pulmonary disorders
Acute Bronchitis
Symptoms and Signs of Acute Bronchitis
Symptoms are a nonproductive or mildly productive cough accompanied or preceded by URI symptoms. Typical symptom duration before presentation is about 5 days or more. Subjective dyspnea results from chest pain caused by musculoskeletal discomfort due to coughing or chest tightness related to bronchospasm, not from hypoxia. Signs are often absent but may include scattered rhonchi and wheezing. Sputum may be clear or purulent. Sputum characteristics do not correspond with a particular etiology (ie, viral vs bacterial). Mild fever may be present, but high or prolonged fever is unusual and suggests Influenza , On resolution, cough is the last symptom to subside and often takes 2 to 3 weeks or even longer to do so. 