Bronchitis pathophysiology

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Bronchitis Main page
Patient Information
Overview
Causes
Classification Acute bronchitis Chronic bronchitis
Differential Diagnosis

Overview

Bronchitis is usually a diagnosis of exclusion. Presence of cough without fever lasting more than 5 days and with normal vitals (no tachypnea or tachycardia) is suggestive of acute bronchitis. The presentation may vary according to the pathogen involved.

Pathophysiology

• Acute bronchitis is the inflammatory response of the bronchial epithelium to infections or irritants.

• Thickening of the bronchial and tracheal mucosa due to inflammation is also seen.

• The hyperemia and edema of the bronchial mucosa decreases the bronchial mucociliary function. As a result of which the air passages become clogged by debris and causes copious mucus secretion, which causes the characteristic cough of bronchitis.

• In mycoplasma pneumonia, bronchial irritation results from the attachment of the organism to the respiratory mucosa resulting in sloughing of affected cells.

• Bronchitis caused by influenza virus shows an epithelial-cell desquamation in association with the presence of a lymphocytic cellular infiltrate