Pathways Contact PEIA Home Return to Index Bronchitis Bronchitis can be either acute or chronic, depending on how long it lasts and how serious the damage.
Acute bronchitis is inflammation of the air passages of the lung.
These attack the mucous membranes within the windpipe or air passages in your respiratory tract, leaving them red and inflamed. Acute bronchitis often develops in the wake of a sinus infection, cold or other respiratory infection. It can last anywhere from three days to three weeks. Antibiotics Chronic bronchitis is inflammation and degeneration of the air passages of the lung. Chronic bronchitis results in abnormal air exchange in the lung and causes permanent damage to the respiratory tract.