What Happens During an Episode of Acute Bronchitis?
Whatever the cause, the bronchial passages (tracheobronchial tree) initially becomes irritated and then inflamed. Almost immediately there is an invasion of the irritated areas by white blood cells, swelling and then cellular death. As cells that line the bronchial passages die they are shed into the bronchial tubes. Along with the inflammation, a watery to thick sticky mucous is produced and also released into the bronchial passages. Initially this is a reaction to inflammation but it also helps the bronchial passages clean themselves. As the mucous becomes thicker and stickier the cleansing capacity of the bronchi is disturbed and bacteria can then invade the normally sterile bronchi. Infection increases cellular shedding and increases mucous production. The now increasingly thickened mucous become mixed with shedding cells, white blood cells, primary or secondary bacteria’s and/or viruses. When the bronchial tubes are not infected, the mucous produced is usually clear and white in c
