Symptoms of Bronchitis

Colds and coughs are a common illness for many people, but if the condition lasts for more than a week it might be considered as bronchitis. When there is a respiratory illness where in the bronchial tubes of the lungs are irritated and swollen accompanied with pain it can be identified as bronchitis.

There are two types of bronchitis. The first one is usually caused by a viral infection and usually arises after a sore throat or cold and only lasts from one to two weeks. This is termed acute bronchitis.

There are common symptoms of acute bronchitis that you need to be aware of:

Throbbing cough – a cough with a sudden contraction of the chest which makes a distinct sound.

Runny nose – considered as one of the more common irritations of people with acute bronchitis.

Wheezing – a sound that can be heard when a person with acute bronchitis is breathing.

Sore throat – throat pain and itch.

Repeated headache – a condition where the pain is commonly felt in the head, neck and back.

Chills – this condition may be accompanied with quivering and paleness and in some cases it can arise with a sudden increase of temperature.

Slight fever – in acute bronchitis there is an abnormal elevation of bodily temperature.

Malaise – feeling of discomfort when there is acute bronchitis.

Back and muscle pain – soreness of bones in the back and muscle.

Chronic bronchitis is another type of bronchitis, where the airways in lungs have too much phlegm causing violent coughing. This condition can last for more than a month to several years.

The symptoms of acute bronchitis can also be experienced in chronic bronchitis. However they may be more severe. Chronic bronchitis may show distinct symptoms to be able to differentiate it from acute bronchitis.

Cyanosis – a bluish color of the skin due to deoxygenated hemoglobin in the blood.

Edema – swelling on the feet and hands due to excessive fluid in the lymph.

Heart Failure – a complication of chronic bronchitis where in the heart is not able to properly pump blood to the body.

Clubbed fingers - fingers deformity common with chronic respiratory illnesses.

Dyspnea – difficulty in breathing

Shortness of breath with excessive movement.

Too much mucus secretion.

Lung or respiratory tract infection.

Symptoms of bronchitis may resemble symptoms of other respiratory problems which is why it is important to consult your doctor to differentiate it from other conditions and to determine if the bronchitis is acute or chronic. The doctor will assess and conduct physical examinations to evaluate the condition. Furthermore, the doctors may recommend laboratory tests to be able to distinguish the condition.

An ordinary cold and cough should not be taken for granted; treating it the right way to prevent it from developing into a more serious condition like bronchitis is important.