Acute bronchitis

Acute bronchitis is bronchial mucosal inflammation caused by infection with pathogens such as viruses or bacteria. It is a common and frequently-occurring disease in infants and young children, often secondary to upper respiratory infections, and often the early manifestation of pneumonia. The disease often affects both the trachea and bronchus, so the correct name should be acute tracheobronchitis. Clinically, it is characterized by cough with (or without) increased bronchial secretions.