Bronchitis,
acute or chronic inflammation of any part of the bronchi and bronchial tubes. The bronchi are large, delicate tubes in the lungs that are attached to the trachea and carry air to smaller tubes in the lungs. Acute bronchitis is characterised by fever, chest pain, severe coughing, and often the secretion of a mucoid expectorate (mucous material coughed up from the respiratory tract).
The disease may be caused by the inhalation of irritant vapours or dust, or develop from an upper-respiratory infection. Acute bronchitis affects the branches of the bronchi and may develop into bronchial or lobular pneumonia. …
