Bronchitis is inflammation of the air passages (bronchi) of the lungs. It can make breathing difficult and sometimes painful.
* Acute bronchitis—This is a sudden onset of symptoms. The condition lasts only a short time, and there is full recovery of lung function.
* Chronic bronchitis—This involves long-term inflammation, obstruction, and degeneration of the bronchi. It is often the result of many years of cigarette smoking . This is a serious medical condition, also called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) .
* Asthmatic bronchitis—This condition involves intermittent inflammation of the airways in people with underlying asthma . It is most commonly associated with allergies or environmental irritants.
* Irritative bronchitis—Also called industrial or environmental bronchitis, this is due to chronic exposure to substances such as acids, ammonia, chlorine, minerals, or vegetable dusts.
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