This lesson will introduce you to bronchitis, which is a

common respiratory (breathing) illness. You will learn

about the causes and symptoms of bronchitis, and will
also learn a bit about treatment and prevention.

What is Bronchitis?
You wake up one morning with a little bit of a cough. As
the day goes on, the cough gets worse, and starts to bring
up mucus (gross!). By the time you go to bed, you have a
slight fever, and feel pretty terrible. You definitely won't be
going to school tomorrow! Does all of this sound familiar?
If so, then you may have had bronchitis.
Bronchitis develops when the tubes that connect your
windpipe to your lungs become inflamed, or swollen and
irritated.
 Air passes in and out of your lungs through the bronchial tubes.

This inflammation causes people to cough, and to have

some other unpleasant symptoms. The main symptoms of
bronchitis include:
 A cough that starts out dry, but then brings up clear,
white, yellow, or green mucus
 A slight fever
 Feeling tired, achy, or generally ill
 Wheezing, which is a high-pitched sound when you
breathe
 Shortness of breath
If these symptoms last for a few days to a few weeks, it
may be due to acute bronchitis, which usually goes away
on its own. If the symptoms last for months, then it is
probably a case of chronic bronchitis, which can be
serious.

What Causes Bronchitis and

How Can I Avoid It?