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Bronchitis is an acute respiratory disease. It is an inflammation of bronchi, or air passages, characterized by cough, hacking cough, difficulty in breathing and phlegm.
There are two major types of bronchitis: ACUTE & CHRONIC. Acute bronchitis is a common illness which commonly lasts for a short time and is caused by influenza, the common cold, or an infection. So, this kind of bronchitis is highly infectious and is transmitted via cough, sneeze and simply by touching objects that have been touched by a sick person.
Chronic bronchitis is the other type of the disease. Unlike acute bronchitis, it is durable. Its common conditions are similar to those of acute bronchitic: cough & difficulty in breathing. However, its causes differ. Chronic bronchitis is usually caused by smoking, second hand smoke, a virus and so on and so forth. In fact, it is not infectious. But it does not mean that the disease is less acute.
Although the causes are different, the 2 types have a lot in common. Both of them are resistant to antibiotics. A virus causes bronchitis, & virus infections do not respond to the germ-killing properties of antibiotics. They are efficacious against bacterial infections (for example strep throat & bladder infections). Antibiotics can also cause complications, such as diarrhoea & yeast infections. Furthermore, they can weaken your immune system. Thus, antibiotics may cause more harm than good if they are not used in the right way.
Whatever type of bronchitis you have, it starts with hacking cough & gradually turns into expectoration accompanied by fever, splitting headaches & fatigue.
As long as you have the above mentioned conditions, your acute bronchitis is infectious. It you have had the disease for more than 6 months, you should schedule an appointment with your GP to get examined for other health problems.
You can avoid the spread of the disease. A sufferer should follow hygienic rules. It is a must to wash hands regularly & cover the mouth when sneezing.
The best cure for bronchitis is herbal remedies. They will not affect your immune system and health as antibiotics can do & target the root causes. Natural remedies are effective against both acute and chronic bronchitis.
Take all the necessary preventative measures to avoid the illness. Any disease is better to avoid than to cure.