Acute bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, the lung's air passages. It often follows a cold, comes on suddenly and usually does not last very long. The cause is usually a virus in children. There are no medicines that kill viruses. It generally will go away on its own in about a week. Bacteria, another kind of germ, can also cause bronchitis.

What causes acute bronchitis?

Acute bronchitis is almost always caused by viruses that attack the lining of the bronchial tree and cause infection. As your body fights back against these viruses, more swelling occurs and more mucus is made. It takes time for your body to kill the viruses and heal the damage to your bronchial tubes.

In most cases, the same viruses that cause colds cause acute bronchitis. Research has shown that bacterial infection is a much less common cause of bronchitis than we used to think. Very rarely, an infection caused by a fungus can cause acute bronchitis.

How do people get acute bronchitis?

The viruses that cause acute bronchitis are sprayed into the air or onto people’s hands when they cough. You can get acute bronchitis if you breathe in these viruses. You can also get it if you touch a hand that is coated with the viruses.

If you smoke or are around damaging fumes (such as those in certain kinds of factories), you are more likely to get acute bronchitis and to have it longer. This is because your bronchial tree is already damaged.

Symptoms may include:

• Wheezing
• Cough - Dry at first then productive (coughing up mucous)
• Fever
• Difficult or uncomfortable breathing
• Gagging or vomiting because of the mucous
• Pressure or burning feeling in the chest