As your body fights back against these viruses, more swelling occurs and more mucous is made. With acute bronchitis you usually have a cough that produces phlegm, and a pain behind the sternum or breastbone when you breath deeply or cough, and sometimes wheezing. It is commonly associated with viral infections of the respiratory tract, such as colds and flu. Only about 5 percent to 10 percent of acute bronchitis is caused by a bacterial infection. It may also occur with childhood illnesses, such as measles and whooping cough.
Attacks are most frequent during winter and when air pollution is high.
Infants, young children, the elderly, smokers, and people with lung and heart disease are most likely to get acute bronchitis. Your health provider will ask you questions about your symptoms and examine you. There are no tests to prove that you have acute bronchitis. However, you may need to have some tests to make sure that you don t have something else like pneumonia. Tests which may be ordered include phlegm analysis, chest X-ray, blood tests, or respiratory measurements.