Bronchitis is a respiratory disease where the lining of the main airways in the lungs becomes inflamed. As the airways swell, it restricts the air supply to the lungs making it difficult to breathe.

Acute bronchitis is a common condition and a healthy child will usually recover fairly quickly without any problems.

Chronic bronchitis, on the other hand, keeps recurring and can last a long time. Chronic bronchitis is defined as a cough with mucus most days of the month for three months of the year, for at least two years in a row. It mostly affects adults.