5 Things to Know About Acute Bronchitis

1. Know the Symptoms of Acute Bronchitis
Early on, acute bronchitis is indistinguishable from the common cold and upper respiratory infections. Acute bronchitis is an inflammation of the larger airways, or bronchi, before the lungs.
It is usually caused by a virus such as the rhinovirus (often cause of colds), influenza virus, RSV and the coronavirus. So treatment with antibiotics is not necessary, even though around 60 percent of acute bronchitis cases are treated with antibiotics.
Symptoms include a dry or productive cough, but usually there is no fever. The cough will last from 10 to 20 days and may include reactive airways that produce wheezing.
2. Treatments for Acute Bronchitis
Some over-the-counter medications can alleviate some of the symptoms of acute bronchitis. These include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, pseudoephedrine (for nasal congestion) and antihistamines such as diphenhydramine. Cough suppressants aren't usually helpful in bronchitis.
3. If It's Not Acute Bronchitis, What Else Could It Be?
Sometimes you may not have acute bronchitis but pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, postnasal drip or asthma. Pneumonia could be the cause when a cough is associated with fever and shortness of breath. Chronic bronchitis is a productive cough during more days than not for 3 months out of 2 consecutive years. Postnasal drip occurs with colds, allergies and sinusitis, and individuals need to clear their throats frequently. Asthma may be difficult to distinguish from acute bronchitis with a new cough and wheezing. Individuals who have recurrent bouts of acute bronchitis should be evaluated for asthma with pulmonary function tests or a methacholine challenge.
4. How to Prevent the Spread of Acute Bronchitis
As with any contagious illness, proper hand washing is extremely important in prevention. Washing your hands with an antibacterial soap for at least 15 to 30 seconds using warm water should be sufficient. Examples of 15 seconds are singing the ABCs or the "Happy Birthday" song. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can also be used. Because viruses are often spread via respiratory droplets, infected individuals should cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze.
5. When You Should See a Doctor
Symptoms of fever, a prolonged cough (longer than 10 days), shortness of breath or chest pain should be evaluated by a health care provider to rule out more serious illnesses.