(A&E) (GP)

Overview

• Lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) characterised by inflammation of the bronchi
  • Result of inflammation of the trachea and major bronchi and is therefore associated with oedematous large airways and the production of sputum
• Often follows an URTI (Upper Respiratory Tract Infection)
• Majority of cases are Viral (Influenza A, Influenza B, Parainfluenza, RSV, Coronavirus, Adenovirus)
• Risk Factors → smoking and exposure to infection

Making Diagnosis

Clinical Features:

• Cough → lasts <30 days, productive (clear sputum)
• Fever
• Preceeding URTI → runny nose, sore throat, headache
• No hx of chronic respiratory illness
• Differentiating from pneumonia
  • History: Sputum, wheeze, breathlessness may be absent in acute bronchitis whereas at least one tends to be present in pneumonia.
  • Examination: No other focal chest signs (dullness to percussion, crepitations, bronchial breathing) in acute bronchitis other than wheeze. Moreover, systemic features (malaise, myalgia, and fever) may be absent in acute bronchitis, whereas they tend to be present in pneumonia.

Investigations

Generally diagnosed clinically, tests to exclude other diagnoses.