Highlights
- Bronchitis is an inflammation of the lung’s bronchi, resulting in a cough that lasts for up to three weeks.
- Most bronchitis cases are caused by viruses.
- Smoking, air pollution, and poor hand hygiene during cold seasons can increase your risk of bronchitis.
Bronchitis is an infection of the airway’s bronchi, the passages that move from the windpipe to the lungs. As the infection causes inflammation, it causes a cough that produces mucus. Bronchitis is usually a short and self-limiting infection, but it does occasionally progress to a chronic state.
Bronchitis Symptoms
Bronchitis symptoms often feel similar to having a cold. They can include:
- A productive cough. When you cough, you may produce sputum that’s white, yellow, or green.
- Pain when coughing. Coughing a lot may cause a muscle strain that makes coughing painful.
- Shortness of breath. You may feel breathless when going about your normal activities.
- Cold-like symptoms. You might develop a runny nose, blocked nose, or sore throat.
- Fever. You may develop a fever of 100.4 or above.
When To See a Doctor About Bronchitis Symptoms
Although bronchitis is often self-limiting, it’s important to know when to contact a doctor. If you experience the following symptoms, seek medical advice:
- A cough that lasts longer than three weeks
- Coughing up blood-stained mucus
- A fever that lasts longer than three days
- A high-grade fever of 100.4 or above
- You have a weakened immune system due to an existing condition or medical treatment
- You’re feeling very unwell
Bronchitis Causes
It isn’t always possible to identify the cause of bronchitis, but certain pathogens and lifestyle factors can increase your risk:
- Viruses. Up to 90 percent of bronchitis cases are caused by viruses. Antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections.
- Bacterial infections. Bacterial infections are more common when bronchitis is an exacerbation of COPD (25 percent) or related to pneumonia (33 percent).
Bronchitis Risk Factors
Some risk factors increase your risk of developing bronchitis, and not all of them are modifiable. They include:
- Environment. Long-term exposure to pollution may make chronic bronchitis more likely. You may also be at higher risk when living in a dusty or moldy environment.
- Smoking. Children who are exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke may be more likely to develop bronchitis or bronchiolitis.
- Family history. Having a first-degree relative with COPD may increase your risk of developing chronic bronchitis.
- Medical history. Asthma, bronchiectasis, and cystic fibrosis all increase your risk of bronchitis.
- Income. Lower-income individuals and those who are self-employed may have a higher risk.
Is Bronchitis Contagious?
Coming into contact with someone who has bronchitis won’t necessarily increase your risk of developing it. Although you may be at risk of catching the causative pathogen, that doesn’t mean you’ll go on to develop bronchitis. You may have another reaction, such as developing a simple cough or cold.
Bronchitis Diagnosis
When diagnosing bronchitis, your doctor is likely to focus on history taking. They may perform a physical examination and will only order tests if you show certain signs and symptoms.
A typical bronchitis diagnosis can include:
- History taking. Your doctor will ask how long you’ve had your symptoms. They may also ask questions that rule out differentials such as asthma or a common cold.
- Lung examinations. Using their stethoscope, your doctor will listen for certain lung sounds. Unlike typical colds, bronchitis can produce a wheezing sound.
- Clinical signs. Your doctor will assess your pulse rate, respiration rate, blood pressure, temperature, and blood oxygen. By examining all of these signs together, your provider can assess how severe your bronchitis is.
- Sputum tests. As most bronchitis infections are viral, sputum tests aren’t usually necessary. With bacterial bronchitis, a sputum test can help your doctor choose the right type of antibiotic.
- X-rays. X-rays aren’t usually necessary for diagnosing bronchitis. However, if your case lasts longer than three weeks or you have certain clinical signs, your doctor may order an x-ray to rule out pneumonia and other respiratory conditions.
Bronchitis Complications
Acute bronchitis is usually self-limiting. It’s likely to resolve within two to three weeks, although the cough may last up to eight weeks. However, some people go on to develop bronchitis complications.
Complications can include:
- Chronic bronchitis. Repeated episodes of acute bronchitis may increase your risk of developing chronic bronchitis. With chronic bronchitis, your condition lasts for three months or more.
- Secondary infections. The virus or bacteria that causes your bronchitis may cause a secondary infection, such as sinusitis, ear infections, or sepsis.
- Pneumonia. Recovery from pneumonia can take six to eight weeks, and in some cases, it can be fatal.
Bronchitis Treatment
Although bronchitis is usually self-limiting, treatments are available to soothe symptoms.
- Honey. Honey can relieve some cough symptoms, but it probably won’t shorten the duration of your cough.
- Cough medicines. Cough medicines that feature expectorants may clear some of the mucus and make you more comfortable.
- Painkillers. Painkillers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen can ease muscular aches. They’re also useful for reducing fevers.
- Antibiotics. Antibiotics aren’t necessary in most bronchitis cases because they don’t treat viruses. Your doctor may prescribe amoxicillin or azithromycin, depending on the causative bacteria and any allergies you may have.
Bronchitis Prevention
The key to bronchitis prevention is to stay healthy and practice good hygiene, especially during the winter. Preventative steps you can take include:
- Quitting smoking. When you quit smoking, you reduce the number of goblet cells in your peripheral airways. As a result, you produce less mucus.
- Hand hygiene. Washing your hands regularly prevents the spread of pathogens that cause bronchitis.
- Cough etiquette. When coughing and sneezing, cover your mouth and nose. Doing so helps prevent the spread of pathogens.
- Vaccines. Vaccinating against flu and pneumonia can significantly decrease your bronchitis risk.
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