bronchitis

Long-term inflammation of the bronchi.

To be classified as chronic bronchitis:

• You must have a cough and mucus most days for at least 3 months a year, for 2 years in a row.
• Other causes of symptoms, such as Tuberculosis or other lung diseases, must be ruled out.

Causes/Factors

Most experts agree that the main cause of chronic bronchitis is cigarette smoking. Bronchitis symptoms often happen with other lung diseases, such as:

• asthma
• emphysema
• pulmonary fibrosis
• Tuberculosis
• Smoking

Symptoms

• Productive cough
• Wheezing
• Dyspnoea

Signs

• Peripheral cyanosis
• Oedema

Diagnostic Tests

• Peak flow $\downarrow$
• Spirometry: $FE{V}_1<80\%$ predicted, $FE{V}_1/FVC$ ratio <0.7
• CXR: hyperinflation, large central pulmonary arteries
• ABG: $\downarrow PaC{O}_2\pm$ hypercapnia