Viral Bronchitis Symptoms

Viral bronchitis symptoms are similar to the symptoms of a number of lung diseases and disorders. Therefore, you often need a doctor's diagnosis to differentiate between viral bronchitis (also commonly called acute bronchitis), chronic bronchitis, and many other respiratory illnesses and conditions. 

Coughing is probably the most prominent viral bronchitis symptom. This nagging, persistent cough is often accompanied by mucus. The mucus sometimes varies in color depending on the cause of the bronchitis. Viruses, which are the most common organisms responsible for viral bronchitis, tend to produce mucus that is clear or grayish-white. Bacteria, which causes fewer cases, produces mucus that is greenish-yellow or greenish gray.

Viral bronchitis can also be caused by fungi, but this is relatively rare.

The cough caused by viral bronchitis often lasts longer than other symptoms. If your persists for more than two weeks, you should talk to your doctor about it. There's a danger you could be developing chronic or long term bronchitis, which includes a chronic cough.

A mild fever is another common symptom of viral bronchitis. This fever usually reaches approximately 101 F or 38.3 C.

Viral bronchitis also tends to produce a sore throat along with chest discomfort and congestion.

Breathing is often more difficult. You may also experience wheezing. This happens because your bronchitis has caused your bronchial tubes to become constricted by irritation and inflammation. The bronchial tubes are the passages that carry air to the lungs from your mouth and nose. Shortness of breath is typical.

Individuals with viral bronchitis get tired faster than normal. Even mild physical activity brings on fatigue. You'll have little energy and motivation.

As mentioned above, the symptoms of viral bronchitis and chronic bronchitis are similar. If you also experience the following symptoms in addition to the ones mentioned above, see your doctor right away.

You repeatedly and frequently suffer respiratory infections like colds, the flu, or pneumonia.

Your ankles and feet begin to swell.

If you have these symptoms, may be developing chronic bronchitis, which is a serious disease that can't be cured. Chronic bronchitis is one of the types of lung diseases that is categorized as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD.

Factors that worsen viral bronchitis symptoms

Your viral bronchitis symptoms may grow more frequent or intensify in certain situations. These include

• Times when there are a lot of environmental irritants in the air, such as seasonal allergens, dust, smog, factory smoke, or volcanic ash.
• You work in an occupation that puts you in direct contact with airborne irritants. These occupations include coal mining, textile manufacturing, and grain handling. 

You are also more likely to get viral bronchitis if you're a member of a certain demographic group, including

• seniors
• infants, toddlers and young children
• people who already have other disorders, especially lung disease and heart disease or heart failure
• frequent tobacco users (see related articles on smoking and lung cancer and smoker's cough)

Once again, viral bronchitis is an illness that goes away with time. Nonetheless, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor about your symptoms because bronchitis can also lead to a number of other respiratory disorders, including pneumonia.

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