Bronchitis is an inflammation of the air passages in the lungs. The
condition occurs over a long period and recurs over several years.
Symptoms include excessive bronchial mucus with a cough producing
sputum. Cigarette smoking (active and passive exposure) is the
chief cause of this disease, with air pollution, infection,
familial factors, and allergies as exacerbating factors.
Review Date: 04/27/2010
Reviewed By: Allen J. Blaivas, DO, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine,
UMDNJ-NJMS, Attending Physician in the Division of Pulmonary,
Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Veterans Affairs,
VA New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ. Review provided
by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD,
MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
