What is acute bronchitis

In acute bronchitis , the mucouss membrane in the lungs, or more precisely: in the bronchi, is inflamed. In addition to the typical cough, cold symptoms such as fever , sore throat or body aches often occur . Acute bronchitis is usually contagious. The inflammation usually heals on its own within one to two weeks. However, complications can also arise.

Recognizing acute bronchitis: these are the symptoms

Viruses are usually the causes of acute bronchitis. Adults are usually affected by so-called mysoviruses (e.g. parainfluenza, influenza viruses), and in children, in addition to parainfluenza viruses, also RS viruses, rhinoviruses and adenoviruses. Bacteria, fungi or other factors (e.g. inhaled allergens; "acute allergic bronchitis") trigger bronchitis less often.

A typical symptom of acute bronchitis is a cough. At the beginning usually a dry, irritating cough , often together with a runny nose. After a few days, the dry cough turns into a productive cough with sputum, which is clear / whitish in the case of a simple infection, and yellowish or greenish in the case of an additional bacterial infection (“bacterial superinfection”). Sometimes, however, acute bronchitis proceeds without the formation of mucus or sputum.

Warning: If acute bronchitis is very severe, blood may be found in the sputum. Usually small injuries to the mucous membrane are responsible for this, which are usually harmless. Nevertheless, you should have a doctor clarify any bloody sputum.

In acute bronchitis, the mucous membrane can become inflamed and swollen, causing the airways to narrow to a greater or lesser extent in some cases. Experts then speak of complicated, obstructive or spastic bronchitis (see below). Therefore, a symptom of acute bronchitis can also be shortness of breath. The formation of mucus makes breathing more difficult in acute bronchitis. Chest pain, tightness, or a burning sensation behind the breastbone are also common side effects of acute bronchitis. Another sign of this inflammation can be that the great exertion when coughing in acute bronchitis also causes nausea and gag reflexes, headaches and cardiac arrhythmias .

In addition to the cough, other cold symptoms can occur. If the viruses spread throughout the body, acute bronchitis can be accompanied by, and also by, fever

• Body aches
• headache
• Sore throat
• hoarseness
• Night sweats
• Swollen lymph nodes in the head area

Acute bronchitis is very uncomfortable and sometimes excruciating because of the chest pain, cough, and other typical symptoms. However, the disease usually only lasts for a limited time. Acute bronchitis usually heals in adults within one to two weeks. 

Spastic bronchitis

Spastic bronchitis is a complicated form of acute bronchitis that affects babies and young children in particularget sick. Their bronchial tubes are not yet fully developed, which is why they are more prone to this disease, also known as obstructive bronchitis. It is called obstructive, ie “closing, constricting” because - in contrast to simple acute bronchitis - the inflamed mucous membrane in the lungs swells considerably and creates a lot of secretion, which constricts the bronchial tubes and becomes mucous. When you exhale, this creates whistling, rattling or humming noises. The mostly very small patients find it extremely difficult to breathe and they often experience shortness of breath and convulsive coughing. Make sure you take the child to the doctor! If the airways are narrowed like spasms, he can, for example, prescribe special medication, so-called sympathomimeticswho relax the same. Usually these active ingredients are available in the form of a spray or inhalation. The anticonvulsants are of little help if the bronchi are narrowed mainly because the mucous membranes are swollen.

Chronic bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis means that the bronchial mucous membrane is permanently inflamed, usually accompanied by mucus production, or the symptoms appear for at least three months for two consecutive years. The common cause of chronic bronchitis is smoking.

Is acute bronchitis contagious?

By definition, acute bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchial mucous membranes. In most cases, acute bronchitis is contagious. Namely, if the acute bronchitis is viral or bacterial (in acute bronchitis bacterial types are often streptococci , haemophilus and chlamydia).

The pathogens migrate from person to person via droplet infection. This means that when coughing and sneezing, for example, the patient distributes tiny droplets of liquid in his environment and the air, and with them the pathogens. Acute bronchitis can also be transmitted through physical contact, for example when someone shakes hands with a sick person (smear infection).

Whether someone is actually infected depends on the amount of pathogens ingested and the respective immune system. Peoples with a weakened immune system or who have previously been ill are particularly at risk of developing acute bronchitis. Smoking, smog, cold and other irritants in the air can also increase the risk of developing acute bronchitis. In acute allergic bronchitis, the cause can be contact with the allergy trigger.

How long an acute bronchitis is contagious depends on the cause (acute bronchitis due to virus, bacteria, fungi, etc.), the immune system of the person affected and, if necessary, on the drug treatment.