Although infection is not the reason or cause of chronic bronchitis, it is seen to aid in sustaining the bronchitis. Diagnosis
A physical examination will often reveal decreased intensity of breath sounds, wheezing, rhonchi, and prolonged expiration. During examination for physicians rely on history and the presence of persistent or acute onset of cough, followed by a URTI with no traces of pneumonia. Acute bronchitis is typically a clinical diagnosis that relies on patients history and exam, and should be suspected in patients with an acute onset of cough, which often follows a URTI without traces of pneumonia.Although there is no universally-accepted clinical definition for acute bronchitis, there is a proposed set of practical criteria (Macfarlane, 2001) that include:

An acute illness of less than three weeks. Cough as the predominant symptom. At least one other lower respiratory tract symptom, such as sputum production, wheezing, chest pain. No alternative explanation for the symptoms.A variety of tests may be performed in people presenting with cough and shortness of breath:
A chest X-ray is useful to exclude pneumonia which is more common in those with a fever, fast heart rate, fast respiratory rate, or who are old. A sputum sample showing neutrophil granulocytes (inflammatory white blood cells) and culture showing that has pathogenic microorganisms such as Streptococcus species. A blood test would indicate inflammation (as indicated by a raised white blood cell count and elevated C-reactive protein).Decreased breath sounds, crackles, wheezing, and rhonchi that clears with coughs may be heard in the chest.
Patients who have recurrent intra-articular bodies or in whom the entire synovial lining is metaplastic require total synovectomy. References
Further reading
FletcherCDM, UnniKK, MertensF, editors. Pathology and genetics of tumours of soft tissue and bone. World Health Organization classification of tumours. Lyon: IARC Press, 2002. Bianchi S, Martinoli C (July 1999). "Detection of loose bodies in joints". Radiol. Clin. North Am. 37 (4): 679–90. doi:10.1016/S0033-8389(05)70123-8. PMID 10442075. Coles MJ, Tara HH (January 1997). "Synovial chondromatosis: a case study and brief review". Am. J. Orthop. 26 (1): 37–40. PMID 9021034. Crotty JM, Monu JU, Pope TL (March 1996). "Synovial osteochondromatosis". Radiol. Clin. North Am. 34 (2): 327–42, xi. PMID 8633119. Maurice H, Crone M, Watt I (1 November 1988). "Synovial chondromatosis". J Bone Joint Surg Br. 70 (5): 807–11. doi:10.1302/0301-620X.70B5.3192585. PMID 3192585. Milgram JW, Gilden JJ, Gilula LA (January 1996). "Multiple loose bodies: formation, revascularization, and resorption. A 29-year followup study". Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. (322): 152–7. doi:10.1097/00003086-199601000-00019. PMID 8542691. S2CID 25265519. == External links ==