Acute bronchitis comes on suddenly and lasts a short time.
Another type, called chronic bronchitis, lingers and often gets worse as years go by. Very often, what begins as a cold or influenza turns into bronchitis when the virus spreads to the bronchial tubes. Sometimes the virus responsible for a childhood disease, such as measles or whooping cough, causes acute bronchitis at the same time or after the childhood disease has passed. People whose lungs are already irritated, such as those who smoke, breathe in a lot of pollution or dust, or have lung disease, are especially susceptible to bronchitis. Persistent coughing that brings up plentiful amounts of phlegm is probably the most typical symptom.