What is bronchitis?

Question

and is it contagious?

Answer 1

bronchitis is an inflammation of the large air passages in the lungs. it can be viral or bacterial (the kind that needs antibiotics).
it is contagious. when someone coughs or sneezes and has the bronchitis, tiny droplets are expelled from the person's mouth and nose. we breathe those droplets into our mouths and noses and become infected.

Answer 2

Bronchitis is a general term for inflammation of the air passages in the lungs. There are several triggers or conditions that can lead to bronchitis, from allergens, smoking, bacterial or viral infection, pollution, etc.

Some of the bacterial and viral causes of bronchitis include flu, pnuemonia and colds, so while the bronchitis itself is not contagious, the underlying cause definitely can be. In other words, a person suffering from bronchitis due to a bad flu could infect someone else with the flu, but that person may not necessarily develop bronchitis.

Answer 3

2

Answer 4

Bronchitis is a respiratory disease in which the mucous membrane in the lungs' bronchial passages becomes inflamed. As the irritated membrane swells and grows thicker, it narrows or shuts off the tiny airways in the lungs, resulting in coughing spells accompanied by thick phlegm and breathlessness. The disease comes in two forms: acute (lasting less than 6 weeks) and chronic (reoccurring frequently for more than two years). In addition, people with asthma also experience an inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes called asthmatic bronchitis.

Acute bronchitis is responsible for the hacking cough and phlegm production that sometimes accompany an upper respiratory infection. In most cases the infection is viral in origin, but sometimes it's caused by bacteria. If you are otherwise in good health, the mucous membrane will return to normal after you've recovered from the initial lung infection, which usually lasts for several days.

Chronic bronchitis is a serious long-term disorder that often requires regular medical treatment.

If you are a smoker and come down with acute bronchitis, it will be much harder for you to recover. Even one puff on a cigarette is enough to cause temporary paralysis of the tiny hair like structures in your lungs, called cilia, that are responsible for brushing out debris, irritants, and excess mucus.

If you continue smoking, you may do sufficient damage to these cilia to prevent them from functioning properly, thus increasing your chances of developing chronic bronchitis. In some heavy smokers, the membrane stays inflamed and the cilia eventually stop functioning altogether. Clogged with mucus, the lungs are then vulnerable to viral and bacterial infections, which over time distort and permanently damage the lungs' airways. This permanent condition is called COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Your doctor can perform a breathing test, called spirometry, to see if you have developed COPD. WebMD has many resources to help you to successfully quit smoking .

Acute bronchitis is very common among both children and adults. The disorder often can be treated effectively without professional medical assistance. However, if you have severe or persistent symptoms or if you cough up blood, you should see your doctor. If you suffer from chronic bronchitis, you are at risk for developing cardiovascular problems as well as more serious lung diseases and infections, so you should be monitored by a doctor.

Answer 5

Bronchitis is an infection of the bronchial tree. The tree is made up of tubes that carry the air in our lungs. If the tubes are infected, they swell and mucus forms inside. You might get chest pain and feel like you can't breathe at all. At times, you may cough and wheeze. Go to the source for more information. It is caused by viruses not bacteria so it could be contagious.

Answer 6

Bronchitis generally refers to an acute inflammation of the air passages within your lungs. It occurs when your trachea (windpipe) and the large and small bronchi (airways) in your lungs become inflamed because of infection or other causes.

The thin mucous lining of these airways can become irritated and swollen.
The cells that make up this lining may leak fluids in response to the inflammation.
Coughing is a reflex that works to clear secretions from your lungs. Often the discomfort of a severe cough leads you to seek medical treatment.
Both adults and children can get bronchitis. Symptoms are similar for both.
Infants usually get bronchiolitis, which involves the smaller airways and causes symptoms similar to asthma.

Answer 7

Inflammation in the bronchi of the lungs.
Microbes and foreign matter that have entered the airways cause inflammation of the bronchi and stimulate excess secretion of mucus. Symptoms include a productive cough and a sensation of chest congestion. Long-term repetitive injury, as from smoking, may lead to chronic bronchitis, in which severe, irreversible damage leaves the lungs open to infection and fibrosis.
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Answer 8

Bronchitis is a respiratory disease in which the mucous membrane in the lungs' bronchial passages becomes inflamed....

http://www.medicinenet.com/bronchitis/article.htm

it can be contagious.......

Answer 9

its the inflamation of the bronchi in your lungs makes you have runny or stuffy nose and tightness in your chest and you may cough or gag up mucus. you may get a low grade fever and no its not contagious.....