Acute Bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi as a result of infection, either with a respiratory virus such as influenza, or with a bacterium such as haemophilus. There is cough, increased sputum, a sensation of congestion and possibly fever. In infancy and childhood it causes a rapid rate of breathing. With viral infection the sputum is usually colourless. Bacterial infection tends to produce coloured sputum, with the colour being the result both of the bacteria and of the neutrophils and macrophages - the pus cells - which are engulfing them. Bacterial infection requires treatment with antibiotics.
|
