Disease or Syndrome
acute bronchitis
a·cute bron·chi·tis [ uh-kyoot brong-kahy-tis ]
Definitions related to acute bronchitis:
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Acute inflammation and edema of the larger bronchi caused by viruses or bacteria. Signs and symptoms include cough, sputum production, shortness of breath, and wheezing.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, the airways that carry air to your lungs. It causes a cough that often brings up mucus. It can also cause shortness of breath, wheezing, a low fever, and chest tightness. There are two main types of bronchitis: acute and chronic. Most cases of acute bronchitis get better within several days. But your cough can last for several weeks after the infection is gone. The same viruses that cause colds and the flu often cause acute bronchitis. These viruses spread through the air when people cough, or though physical contact (for example, on unwashed hands). Being exposed to tobacco smoke, air pollution, dusts, vapors, and fumes can also cause acute bronchitis. Less often, bacteria can also cause acute bronchitis. To diagnose acute bronchitis, your health care provider will ask about your symptoms and listen to your breathing. You may also have other tests. Treatments include rest, fluids, and aspirin (for adults) or acetaminophen to treat fever. A humidifier or steam can also help. You may need inhaled medicine to open your airways if you are wheezing. Antibiotics won't help if the cause is viral. You may get antibiotics if the cause is bacterial. NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteMedlinePlusU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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Inflammation of the large airways of the lung with rapid onset and short course usually associated with cough, mucus production, shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness.Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO)The Human Phenotype Ontology Project, 2021
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Sudden inflammation of the tracheobronchial tree, which comprises the trachea, or windpipe, and the bronchi; typically associated with a viral upper respiratory tract infection, such as the common cold, and is usually mild; in patients with chronic lung or heart disease, acute bronchitis is more severe, and can become chronic and progress to pneumonia.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
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Acute bronchitis is inflammation of the tracheobronchial tree, commonly following an upper respiratory infection that occurs in patients without chronic lung disorders The cause is almost always a viral infection. The pathogen is rarely identified. The most common symptom is cough, with or without fever, and possibly sputum production....Merck & Co., Inc., 2020
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Acute bronchitis is defined as a self-limiting lower respiratory tract infection, to distinguish this condition from common colds and other upper respiratory ailments. Bronchitis refers specifically to infections causing inflammation in the bronchial airways, whereas pneumonia denotes infection in the lung parenchyma resulting in...Athenahealth, Inc., 2019
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