Bronchitis – causes, symptoms and treatment
                     Bronchitis – causes, 
symptoms and 
treatment
Overview
Bronchitis, is a type of respiratory infection most commonly caused by a 
virus called RSV. While extremely rare, it can also be caused by bacteria.  
It is the inflammation and swelling of the bronchial tubes which carry air 
from the lungs to the rest of the body. There are namely two types of 
bronchitis. Acute one and chronic one. In order to treat the condition, it 
is important to diagnose what you actually have so that you don’t take 
the wrong type of painkillers, cold and cough medicine.  
Acute Bronchitis
Acute Bronchitis is also commonly known as a chest cold and it is a fairly 
common condition. It can develop from another respiratory illness like 
the common cold and can last for up to a few weeks. It doesn’t have any 
lasting effects unlike its cousin, chronic bronchitis. It takes around seven 
to ten days to fully recover from its symptoms, however cough can 
usually last longer. 
Chronic Bronchitis
This type of bronchitis on the other hand is a lot more severe and serious in nature. This condition 
keeps coming back or never really goes away. It is most commonly caused by smoking or breathing 
in polluted air.  You have a higher chance of getting chronic bronchitis if you have asthma, allergies, 
a weak immune system or if you smoke. Your risk also increases if you have a family history of lung 
diseases.  
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of both acute and chronic bronchitis include cough, wheezing, 
production of clear, white, grey or greenish mucus, fatigue, chest congestion, difficulty breathing 
and slight fever or chills. Acute bronchitis can also show symptoms of the common cold while 
chronic bronchitis can cause a cough that lasts up to 3 months and is recurring in nature. 
Treatment
While acute bronchitis goes away on its own in seven days to two weeks, its symptoms can be 
managed with the use of over-the-counter painkillers. A cough suppressant is one of the most 
common cough remedies in cases of bronchitis which lessens the discomfort caused due to 
constant coughing in your daily life. Painkillers can help alleviate body and headaches along with 
helping with the fever.