Bronchitis is an infection of the intricate network of airways both within and connecting to the lungs. Usually striking when the immune system is low, bronchitis commonly develops as a progression of an upper respiratory infection and will normally clear within a couple of weeks although chronic cases may last for months.

Bronchitis is a respiratory system ailment that is generally found in the winter seasons because bronchitis is caused by viruses that also provides us the flu or the cold.

Bronchitis may be caused by bacteria, but this is not a very general bronchitis case. The bronchial tubes have linings that get exaggerated when you produce bronchitis.

Bronchitis is a type of inflammation that causes coughing, wheezing and possibly fever. It hits about 5 percent of adults every year. Over 90% of all acute bronchitis infections are caused by a virus not bacteria. The virus is similar as those that cause the common cold and influenza.

Bronchitis is one of those illnesses that you are always aware of. This is because it affects your breathing. Your bronchial tract is always producing awful phlegm. The reason phlegm is present is because infection is present. So you have a constant feeling of being short of breath. You also always have the need to cough.

Symptoms of bronchitis start off like cold symptoms. But instead of getting better as the days pass, they get worse. The symptoms go to your chest, with congestion of your lungs. The airways and lungs start to increase their mucus secretion, so your breathing sounds noisy or rattling.

The cause of Bronchitis is quite simple as your bronchial tubes get infected, and as the get infected they cause phlegm to build up in your bronchial tubes which your body then tries to remove. The only way it can remove this phlegm is by making you cough, yet the more you cough the more inflamed your bronchial tubes become.

Bronchitis happens when the air passages of your child's lungs gets irritated and swollen, causing coughing and breathing problems. Bronchitis usually starts from a simple upper respiratory infection (usually colds or flu) that was not given proper attention. From there, the infection spreads from your child's nose and throat going down further to infect the windpipe and airways resulting in bronchitis.

One of the most effective bronchitis treatments is simply a healthy diet and regular exercise, while this may seem an oversimplification; you are helping your lungs to perform, clearing them of excess toxins and giving your body the fuel it needs to heal. Depending on your overall state of health, a brisk walk is an excellent low impact bronchitis treatment, and should be preformed often as the weather and your health allow.

Drinking at least eight glasses of water daily will thin out the mucus that is in your system. This makes the mucus easier to cough up, and helps with easier breathing. Avoid dairy products because they may lead to excessive mucus production.

Bronchitis treatments for chronic forms of the illness often include bronchodilators such as albuterol and ipratropium. These are inhaled medicines that eliminate the excess mucus responsible for obstruction of the respiratory tract and shortness of breathing. Bronchitis treatments can also include steroids for strengthening the body’s defenses against bacteria and viruses.