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'Jaws' Star Richard Dreyfuss Axes SharkCon Appearance After Being Hospitalized With Viral Bronchitis

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Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss was forced to cancel his appearance at SharkCon, taking place this weekend at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall, due to his hospitalization with viral bronchitis.

In a video posted to the event's Instagram page, the Jaws star can be seen laying in a hospital bed delivering the message, with his wife Svetlana Erokhin chiming in occasionally and the sounds of the vital signs monitor in the background.

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"Hello, fellow cons. I am very, very sorry to tell you that I've been diagnosed with viral … viral … What is it?" Dreyfuss began, prompting Erokhin to offer the diagnosis of bronchitis.

"I've been told by my doctors I cannot fly, and I would have to fly five hours to get [to SharkCon]. I'm terribly sorry because I had planned to be there and had been looking forward to it. But I'm unable to do so. I don't want to get anyone else sick, and I don't want to get sicker myself. I feel terrible about not showing up, and I feel worse about exposing you to this, apparently, very viral illness," The Goodbye Girl star said.

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the airways leading into the lungs, and is often caused by a variety of viruses such as the flu virus or COVID. A persistent cough lasting up to several weeks is the main symptom, with additional effects including fever, shortness of breath and fatigue. While bronchitis itself isn't contagious, the viruses that cause it are. Treatments for viral bronchitis include antiviral medications, cough suppressants and bronchodilators, though the illness typically goes away on its own. Viral bronchitis can lead to greater risks and complications for those over 65, such as pneumonia.

Dreyfuss continued, "But there will be other times and I will make it my business to show up. And I want to wish you all good luck and happiness and I want you all to feel very sorry for me, and very sorry for yourselves. I'm in a lot of pain and that has to come first, my health. I feel very good about having the time and enough health."

"And such great fans," Erokhin added, as Richard agreed: "And such great fans." She continued, "We love you, we miss you all, and we will see you soon."

"That's my wife saying that," Dreyfuss concluded. "She's right, she knows how to do this. So good luck, happy health, happy con – bye!"

In the post, SharkCon added in the caption that "all prepaid autographs and photo ops will automatically be refunded."

The Close Encounters of the Third Kind star was among the celebrities scheduled to appear alongside Jaws costars Jeffrey Voorhees, John Dukakis, the Searle brothers and others. The Steven Spielberg classic is celebrating its 50th anniversary, the creature feature birthing the modern-day summer blockbuster on June 20, 1975. On Aug. 29, AMC Theaters will re-release the movie for the silver screen.

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Bronchitis And Hemoptysis: Symptoms, Causes, And More

Bronchitis may cause you to cough up blood, known as hemoptysis. Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchial tubes, or airways, that usually happens due to an infection or breathing in irritants like smoke.

It's important to seek medical help if you're coughing up blood. A healthcare professional can determine if hemoptysis is due to bronchitis or another condition.

If you have hemoptysis with bronchitis, treatments will likely focus on addressing the underlying cause and stopping the bleeding.

Read on to learn more about bronchitis and hemoptysis, including symptoms and causes, how doctors diagnose the cause of hemoptysis, treatment options, and more.

Bronchitis refers to inflammation of the bronchial tubes, or airways. It usually happens in response to an infection or breathing in irritants. The inflammation and irritation of the airways can lead to hemoptysis, or coughing up blood.

Treatment for hemoptysis usually focuses on addressing the underlying cause. In severe cases, bronchial arterial embolization or another medical treatment may be necessary.

Contact a doctor if you cough up a small amount of blood. Seek immediate medical help if you cough up large amounts of blood, or if you cough up blood and have symptoms like breathing difficulties, a fast heartbeat, or upper back or chest pain.

What Is Bronchitis, And Is It Contagious? - AOL

About one in 20 people experience bronchitis every year, despite it being a respiratory infection no one wants. Its most common symptoms include wheezing, chest tightness, low fever, fatigue, shortness of breath "and an irritating cough that may last anywhere from days to a couple of weeks," says Dr. Jason Nagata, a pediatrician at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in San Francisco.

Though such symptoms are uncomfortable for everyone, they can be more serious in babies, young children, the elderly and the immunocompromised. Bronchitis can even be deadly as some 350 people in the U.S. Die from the illness every year, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Here's what causes bronchitis, how the illness usually spreads and how you can treat symptoms if it affects you or a loved one.

What causes bronchitis?

Bronchitis is a respiratory illness that occurs when the airways leading into your lungs get irritated, Nagata explains, which leads to the swelling and mucus buildup that causes difficulty breathing.

Different factors cause this lung irritation to occur, depending on the type of bronchitis one is dealing with. Individuals suffering from what's called acute or viral bronchitis get the illness from viruses such as RSV, coronavirus, the common cold (rhinovirus) and influenza.

The other main form of bronchitis is called chronic bronchitis. It's usually caused by long-term exposure to environmental irritants such as cigarette smoke, chemicals, allergens, air pollution and dust, explains Dr. Kunal Bakshi, a primary care physician at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

Bronchitis can also be caused by bacteria like streptococcus pneumoniae and medical conditions such as GERD or COPD.

Is bronchitis contagious?

Understanding the different types of bronchitis can also be helpful in understanding when the illness is and isn't contagious. Chronic bronchitis caused by environmental irritants, for instance, is not contagious. But acute or viral bronchitis is. "Viral bronchitis can be spread from person to person by inhaling droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks," says Nagata.

The viruses that cause bronchitis can also be spread by touching an object or surface that has the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.

Getting vaccinated against viruses like the coronavirus and influenza can help provide protection against viral bronchitis—as can washing your hands frequently, avoiding close contact with people who are sick and keeping your immune system healthy with a well-balanced diet and plenty of exercise.

How to treat bronchitis

In healthy people, bronchitis usually goes away on its own within a week or two with "plenty of rest and drinking lots of water," says Nagata. In the meantime, symptoms can be treated with over-the-counter drugs such as cough suppressants, nasal sprays and pain medicines like as ibuprofen and acetaminophen. "Using a humidifier may also help alleviate symptoms," says Nagata.

Such at-home treatments are all that is usually required, "but you should see a healthcare provider if your cough lasts more than two to three weeks, worsens or causes difficulty breathing," advises Nagata.

In such cases, a doctor can determine if there's another underlying issue at play and recommend additional medical interventions. These may include an oxygen supply to make breathing easier and specific medications. Antibiotics are rarely recommended to treat acute bronchitis, however, "as the main cause of the infection is viral in nature," says Bakshi, and antibiotics are only designed to target and kill bacteria, not viruses. But he adds that antiviral medicines are sometimes recommended to treat specific bronchitis-causing viruses such as COVID-19 or the flu.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is bronchitis contagious?

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