Don’t Ignore Coughing! 6 Symptoms of Acute Bronchitis You Should Know 0 9

In acute inflammation of the mucous membranes in the bronchi — part of the lower respiratory tract — one symptom stands out: coughing. There are other symptoms indicating acute bronchitis.

What Symptoms Indicate Acute Bronchitis: Cough

Coughing in acute bronchitis occurs when pathogenic microorganisms or harmful substances come into contact with the mucous membrane of the bronchial tubes. The body responds with inflammation to fight the pathogens. This causes the mucous membrane to work harder and produce mucus.

Pathogenic microorganisms and dead cells contained in this mucus are expelled from the airways when coughing. Therefore, coughing is a natural mechanism for getting rid of pathogenic microorganisms.

The first sign of acute bronchitis is a dry, irritating cough. After a few days, the situation changes as the airways produce viscous mucus that the patient coughs up. Specialists also refer to cough with phlegm as productive cough.

Initially, the phlegm is clear or whitish. The color may change as the condition progresses. If, in addition to a viral infection, the airways are affected by bacteria, the phlegm may be yellowish or green.

Acute bronchitis almost always accompanies a cold. Therefore, people with this condition often exhibit other typical symptoms.

Other Symptoms of Bronchitis:

• rhinitis;

• fever;

• sore throat;

• hoarseness;

• headache;

• muscle and limb pain.

If a patient has to cough frequently, it may temporarily cause pain behind the sternum.

What Symptoms Indicate Acute Bronchitis: Blood-tinged Phlegm

In severe acute bronchitis, the phlegm may be slightly blood-tinged. In this case, the patient may notice a small amount of blood in the coughed-up mucus.

Blood-tinged phlegm can appear if the affected mucous membranes of the bronchial tubes have slight damage. This symptom is usually harmless. However, patients should consult a doctor to be safe.