Bronchitis is a common condition that occurs when the lungs become inflamed. It causes coughing and difficult breathing. Acute bronchitis refers to the short-term type, and may occur in the aftermath of cold or flu. While the cough may be severe, it typically lasts for only a few weeks.…

Coughing is your body's way of getting rid of any foreign material or mucus in your lungs. Coughing can be a response to breathing in dust or fumes that irritate the nerve endings in the airways, or can be a symptom of a medical problem, such as a lung infection caused by bacteria or a virus, or a long-term lung disease such as asthma.…

Pneumonia is a lung infection, usually caused by bacteria or viruses, often after a cold or flu. It causes air sacs in the lung to fill with fluid and mucus, affecting breathing. Pneumonia can be more serious in children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.…

A common cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. Symptoms include a stuffy or runny nose, coughing and sneezing. They are not usually serious and will generally get better by themselves within a few days to a week.…

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, covers conditions affecting the lungs. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are the two main conditions, usually caused by smoking. Medications and lifestyle changes can help slow the progression of the disease.…

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a very contagious disease that causes inflammation in the respiratory tract. Pertussis causes many deaths, especially among infants, but can be prevented with immunisation.…