is inflammation of the tubes that carry air to the lungs . When these tubes get inflamed, they swell and produce more mucus. The swollen tubes and increased mucus trigger cough and may cause breathing difficulty. Acute bronchitis generally develops quickly and stays 2 to 3 weeks in otherwise healthy people.
What causes acute bronchitis?
Acute bronchitis is usually caused by a virus. It is more common during cold months and often develops after an upper respiratory tract infection such as influenza or a cold.Acute bronchitis can also be caused by exposure to smoke, chemicals, or air pollution, all of which can irritate the bronchial tubes.
What are the risks of acute bronchitis?
Acute bronchitis poses little risk. Pneumonia is the most serious complication and is most likely to develop if you have a long-term chronic disease, such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, or heart failure, or a weak immune system.
How effective are antibiotics for acute bronchitis?
Studies on antibiotics and acute bronchitis states that antibiotics modestly reduce cough after 1 to 2 weeks, but they don't help on a night cough or a cough with mucus.
What are the risks of using antibiotics?
Antibiotics have side effects, such as diarrhea, nausea, upset stomach, vomiting, sore mouth, skin rash, dizziness, and headache. Over use of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance, as a result the bacteria develops in a way that allows them to grow despite the medicine, so that the antibiotic may not work henceforth.
