Is bronchitis contagious?

"Bronchitis is inflammation of the mucous membranes of the bronchi, the airways that carry airflow from the trachea into the lungs. Bronchitis can be classified into two categories, acute and chronic, each of which has unique etiologies, pathologies, and therapies.

Acute bronchitis is characterized by the development of a cough, with or without the production of sputum, mucus that is expectorated (coughed up) from the respiratory tract. Acute bronchitis often occurs during the course of an acute viral illness such as the common cold or influenza. Viruses cause about 90% of cases of acute bronchitis while bacteria account for less than 10%.

Chronic bronchitis, a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is characterized by the presence of a productive cough that lasts for 3 months or more per year for at least 2 years. Chronic bronchitis most often develops due to recurrent injury to the airways caused by inhaled irritants. Cigarette smoking is the most common cause, followed by air pollution and occupational exposure to irritants."

Bronchitis is a respiratory disease. It is an inflammation of bronchi, or air passages, accompanied by cough, hacking cough, difficulty in breathing and expectoration.

There are two main types of bronchitis: acute and chronic. Acute Bronchitis is a common disease which commonly lasts for a short period and is caused by influenza, the common cold, or an infection. Hence, this type of bronchitis is highly contagious & is familial via cough, sneezing & simply by touching things which have been touched by a sufferer from bronchitis.

The other type of the disease is chronic bronchitis. Unlike acute bronchitis, it protracts for a longer period. Its common conditions are similar to those of acute bronchitic: cough & difficulty in breathing. Nevertheless, its causes are different. Chronic bronchitis is usually induced by smoking, second hand smoke, a virus and others. As a rule, it is not infectious. Nonetheless, it not less annoying.

Although the causes are different, the two types have much in common. Both of them are antibiotic-resistant. A virus causes bronchitis, & viral infections do not respond to the germ-killing properties of antibiotics. They are efficacious against bacterial infections (for instance strep throat and bladder infections). Antibiotics can also cause complications, such as diarrhea & yeast infections. Furthermore, they can weaken your immune system. Thus, antibiotics may cause more harm than good if they are not used properly.

Whatever type of bronchitis you suffer from, it starts with hacking cough & gradually turns into phlegm accompanied by fever, headaches & tiredness.

As long as you have the symptoms, your acute bronchitis is contagious. It you have had this disease for more than half a year, you should schedule an appointment with your GP to check for other diseases.

You can avoid the spread of the disease. A sufferer should wash hands regularly and cover the mouth when coughing and sneezing.

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

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