What condition is characterized by the inflammation of the bronchial tubes?

Bronchitis is characterized by the inflammation of the bronchial tubes, which are the air passages that connect the trachea to the lungs. This condition can result from several factors, including viral infections, bacterial infections, exposure to pollutants, and smoking. The inflammation leads to increased mucus production, narrowing of the airways, and can cause symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.

In contrast, asthma is an airway disease primarily involving hyper-reactivity and inflammation, but it is more about chronic airway constriction and can vary in severity based on triggers, rather than persistent inflammation alone. Pneumonia refers to an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs, which can fill with fluid or pus, rather than affecting just the bronchial tubes. Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) characterized by damage to the alveoli, leading to airflow limitation, rather than inflammation of the bronchial tubes.

Thus, bronchitis is the correct condition that specifically involves the inflammation of the bronchial tubes.