Bronchitis is an infection in the airways of the lungs.
Bronchitis symptoms include coughing with or without mucus, chest tightness, and a sore throat.
A cold or flu virus is most often the cause of acute bronchitis. Most often, it goes away on its own, but home remedies and over-the-counter medicines can help ease symptoms.
More rarely, people can get chronic bronchitis, which is much more serious and requires long-term treatment.
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Doctors define bronchitis as swelling in the bronchial tubes, which are airways in the lungs.
A common name for acute bronchitis is a chest cold. About 5% of people in the U.S. get this each year.
More rarely, people can get chronic bronchitis, a long-term lung problem faced by about 4% of people in the U.S.
There are two types of bronchitis: acute and chronic.
This is the most common type of bronchitis.
Acute bronchitis symptoms don't last long — about 1 to 3 weeks.
A viral infection is often the cause. It usually resolves within 10 days.
With chronic bronchitis, damaged airways cause long-term swelling.
There's no cure, and it gets worse over time. But chronic bronchitis treatments and lifestyle changes slow the disease and help people manage symptoms.
Chronic bronchitis mostly occurs in adults older than 60, but it can affect younger people, too.
About 95% of acute bronchitis cases happen when a cold or flu virus infects the airways in the lung. More rarely, bacteria or breathing in fumes, dust, or smoke may cause acute bronchitis.
With chronic bronchitis, tobacco smoke is what most often causes damage to the bronchial tubes. Other causes include long-term exposure to chemical fumes or dust, or a rare genetic issue.
You can pass on the cold or flu virus that caused your bronchitis.
Whether others get bronchitis from the virus depends on their immune system response and overall health.
You increase your risk of both acute and chronic bronchitis if you:
Chronic bronchitis risk factors include:
For the most part, acute bronchitis doesn't cause serious health problems. It can progress to pneumonia in rare cases. Pneumonia is an infection in the lung's air sacs, while bronchitis is an infection in the air tubes.
Chronic bronchitis causes other health issues, like:
To reduce your risk of bronchitis:
UPMC's experts take the time to diagnose the cause of your cough and other breathing symptoms.
For acute bronchitis, we provide advice, reassurance, and treatment if needed.
For chronic bronchitis, we offer treatments to slow the disease, support for lifestyle changes, and close monitoring.
Our lung experts work closely with heart doctors and other experts to make sure you don't have further issues.
Back to topAcute bronchitis symptoms include:
You'll likely also have other symptoms of the virus that infected your bronchial tubes and caused bronchitis, like:
Chronic bronchitis symptoms are akin to acute bronchitis only they linger or keep coming back instead of going away.
You should see a doctor if you have:
In most cases, doctors will diagnose acute bronchitis based on your symptoms alone.
They may order tests if your symptoms could be from other issues. For instance, your doctor may order an x-ray to look for fluid in the lungs from pneumonia.
If your doctor thinks you may have chronic bronchitis, they'll ask how long you've had symptoms. They'll also order tests, like an x-ray and CT scan, to look for damage in the bronchi.
You may also have a lung function test. During the test, you breathe air in and out of a mouthpiece attached to a machine. The machine measures the amount of air you can breathe in and out.
Back to topMost cases of acute bronchitis don't require medicine.
Instead, to help relieve symptoms and support your immune system to flush out the virus, doctors suggest you:
Doctors don't advise antibiotics because they're ineffective on viruses — almost always the cause of acute bronchitis.
And bacterial bronchitis is rare. Even when it does occur, your immune system can fight off the bacteria on its own.
Your doctor may also suggest you use an inhaler if you have severe wheezing. This inhaled medicine helps open up your airways.
Chronic bronchitis requires lifestyle changes, especially quitting smoking.
Lung rehab therapists can help with breathing techniques, such as breathing in longer and slower to increase lung capacity. Exercise can also improve how much oxygen your lungs can take in.
You'll need to take chronic bronchitis medications, too. You take some of these daily and others only when you have severe symptoms.
Treatments include:
You'll need routine check-ups. How often depends on how severe the disease is.
Your doctor will check your lung function, blood oxygen levels, and weight.
Back to topLast reviewed by Susan Marchezak, CRNP on 2024-04-24.
