respiratory disease

Introduction
Signs and symptoms
Defenses of the respiratory system
Methods of investigation
Lung transplantation
Morphological classification of respiratory disease
- Diseases of the upper airway
- Diseases of the major bronchi
- Diseases of the smaller bronchi and bronchioles
- Diseases of the alveolar ducts and alveoli
- Diseases of the pleura
- Diseases of the mediastinum and diaphragm
Major diseases of the respiratory system
- Viral infections of the respiratory system
- Bacterial infections of the respiratory system
  - Pneumonia
  - Legionnaires disease
  - Pneumonia in immunocompromised persons
  - Tuberculosis
  - Q fever
- Allergic lung diseases
  - Asthma
  - Hay fever
  - Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
- Acute diseases of the bronchi
  - Acute bronchitis
  - Bronchiolitis
  - Bronchiectasis
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Chronic bronchitis
- Pulmonary emphysema
- Lung cancer
Occupational lung disease
- Silicosis and black lung disease
- Asbestosis and mesothelioma
- Respiratory toxicity of glass and metal fibres
- Byssinosis and related diseases
- Respiratory toxicity of industrial chemicals
- Disability and attribution of occupational lung diseases
Miscellaneous conditions of the respiratory system
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- Sarcoidosis
- Eosinophilic granuloma
- Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis
- Immunologic conditions
- Radiation damage
- Circulatory disorders
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome of adults
- Air pollution
- Acute carbon monoxide poisoning

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

Medical illustration of the human chest showing the lungs, diaphragm, ribs, trachea, bronchus, and bronchioles, with one lung cut away to reveal internal structures.

Illustration of human lungs with detailed insets comparing normal alveoli to alveoli damaged by emphysema, highlighting the loss of air sac structure in the diseased state.

Observe effects of smoking on lung tissue and examine various stages of respiratory disease

role of the diaphragm in respiration

A labeled medical illustration shows a sagittal section of the pharynx, highlighting anatomical features such as the tonsils, palate, tongue, epiglottis, and related muscles. An inset diagram identifies the nasal, oral, and laryngeal regions of the pharynx in color.

Klebsiella pneumoniae in pneumonia

Know about asthma, what triggers it, and ways to manage it

giant ragweed, a common cause of hay fever

Related Questions

Medical illustration of the human chest showing the lungs, diaphragm, ribs, trachea, bronchus, and bronchioles, with one lung cut away to reveal internal structures. — bronchioles of the lungs The bronchioles of the lungs are the site where oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide during the process of respiration. Inflammation, infection, or obstruction of the bronchioles is often associated with acute or chronic respiratory disease, including bronchiectasis, pneumonia, and lung abscesses.

respiratory disease

human disease

Written by

David V. BatesAll

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Sep. 25, 2026 •History

respiratory disease, any of the diseases and disorders of the airways and the lungs that affect human respiration. Diseases of the respiratory system may affect any of the structures and organs that have to do with breathing, including the nasal cavities, the pharynx (or throat), the larynx, the trachea (or windpipe), the bronchi and bronchioles, the tissues of the lungs, and the respiratory muscles of the chest cage. The respiratory tract is the site of...

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