When you can't breathe, nothing else matters. It is often follows or is associated with acute sinusitis or pharyngitis. Acute bronchitis, infectious or noninfectious, does not involve the distal lung parenchyma, such as alveoli or respiratory bronchioles. However, acute bronchitis in certain patients with co-morbidity factors such as diabetes mellitus or an immunosuppressed state can deteriorate later and develop acute pneumonia. Chronic bronchitis, on the other hand is cough and sputum production for at least 3 months each year for at least 2 consecutive years.
Chronic bronchitis can overlap with clinical features of emphysema and bronchial asthma.
Acute COPD exacerbation may be defined as periodic attacks of obstructed breathing or acute bronchitis in a COPD patient. It is pathologically characterized by acute bronchial inflammation with airway mucus plugging. Clinically, it is recognized by increased cough, sputum production with purulence, and dyspnea without evidence of acute pneumonia. Both acute bronchitis and acute COPD exacerbations are commonly triggered by lower respiratory tract infections. 12 million outpatient visits occur annually for acute bronchitis.