A few days ago, Pope Francis was reported to have taken time
off duties over what doctors had said was displaying symptoms of Bronchitis.
His medication would later on be changed and it was found that he was suffering from pneumonia from both his lungs and he remains in hospital undergoing treatment at the Rome's Gemelli Hospital.
This is a disease that affects most people across the world, including Kenya.
According to Cleveland Clinic, when your airways (trachea and bronchi) get irritated, they swell up and fill with mucus, causing you to cough. Your cough can last days to a couple of weeks. It’s the main symptom of bronchitis.
Viruses are the most common cause of acute bronchitis. Smoke and other irritants can cause acute and chronic bronchitis.
According to the World Health Organisation, over 150
million new cases of Bronchitis occur every year.
Out of these, 13 per cent are chronic and need hospitalisation to treat.
Here’s what you need to know;
Medical experts define Bronchitis as a condition that develops when the airways in the lungs, become inflamed and cause coughing.
This cough often comes with mucus production.
According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), there are two types of Bronchitis, Acute and Chronic.
“Acute bronchitis, which is very common, usually results, from an infection, and may be contagious. Most people recover after a few days or weeks.
“Chronic bronchitis is defined as lasting for at least three months and returning at least two years in a row. In chronic bronchitis, breathing can be more difficult because the airway lining stays inflamed, which leads to swelling and more mucus production,” the NHLBI website says.
Acute bronchitis often develops from a cold or other respiratory infection and is very common.
According to Mayo Clinic, it usually improves within a week to 10 days without lasting effects, although the cough may linger for weeks.
Chronic bronchitis is also a frequent symptom, along with emphysema and asthma, in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
There is also no cure for it but the situation can only be managed with various treatments.
Symptoms are the same for both acute and chronic bronchitis and they include Cough with mucus, Chest pain, Tiredness, Low fever, Shortness of breath and Wheezing.
