Bronchitis is inflammation of the main air passages to the lungs. Bronchitis may be short-lived (acute) or chronic, meaning that it lasts a long time and often recurs.
See also: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Acute bronchitis generally follows a viral respiratory infection. At first, it affects your nose, sinuses, and throat and then spreads to the lungs. Sometimes, you may get another (secondary) bacterial infection in the airways.This means that bacteria infect the airways, in addition to the virus.
People at risk for acute bronchitis include:
The elderly, infants, and young children
Persons with heart or lung disease
Smokers
Chronic bronchitis is a long-term condition. People have a cough that produces excessive mucus. To be diagnosed with chronic bronchitis, you must have a cough with mucus most days of the month for at least 3 months.
Chronic bronchitis is one type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD for short. (Emphysema is another type of COPD.)
The following things can make bronchitis worse:
Symptoms
The symptoms of either type of bronchitis may include:
Chest discomfort
Cough that produces mucus; if it's yellow-green, you are more likely to have a bacterial infection
Fatigue
Fever -- usually low
Shortness of breath worsened by exertion or mild activity
Wheezing
Even after acute bronchitis has cleared, you may have a dry, nagging cough that lingers for several weeks.
Additional symptoms of chronic bronchitis include:
Ankle, feet, and leg swelling
Blue-colored lips from low levels of oxygen
Frequent respiratory infections (such as colds or the flu)
Signs and tests
The health care provider will listen to your lungs with a stethoscope. Abnormal sounds in the lungs called rales or other abnormal breathing sounds may be heard.
Tests may include:
Chest x-ray
Lung function tests provide information that is useful for diagnosis and your outlook.
Pulse oximetry helps determine the amount of oxygen in your blood. This quick and painless test uses a device that is placed onto the end of your finger. Arterial blood gas is a more exact measurement of oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, but it requires a needle stick and is more painful.
Sputum samples may be taken to check for signs of inflammation or bacterial infection.
Treatment
You DO NOT need antibiotics for acute bronchitis caused by a virus. The infection will generally go away on its own within 1 week. Take the following steps for some relief:
If your symptoms do not improve, your doctor may prescribe an inhaler to open your airways if you are wheezing. If your doctor thinks that you have a secondary bacterial infection, antibiotics may be prescribed. Most of the time, antibiotics are not needed or recommended.
For any bronchitis, the most important step you can take is to QUIT smoking. If bronchitis is caught early enough, you can prevent the damage to your lungs.
Expectations (prognosis)
For acute bronchitis, symptoms usually go away within 7 to 10 days if you do not have an underlying lung disorder. However, a dry, hacking cough can linger for a number of months.
The chance for recovery is poor for persons with advanced chronic bronchitis. Early recognition and treatment, combined with smoking cessation, significantly improve the chance of a good outcome.
Complications
Pneumonia can develop from either acute or chronic bronchitis. If you have chronic bronchitis, you are more likely to develop recurrent respiratory infections. You may also develop:
Calling your health care provider
Call your doctor if:
You have a cough most days or you have a cough that returns frequently
You are coughing up blood
You have a high fever or shaking chills
You have a low-grade fever for 3 or more days
You have thick, greenish mucus, especially if it has a bad smell
You feel short of breath or have chest pain
You have an underlying chronic illness, like heart or lung disease
Prevention
DO NOT smoke.
Get a yearly flu vaccine and a pneumococcal vaccine as directed by your doctor.
Reduce your exposure to air pollution.
Wash your hands (and your children's hands) frequently to avoid spreading viruses and other infections.
References
- Braman SS. Diagnosis and management of cough: ACCP Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines. Chest. 2006;129:1S-23S. [PubMed: 16428686]
- Gwaltney JM. Acute bronchitis. In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2005:chap 58.
