Chronic bronchitis and emphysema

Abstract

Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are two diseases which are commonly encountered in family practice and cause considerable morbidity in the community. In recent years, there has been a tendency to lump them together under a single diagnostic label 'Chronic obstructive airways disease', because they are so frequently encountered together, and because precise distinction, during life, is often difficult. However, it is strongly believed that differentiation is worthwhile for two reasons: the prognosis of bronchitis alone is probably considerably better than that of emphysema; understanding the mechanisms involved in the cause and progress of both diseases is likely to be hampered unless they are clearly distinguished. It is for these reasons that the diseases are discussed separately and attempts are made to contrast them.