Causes of Bronchitis

If you have ever suffered from bronchitis, you will know most of it s symptoms. You would have experienced a slight chest pain or at least a chest discomfort, cough, difficulty in breathing and excess mucus as a result of cough. Acute bronchitis is one of the most prevalent diseases occurring in America. It is a common respiratory disease, which affects many people especially in the winter season.

Though anyone can acquire acute bronchitis, older people above 50 years of age and very young children are the most common affected ones. The bronchial tubes of the lungs get inflamed when acute bronchitis sets in. This in turn, encourages the mucus production in our body. Normal mucus indeed protects you, but when it is excessive, it can accumulate and block the airways.

A number of agents cause bronchitis. The most common cause is a viral infection, which is the trigger for acute bronchitis that can last a few days (short term). Again, a number of viruses and not one virus is responsible for causing acute bronchitis. Those viruses that can cause include adenovirus, corona virus, rhinovirus, influenza virus, para influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus and Coxsackie’s virus.

Bronchitis can be caused by bacteria also, even though the most common causing agents are viruses. Bacteria can cause bronchitis either by itself or in a combination with a virus. Examples of those bacteria responsible for causing bronchitis include Bordatella pertussis, Branhamela catarrhalis, Bordatella parapertussis, streptococcus, Haemophilus influenza and pneumonia.

Combination of a bacterium and a virus causing bronchitis is even more a rare occurrence as compared to bacterial infection, which in turn is a rare occurrence compare to viral infection. Mycoplasmas are those organisms that possess the properties of both a bacterium and a virus. Though it is a very rare consequence, if it occurs, it may lead to a severe bronchitis that has more intense symptoms and emerges so quickly. There are some mycoplasmas, which are deadly. Their infection can be fatal. Some of the examples for bronchitis causing mycoplasmas are Chlamydia pneumonia, Legionella and Mycoplasma pneumonia.

Fungal agents are also responsible at times for causing bronchitis. Examples of bronchitis causing fungi are Histoplasma capsulatum, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Cocciodioides immitis, Candida tropicalis and Candida albicans. Usually the bronchitis caused by a fungus is less severe and the symptoms are very mild.
Pollen, chemicals, dust, pollutants, smoke, and second-hand smoke can sometimes trigger bronchitis. Though they may reoccur regularly, these symptoms are rather mild.