63 - Bronchitis

Summary

This is a respiratory disease and a sub-category of all respiratory deaths (see Map 10).

See also Map 55 Asthma, Map 88 Chronic lower respiratory diseases, Map 94 Industrial lung diseases, Map 97 Other respiratory disorders, Map 102 Influenza and Map 105 Pneumonia.

Generally, the old industrial north of England tends to have the higher rates. There are also clusters of high SMRs in and around Nottingham, Scarborough, Doncaster, Hove, Hastings and Southend. The triangular cluster of rates over four times the national average in the centre of the map is Derby, Ashfield and Mansfield, where in past decades many women worked in textile mills while the men were often miners.

Bronchitis is infection in the bronchi, the airways of the lung, leading them to become inflamed and irritated. It is common in winter and often develops following a cold or flu. The main symptom is a cough that may produce a yellowy grey mucus.

Smokers are more likely to contract bronchitis. People working with grains or textiles are also more likely to develop it. Coal dust can also irritate the airways.

Babies are at a greater risk from infections in their first year of life. Acute bronchiolitis is the commonest lower respiratory infection of infancy. The risk is higher if there is smoking in the home. Babies under six months old are particularly vulnerable, but probably less so if breast fed.