Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsChronic vs. AcuteSymptomsDuration of Acute BronchitisDuration of Chronic BronchitisWhen to See a ProviderDiagnosisTreatmentComplicationsFAQ
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Chronic vs. Acute
Symptoms
Duration of Acute Bronchitis
Duration of Chronic Bronchitis
When to See a Provider
Diagnosis
Treatment
Complications
FAQ
In some cases, chronic bronchitis may be permanent. When it occurs with decreased airflow, it is calledchronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
This article explains the differences between acute and chronic bronchitis and how long each one lasts. It also describes how each of the conditions is diagnosed and treated.
Catherine Falls Commercial / Getty Images
Chronic vs. Acute Bronchitis
Bronchitis isinflammationof the large airways of the lungs, calledbronchi. This causes them to swell and produce excess mucus, triggering a chesty,productive (“wet”) cough.
Here is a brief snapshot of the differences between acute bronchitis and chronic bronchitis:
Treatment typically involves rest with oral painkillers, cough suppressants, or expectorants
Can be prevented with handwashing and avoiding sick people
Uncomplicated cases typically last three weeks or less
Chronic BronchitisStrongly associated with smoking and COPDAir pollution and occupational exposure to gases, dust, and fumes may also play a roleIs not contagiousStrongly linked to tobacco smokingTreatment involves smoking cessation, bronchodilators, steroids, and pulmonary rehabilitationAvoiding cigarettes is the primary form of preventionSymptoms persist on and off for at least two years but may be permanent
Strongly associated with smoking and COPD
Air pollution and occupational exposure to gases, dust, and fumes may also play a role
Is not contagious
Strongly linked to tobacco smoking
Treatment involves smoking cessation, bronchodilators, steroids, and pulmonary rehabilitation
Avoiding cigarettes is the primary form of prevention
Symptoms persist on and off for at least two years but may be permanent
Symptoms of Bronchitis
Though the causes of bronchitis differ, acute and chronic bronchitis have many similar symptoms.
Acute bronchitis will initially have similarsymptoms to a cold or flu, including:
The persistent lung inflammation can cause the following symptoms with acute bronchitis as well as chronic bronchitis:
Bronchitis vs. Pneumonia: How to Spot the Key Differences
How Long Acute Bronchitis Lasts
Generally, you should be feeling better from acute bronchitis within a week or two, though you may have a lingering cough and fatigue for three weeks or more.
The types of viruses and bacteria that cause bronchitis will usually have been in your system from two to six days before you start feeling cold symptoms.
Once you start feeling sick, you’ll feel like you have a cold or flu that lasts a few days to up to 10. Other symptoms may resolve, but you can develop a lingering cough for potentially a few weeks.
Bronchitis, especially if it’s viral, can be passed on to others just hours after you come into contact with it, long before you develop symptoms. You’ll becontagious through the cold or flu sickness phase—at least a few days and maybe even a week.
Home Remedies That HelpThe most effective form of treatment for acute bronchitis is rest, which gives your immune system the resources it needs to fight the infection. You also need to drink plenty of water, which helps loosen phlegm so that it is more easily coughed up.There is some evidence that honey can help ease throat scratchiness and pain as well as acute coughing.
Home Remedies That Help
The most effective form of treatment for acute bronchitis is rest, which gives your immune system the resources it needs to fight the infection. You also need to drink plenty of water, which helps loosen phlegm so that it is more easily coughed up.There is some evidence that honey can help ease throat scratchiness and pain as well as acute coughing.
The most effective form of treatment for acute bronchitis is rest, which gives your immune system the resources it needs to fight the infection. You also need to drink plenty of water, which helps loosen phlegm so that it is more easily coughed up.
There is some evidence that honey can help ease throat scratchiness and pain as well as acute coughing.
How Long Chronic Bronchitis Lasts
Chronic bronchitis lasts at least three months out of the year and recurs each year for at least two years. It can be a persistent problem that lasts for the rest of your life.
Symptoms can flare up in what are known asacute exacerbations. During these flare-ups, additional treatments may be needed to bring the symptoms under control.
If the symptoms are not effectively managed—which includes thecessation of smoking—the condition can get worse and lead toemphysemain which large pits start to develop in the lungs.
