Doctor: George HW Bush has chronic bronchitis

A doctor who has been attending to George H.W. Bush says the former president is suffering from chronic bronchitis.

“While President Bush has recovered from pneumonia, he continues to deal with the effects of chronic bronchitis, which is a condition more prevalent with age,” Dr. Clint Doerr said Tuesday in a statement through Bush’s spokesman.

“This means his airway has a constant, low-level inflammation that can aggravate the symptoms of pneumonia.”

{mosads}Doerr added that Houston Methodist Hospital plans on discharging Bush later this week, despite the ailment.

“Once President Bush is home, we will continue aggressive respiratory treatments to help minimize the effects of the chronic bronchitis.”

Bush first checked into Methodist last week following a persistent cough, according to family spokesman Jim McGrath.

Former President George W. Bush visited his father, appearing in a widely shared photograph posted on the elder Bush’s Twitter account. 

“No father has ever been more blessed, or prouder,” Bush, 92, tweeted alongside a picture of himself resting in bed while his son stands next to him.

McGrath said Monday that Bush remains in “good spirits” and is “resting comfortably” despite his condition.

“Mr. Bush will remain in the hospital for a few more days of observation, and his medical team hopes to discharge him by the end of the week,” he added.

Bush was previously admitted to Methodist for several days in January for an illness that ultimately required him to stay in an intensive care unit.

His wife Barbara, 91, was also admitted to the hospital that month after reportedly experiencing coughing and fatigue.