Abstract
Acute bronchitis is a very frequent diagnosis; however, other acute and chronic respiratory diseases may often be masked by it. Reccurent acute bronchitis should always be a reason for a thorough examination of the respiratory tract including lung function testing.
A number of congenital disordes (cystic fibrosis, ciliary dyskinezia, immunodeficiency) can thus be revealed that may have gone undetected in chilhood. Common diagnoses after a thorough check-up include early stages of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or brochial asthma.