Acute bronchitis is as a result of inflammation of the medium sized airways otherwise known as the large bronchi. This can either be as a result of viral bacteria or other infections. The most common infections are viral. These usually disappear within within days of the first symptom.
Acute bronchitis symptoms include coughing, wheezing, chest pains, fever, fatigue and headache. The wheezing and shortness of breath is as a result of the airways blocking thus making air passage through them difficult. The chest pains sometimes cannot be felt. This is if the infection is not so severe. The cause of the chest pains is as a result of tightness in the chest as not enough air reaches the lungs. Another cause can be constant coughing.
The acute bronchitis symptoms usually start with a dry cough. This progresses into a productive and wet cough within a few days. The other symptoms are also felt at this time. When one starts experiencing the dry cough, it is usually so sever that it can wake you up at night. The fever, fatigue and headache disappear after a few days. The cough can last for up to one month. If it lasts for more than this period of time, the diagnosis of an ear nose and throat doctor is needed to rule out any other condition present in the body.
The acute bronchitis symptoms usually do not need medication if they are caused by a viral pathogen. Theses include influenza. The symptoms are also not so severe. Acute bronchitis symptoms caused by bacteria pathogens need to be medicated by antibiotics and expectorant cough syrup. These should be administered together.
