BRONCHITIS

Bronchitis is a very common infection of the major tubes (bronchi) that carry air within the lungs, but it occurs in
two very different forms, acute and chronic.
The acute form is commonly caused by viruses, occasionally by bacteria, and rarely by fungi. It spreads easily
from  one  person  to  another  on  the  breath.  The  symptoms  include  a fever, chest aches and pains, headache,

tiredness, and a productive cough with dark yellow or green mucus. 
The  diagnosis  is  confirmed  by  listening  to  the  chest  through  a  stethoscope.  In  early  stages, X-rays may  be
normal, but  later show characteristic changes. Sputum may be cultured  to  identify any bacteria present, and  the
correct antibiotic to treat it.
Viral  infections  settle with  time,  rest,  inhalations, bronchodilators  (open up  the bronchi) and physiotherapy.  If
bacteria are  responsible, antibiotics can be prescribed. Bacterial  infections settle  rapidly with antibiotics, but viral
bronchitis  takes  about  ten  days  to  fade  in  most  patients,  but  may  persist  for  several  weeks  in  the  elderly  or
debilitated.