A cough that may bring up mucus that’s clear, white, yellow, or green
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing or a whistling sound when you breathe
Symptoms of acute bronchitis also may include:
- Body aches and chills
- Feeling “wiped out”
- Low fever
- Runny, stuffy nose
- Sore throat
Even after the other symptoms of acute bronchitis are gone, the cough can last a few weeks while your bronchial tubes heal and the swelling goes down. If it goes on much longer than that, the problem might be something else.
If you have a new cough, fever, or shortness of breath, call your doctor to talk about whether it might be COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus.
Cure and Treatment of Chronic Bronchitis
There is no cure for chronic bronchitis, but over-the-counter pain relievers, cough suppressants, humidifiers, and steroids may help alleviate symptoms.
When to Visit Emergency Room for Bronchitis Treatment
Visit the nearest emergency room (ER) for Bronchitis treatment if you
- Have difficulty breathing
- Have chest pain
- Are coughing up blood
- Have flu-like symptoms
- Have high fever
Schedule an appointment or visit one of our emergency rooms immediately if you experience the symptoms of Bronchitis.
During your emergency room exam for Bronchitis, your doctor will listen to your heart and lungs, and may schedule an x-ray or scans to determine whether you have the disease.
If you are suffering from severe symptoms associated with the disease, please visit one of our emergency center locations immediately. ER of Texas has top-rated freestanding emergency rooms in the DFW area, including Highland Village, Little Elm, Frisco, Hurst, Colleyville, Mansfield, Hillcrest, Sherman, and Uptown.
Our ERs and walk-in clinics are open 24/7, and our board-certified doctors treat all minor and major medical emergencies.
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