The majority of acute bronchitis cases are caused by a viral infection, such as a cold or flu, which starts in the nose or the sinuses and moves into the airways. (1) Most cases of acute bronchitis clear up on their own without intervention, says Fernando Holguin, MD, director of asthma clinical and research programs at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Acute bronchitis usually clears up in 3 to 10 days, but your cough could last for several more weeks after the infection has cleared. Bronchitis symptoms are not contagious, but the underlying causes, like a cold or the flu, can be transmitted from one person to another. Chronic bronchitis is a long-term condition characterized by a cough that produces large amounts of sputum, and the coughing lasts for two to three months of a year for at least two years. The condition is typically a result of long-term exposure to cigarette smoke and other lung irritants, such as dust, fumes, and air pollution. With chronic bronchitis, the coughing is usually worse early in the morning and at night, says Dr. Holguin. “It becomes a part of everyday life,” says Holguin. “It can be distressing and affect one’s quality of life.” Chronic bronchitis, along with emphysema, are commonly known as COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The rest of this article will focus on acute bronchitis and its common signs and symptoms.
WheezingShortness of breathChest discomfort or painFatigueFever
If you have chest pains, trouble breathing, a high fever, blood in your mucus, or a cough that lasts more than three weeks, see a doctor right away, Holguin says. But, unlike bronchitis, which involves inflammation of the bronchial tubes, pneumonia is caused by an infection of lung tissue, says Holguin. And while most cases of acute bronchitis are caused by a viral infection, pneumonia is often bacterial, which means an antibiotic will help in those instances. (Only about a third of pneumonia cases are caused by a virus.) While bronchitis is typically associated with a mild fever (below 101 degrees Fahrenheit), pneumonia is most often characterized by a high fever as well as other more serious symptoms, including chest pain and shortness of breath, Holguin adds. Your doctor will conduct a series of tests to see whether you have bronchitis or pneumonia. She or he will likely listen to your lungs (with pneumonia, doctors hear bubbling, crackling, or rumbling sounds) and order X-rays to look for fluid or pus in the lungs. Signs that your symptoms may be something other than acute bronchitis (and mean you should see your doctor) include, a fever higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit, trouble breathing, a cough that produces blood, a cough that lasts longer than two weeks and produces a bad-tasting fluid in the mouth (which could be a sign of a digestive condition), or a lot of wheezing that is more frequent at night or when you’re active. Conditions that affect the lungs (acute bronchitis, asthma, and pneumonia) can be related. For instance, if you get acute bronchitis frequently you may be more likely to develop asthma, a chronic breathing condition. If you’re experiencing coughing, wheezing, or trouble breathing, it’s important to accurately identify whether it’s bronchitis or something else so that you can get the right treatment. If you’re not sure, see your doctor. Most cases of acute bronchitis clear up on their own and don’t require treatment from your doctor. But if you experience unfamiliar symptoms, or if, for instance, you experience coughing spells every time you get a cold, you should see your doctor to rule out any undiagnosed illnesses or underlying problems. Your doctor will typically ask you how long you’ve had your cough; what kind of mucus, if any, you are producing; and how often or how much you are coughing. (5) He or she will also likely ask for your medical history, including details like whether or not you smoke or spend time around someone who smokes, or if you’ve recently had a cold or the flu. Your doctor may also:
Listen to your lungs for any abnormal sounds like wheezingHave your mucus tested for a bacterial infection (despite a common misconception, you can’t tell by the color of the mucus whether or not the infection is bacterial or viral, or whether there’s definitely an infection at all, Holguin says)Test the oxygen levels in your bloodOrder a chest X-ray, lung function tests, or blood tests.
