The first warning sign involves persistent wet coughing that produces mucus. Unlike dry coughs associated with common colds, allergic bronchitis coughs typically bring up clear or whitish phlegm.

Bronchitis causes inflammation of the bronchial tubes, which are airways in the lungs. ... The most common sign of acute bronchitis is a persistent cough that lasts as long as four weeks.

What causes it? “Acute bronchitis is most commonly caused by inflammation of the airways due to infections such as the common ...

Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema are two COPD conditions with similar causes but distinct symptoms. ... As mentioned, the primary warning sign of chronic bronchitis is a persistent wet cough.

The earliest signs of bronchitis, Gwangwara explained, include a cough that is usually dry at first and becomes productive, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness.

“Bronchitis can be short-term (acute) and symptoms usually last around three weeks,” says Radford. “But some people can have long-term (chronic) inflammation of the airways.