Bronchitis pathophysiology

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Bronchitis Main page
Patient Information
Overview
Causes
Classification Acute bronchitis Chronic bronchitis
Differential Diagnosis

Overview

Acute bronchitis is the inflammatory response of the bronchial epithelium to infections or irritants. The pathophysiological finding seen with acute bronchitis include: thickening, hyperemia and edema of the bronchial mucosa. This in turn decreases the bronchial mucociliary function. As a result of which the air passages become clogged by debris and causes copious mucus secretion, which causes the characteristic cough of bronchitis.

Pathophysiology

• Acute bronchitis is the inflammatory response of the bronchial epithelium to infections or irritants.

• Thickening of the bronchial and tracheal mucosa due to inflammation is also seen.

• The hyperemia and edema of the bronchial mucosa decreases the bronchial mucociliary function. As a result of which the air passages become clogged by debris and causes copious mucus secretion, which causes the characteristic cough of bronchitis.

• In mycoplasma pneumonia, bronchial irritation results from the attachment of the organism to the respiratory mucosa resulting in sloughing of affected cells.

• Bronchitis caused by influenza virus shows an epithelial-cell desquamation in association with the presence of a lymphocytic cellular infiltrate