Bronchitis pathophysiology

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