Acute Bronchitis Vs. Chronic Bronchitis: What Are the Differences?

2 Answers

These messages are for mutual support and information sharing only. Always consult your doctor before trying anything you read here.
For the first time in my life...2014, pollen was very high, April 10th to be exact... as I was cleaning my flower beds/fall debris.. I’ve been a hobby/want fresh grass fed chickens/eggs. I got itchy nose and eyes while cleaning up my garden, didn’t think much of it except I’ve never had allergies. I moved on to letting my four babies out/chickens of their coop to do a very deep clean.. those who have chickens know what I mean. I did not think to use a mask, nor gloves.. nor thought about smoke from burning chicken poop and bedding. 2 weeks later, I started to drown in a white thin clear mucus coming from my chest/bronchial tubes. I visited many urgent cares, the cough was light at this beginning, no nasal crises. But the volume of this clear thin mucous was abundant... at its worst at night. I was given every inhaler, pills, checked for wheezing/no wheezing was ever heard.
After 6 months of expelling copious amounts of of this clear mucous.. it stopped... 3 months later it came again... feels like what I would think of drowning in your sleep..this has been happening as I said since 2014.... lasting 3 to 4 months at a time... rest for 2to 3 months.. then starts again.. it is now 2019... and I’m experienced/going thru this for 6 months now.
My PFTs come back normal, low dose CTs normal if a doctor reads this, please please help me!
No more inhalers or pills... because I’ve done the spectrum including nose sprays.. I am begging my Specialist to send expelled mucous to microbiology to see if it grows spores or bacteria... if anything at all.
I’m at wits end!
Jesus, it's like torturing. I think you're right to insist on sending the mucus for culturing. Did your doctor do so?
CT scan shows no signs of infection. I think Allergic rhinitis is possible. It can be triggered by a certain substance . From then on, you start to be allergic to everything. The therapy is very limited and can not be cured. I think you should see another doctor, try to find an experienced one.
I've been there,  but,  insisted on an antibiotic /steroid shot followed by 10 days antibiotics (amoxicillin or tetracycline) and light dose of steroids.  Just my opinion because I know first hand the difference between the old doctors and the new ones cause I'm an old fart.

Acute bronchitis is the more common one between these two. Symptoms of acute bronchitis last for a few weeks, but it doesn't usually cause any further problems. Acute bronchitis often develops 3 to 4 days after a cold or the flu. It may start with a dry cough. After a few days, the coughing spells may bring up mucus. Most people get over an acute bout of bronchitis in 2 to 3 weeks. However, the cough can sometimes last for 4 weeks or more. 

While acute bronchitis is the more common bronchitis, chronic bronchitis is the more serious bronchitis between these two. Once you get it, it keeps coming back or doesn't go away at all. It's one of the conditions that makes up what's called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. People who smoke are more likely to get it. When you have a cough with phlegm on most days for at least 3 months in a year, for two years in a row, doctors would suspect that you might get chronic bronchitis. It makes your lungs a breeding ground for bacterial infections and may require ongoing medical treatment.

Causes

  • Acute bronchitis is more common in winter and 9 out of 10 cases are caused by a virus. Irritants such as tobacco smoke, smog, chemicals in household cleaners, even fumes or dust in the environment can also cause acute bronchitis.
  • Smoking is by far the most common cause of chronic bronchitis. It might be caused by workplace exposure to dust and toxic gases, which is a much less common cause, seen in miners and grain handlers. Air pollution can make symptoms worse for people with chronic bronchitis.

Diagnosis

  • By reviewing how your symptoms have developed over time and through a physical examination, acute bronchitis can be diagnosed.
  • Pulmonary function testing after doing a medical history and physical exam help diagnose chronic bronchitis. Sometimes, a chest X-ray may also be done.

Treatment

  • The treatments for acute bronchitis involve drinking fluids, rest, smoking cessation, pain relievers, and expectorants.
  • For chronic bronchitis, the treatments include smoking cessation, vaccines, bronchodilators, and steroids.
What is smoking session
It's CESSATION. Just means quit smoking.
Thank you!  this good and educational information!!! made my day Awesome

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