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Acute Bronchitis

Acute bronchitis is a short-term inflammation of the airways, usually caused by a virus, that produces a nagging cough lasting up to three weeks. Antibiotics are rarely needed for this common illness.

Pulmonary
Acute bronchitis is a short-lived inflammation of the bronchial tubes, the large airways that carry air into the lungs. It is one of the most common reasons adults see a doctor for cough. The illness usually follows a cold or other respiratory infection, and while the cough can be stubborn — often lasting two to three weeks — most people recover completely without antibiotics. Causes:
  • Viruses: The same viruses that cause colds and flu account for the vast majority of cases. Because the cause is viral, antibiotics usually do not help.
  • Bacteria: A small minority of cases, including infections such as whooping cough (pertussis).
  • Irritants: Smoke, dust, fumes, and air pollution can inflame the airways and worsen symptoms.
Symptoms:
  • Cough: The main symptom, dry at first and often becoming productive of clear, yellow, or green mucus. Colored mucus alone does not mean a bacterial infection.
  • Chest discomfort: Soreness or a burning feeling behind the breastbone, often worse with coughing.
  • Wheezing and mild shortness of breath: The inflamed airways can temporarily narrow, mimicking mild asthma.
  • Mild fever, fatigue, and sore throat: Usually in the first few days; high or prolonged fever suggests something else, such as pneumonia or influenza.
Diagnosis: Acute bronchitis is diagnosed by history and physical examination. Testing is usually unnecessary, but your doctor may order a chest X-ray when fever is high, oxygen levels are low, breathing is labored, or the exam suggests pneumonia — particularly in older adults and smokers. A cough lasting beyond three weeks may prompt evaluation for other causes such as postnasal drip, reflux, or underlying lung disease like COPD. Treatment: Treatment focuses on comfort while the airways heal:
  • Supportive care: Rest, plenty of fluids, honey for cough (in adults and children over age one), throat lozenges, and a humidifier.
  • Symptom relievers: Acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever and chest soreness; over-the-counter cough medicines offer modest benefit for some people.
  • Inhaled bronchodilators: When wheezing is present, an albuterol inhaler can relieve airway tightness and cough.
  • Antibiotics: Generally not recommended, because they do not shorten a viral illness and can cause side effects; they are reserved for specific situations such as suspected pertussis.
  • Avoiding smoke: Not smoking, and avoiding secondhand smoke, speeds recovery and prevents repeated episodes.
Bronchitis vs. Pneumonia: The two are easy to confuse because both cause cough after a cold. Bronchitis inflames the airways; pneumonia infects the lung tissue itself and is more dangerous. Clues that point toward pneumonia include high or persistent fever, shaking chills, breathlessness at rest, a fast heart rate, chest pain with breathing, and feeling significantly ill rather than merely worn down. When the picture is unclear, a simple office exam and, if needed, a chest X-ray settle the question. When to Seek Care: See a doctor promptly for a fever above 100.4°F lasting more than a few days, shortness of breath at rest, coughing up blood, symptoms that worsen after initially improving, or a cough lasting longer than three weeks. Repeated bouts of bronchitis in a smoker can be an early sign of chronic lung disease, and sinus infections such as sinusitis can cause a similar lingering cough. Most bronchitis clears on its own, but it is worth confirming that nothing more serious is brewing. The primary-care team at Zimmer Medical Group offers same-week sick visits to sort out a stubborn cough — schedule an appointment if you are not improving.

Related Medications

Commonly prescribed medications for this condition

AlbuterolCefdinirCefpodoximeCefuroximeClarithromycinMoxifloxacin

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