Which respiratory condition is characterized by inflammation and excessive mucus production?

The respiratory condition that is characterized by inflammation and excessive mucus production is bronchitis. This condition involves irritation and inflammation of the bronchial tubes, which can lead to an overproduction of mucus. This excess mucus can obstruct airflow and is often accompanied by coughing and difficulty breathing.

Asthma is primarily characterized by airway hyper-responsiveness and can involve inflammation, but it often presents with episodic difficulty breathing rather than a chronic production of mucus. Emphysema, another respiratory condition, involves the destruction of the air sacs in the lungs, leading to breathing difficulties, but it is not primarily defined by mucus production. Pneumonia, while it involves inflammation of the lung tissue and can contribute to mucus production, is usually the result of an infection rather than a chronic process related to inflammation of the airways.

In summary, bronchitis is the correct answer as it specifically refers to the condition defined by inflammation and the resulting excessive mucus production within the airways.