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BRONCHITIS is a respiratory disease. It is an inflammation of bronchial tubes, or air passages, characterized by cough, hacking cough, difficulty in breathing and mucus.

There are 2 major types of bronchitis: ACUTE and CHRONIC. Acute bronchitis is a common illness which typically lasts for a short period & is caused by influenza, the common cold, or an infection. Hence, this type of bronchitis is highly infectious & is transmissible by means of cough, sneeze and merely by touching things that have been touched by an infected person.

The other type of the disease is chronic bronchitis. Unlike acute bronchitis, it lasts for a longer period of time. Its symptoms are similar to those of acute bronchitic: cough & wheeze. However, its causes differ significantly. Chronic bronchitis is typically caused by smoking, second hand smoke, a virus etc. In general, it is not contagious. Still, it not less annoying.

Although the causes are different, the two types have much in common. Both of them are resistant to antibiotics. A virus causes bronchitis, and virus infections do not respond to the germ-killing properties of these powerful medications. They are effective against bacterial infections (such as strep throat and bladder infections). Antibiotics can also cause complications, for example diarrhea & yeast infections. More than that, they can undermine your immune system. So, 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, headaches & tiredness.

As long as you have the above mentioned conditions, your acute bronchitis is deemed to be infectious. It you have had this disease for more than half a year, you should make an appointment with your GP to get examined for other health problems.

The spread of bronchitis can be avoided. A sick person should wash hands regularly & cover the mouth when coughing and sneezing.

The best treatment for bronchitis is herbal remedies. They will not hurt your immune system and health as antibiotics can do & aim at the root causes. Herbal remedies are effective against both acute & chronic bronchitis.

Anyway, it is better to avoid a disease than treat it.