Which disease is characterized by small airway obstruction and decreased airflow?

Chronic bronchitis is characterized by small airway obstruction and decreased airflow primarily due to inflammation and obstruction of the airways, leading to a productive cough and difficulty in breathing. In individuals with chronic bronchitis, the bronchial tubes become inflamed and filled with mucus, which further narrows the air passages and hampers airflow during expiration. This condition is typically associated with long-term exposure to irritants such as cigarette smoke or air pollutants, resulting in chronic inflammation and structural changes in the airways.

The hallmark of chronic bronchitis is the presence of excessive mucus production along with airflow limitation, which can be assessed through pulmonary function tests that show decreased expiratory flow rates. Furthermore, patients often experience wheezing and recurrent respiratory infections as a result of airway obstruction.

While asthma does involve airway obstruction, it is generally characterized by reversible airflow limitation due to bronchospasm, inflammation, and increased mucus production. Emphysema, on the other hand, primarily affects the alveoli and leads to destruction of the air sacs, causing air trapping but does not predominantly involve small airway obstruction. Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs and may lead to decreased airflow due to fluid accumulation, but it is not primarily categorized by