The severity of the symptoms in both conditions can also vary greatly, ranging from mild to severe. Various factors may lead to bronchiolitis or bronchitis. The sections below cover these potential causes in more detail.
According to the American Lung Association , bronchiolitis occurs most commonly in young children. The cause is usually a virus. The respiratory syncytial virus is the most common infectious agent in bronchiolitis. Although it can occur at any point in the year, it is most common in the winter months. Chronic bronchitis, on the other hand, usually develops over time due to smoking or exposure to environmental irritants, such as biomass fuel smoke or air pollution.
This is also a long-term condition. Respiratory infections, including bronchiolitis and bronchitis, often have very similar symptoms. This can make diagnosis difficult.
For this reason, diagnosis sometimes involves first ruling out other lung conditions, such as pneumonia and asthma. The doctor will also perform a physical exam, during which they will measure oxygen levels and listen to chest sounds. In some instances, they may also perform blood tests and a chest X-ray to check for signs of an infection. To diagnose bronchiolitis, a health professional will perform a test called a nasopharyngeal swab, which checks for the presence of the respiratory syncytial virus.
This is the most common cause of the infection. Both bronchiolitis and bronchitis tend to require supportive treatment. Supportive treatment will focus on managing and reducing the symptoms. In many cases, home treatment is all that is needed, and the conditions usually resolve without complications. Bronchitis and bronchiolitis are both widespread infections that anyone can develop. However, there are some identifiable risk factors for both conditions.
Research has identified the following risk factors:. People with a weakened immune system, those with an underlying lung condition, and older adults have an increased risk of developing complications. Hypoxia is one complication that can arise from bronchiolitis. Hypoxia involves low oxygen levels in the body. Swelling in the airways may interfere with getting enough oxygen in the lungs. View Product. Battery Life Up to 5 hrs. Battery Life Up to 13 hrs. The Inogen Advantage.
Learn About Our Bluetooth Technology. The Perfect Oxygen Solution. Why Convert to POCs? The bronchial tree is a complex system of passageways that most people don't think about until it becomes inflamed or filled with mucus—a condition generally called bronchitis.
Bronchitis can be acute coming on suddenly —sometimes referred to as a chest cold—or chronic continuing or recurring. Symptoms for each are similar, but how each develops and the impact each has on your health are different. To understand the difference between acute and chronic bronchitis, it's important to understand how the bronchial tree works.
While lungs get a lot of credit for helping us breathe, the bronchi serve as the functional passageway for air to travel from the mouth into the body and back out of the body again. After you breathe air in through your nose and mouth, the air travels down the trachea also called a windpipe —the tube in the throat that carries air to the bronchi.
The bronchi then pass that air into the left and right branches of the bronchial tree and, in turn, into the left and right lungs, where it moves through a series of smaller passageways: lobar bronchi, segmental bronchi, terminal bronchioles, and finally respiratory bronchioles. At the end of each respiratory bronchiole is a tiny and delicate pocket called alveoli. This is where oxygen and carbon dioxide are carried to and from the lungs by capillaries. The alveoli and capillaries exchange the oxygen and carbon dioxide, with the bronchioles carrying carbon dioxide out as you exhale and the capillaries delivering fresh oxygenated blood to the rest of your body.
Chronic bronchitis is one of the two primary types of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD. The other is emphysema , which occurs when the alveoli are damaged and can no longer exchange oxygen effectively, causing shortness of breath.
Whereas emphysema affects the alveoli, chronic bronchitis is irritation and inflammation of the bronchial tubes that make it difficult to breathe. The term "chronic" is given to this form of bronchitis because it can cause an ongoing cough that lasts for several months or even years. The cough is usually productive, meaning it brings up mucus. In chronic bronchitis, the lining of the airways is constantly inflamed, causing the lining to swell and produce more mucus, which can make it hard to breathe.
One study estimates that chronic bronchitis affects about 10 million people in the United States, most of whom are between 44 and 65 years old. The risk factors of chronic bronchitis include:. Mucus production is the most common symptom of chronic bronchitis. Other symptoms include:. Acute bronchitis causes the same inflammation and irritation as chronic bronchitis, but acute bronchitis is short term. Viral infections, such as the cold or flu, are usually the cause of acute bronchitis.
Occasionally, acute bronchitis is due to a bacterial infection. The most common viral causes of acute bronchitis include:. Bacteria that can cause acute bronchitis—especially in people with other health problems—include:.
An infection that causes acute bronchitis may clear in just a few days, but the cough that results from the irritation that has developed can last for weeks. Symptoms of acute bronchitis include:. You should see a healthcare provider if you experience the following symptoms or complications while having acute bronchitis:. There are some people who are at greater risk of both acute and chronic bronchitis than others.
Smoking is a big risk factor for both forms of bronchitis, particularly chronic bronchitis as well as the other primary form of COPD, emphysema. Previous injuries to the lungs from childhood respiratory diseases, asthma, or allergies can also make you more susceptible to both acute and chronic bronchitis.
People who work with airborne chemicals or dusts for long periods of time are also at a higher risk of developing either form of bronchitis. The risk of chronic bronchitis increases with age, and it is more common in women than in men. The term "smoker's cough" is an actual condition. Quitting smoking will not cure chronic bronchitis, but it may help you avoid flare-ups, or exacerbations.
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