Whilechronic bronchitis itself isn’t contagious, it can lead to frequent colds, flu, and other respiratory illnesses that you can spread to other people.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If left untreated, bronchitis can lead to complications such aspneumoniain which the air sacs of the lungs fill with fluid, causing extreme breathing difficulty.
The diagnosis of acute and chronic bronchitis starts with a physical exam and a review of your symptoms and medical history.
With acute bronchitis, however, the diagnosis can usually be made based on your signs and symptoms alone. A chest X-ray may be ordered if pneumonia is suspected.
With chronic bronchitis, additional tests will be needed to determine how advanced the condition is and how much it affects your ability to breathe effectively. Determining these things will help direct the appropriate course of treatment.
Testing for chronic bronchitis may involve:
Treatments
Because the causes of acute and chronic bronchitis differ, the treatments are also vastly different.
Acute Bronchitis
The focus of treatment for acute bronchitis is supportive care and symptom management.Antibioticsare infrequently used.
Over-the-counter medications may be prescribed for fever, cough, and other acute symptoms, including:
When Antibiotics Are UsedAs 90% of cases of acute bronchitis are viral, antibiotics are not prescribed because they only fight bacterial infections.Antibiotics are reserved for cases of severelower respiratory infectionsand are not used to treat anupper respiratory infection. The overuse of antibiotics can lead toantibiotic resistance.
When Antibiotics Are Used
As 90% of cases of acute bronchitis are viral, antibiotics are not prescribed because they only fight bacterial infections.Antibiotics are reserved for cases of severelower respiratory infectionsand are not used to treat anupper respiratory infection. The overuse of antibiotics can lead toantibiotic resistance.
As 90% of cases of acute bronchitis are viral, antibiotics are not prescribed because they only fight bacterial infections.
Antibiotics are reserved for cases of severelower respiratory infectionsand are not used to treat anupper respiratory infection. The overuse of antibiotics can lead toantibiotic resistance.
Chronic Bronchitis
The goals of treatment of chronic bronchitis are to resolve acute exacerbations, prevent them from recurring, and slow or stop the progression of the disease.
Multiple tools may be used, including:
The prolonged coughing and irritation from bronchitis can cause some complications. Extended or aggressive coughing fits can irritate or injure the tissues in the throat, causing bleeding and injury.
The irritation of the airways can allow bacteria to infiltrate the lungs and establish a secondary infection that can lead tobacterial pneumonia. Unlikeviral pneumoniawhich often goes away on its own in a few weeks, bacterial pneumonia can turn deadly if not appropriately treated with antibiotics.
Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Bronchitis can make you feel miserable and not able to do much for about a week or more. The cough can keep you up at night, and you may tire quickly. You will know you are turning a corner when your chest congestion loosens and you have more energy. Your cough will likely be more productive and may sound worse, but you will start to feel better.
Bronchitis can worsen and become pneumonia. Pneumonia is a serious condition where the lungs fill with fluid and breathing becomes more difficult. Symptoms of pneumonia include:Chest pain upon breathing or coughingChillsDiarrheaFeverNausea or vomitingProductive coughIf you experience these symptoms, see your doctor.
Bronchitis can worsen and become pneumonia. Pneumonia is a serious condition where the lungs fill with fluid and breathing becomes more difficult. Symptoms of pneumonia include:
If you experience these symptoms, see your doctor.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Acute bronchitis.National Library of Medicine.Bronchitis, chronic.Miravitlles M, Ribera A.Understanding the impact of symptoms on the burden of COPD.Respir Res. 2017;18(1):67. doi:10.1186/s12931-017-0548-3John Hopkins Medicine.Chronic bronchitis.Kinkade S, Long NA.Acute bronchitis.Am Fam Physician.2016;94(7):560–565.MedlinePlus.Chronic bronchitis.Allan GM, Arroll B.Prevention and treatment of the common cold: making sense of the evidence.CMAJ. 2014;186(3):190-199. doi:10.1503/cmaj.121442MedlinePlus.Pneumonia.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Acute bronchitis.National Library of Medicine.Bronchitis, chronic.Miravitlles M, Ribera A.Understanding the impact of symptoms on the burden of COPD.Respir Res. 2017;18(1):67. doi:10.1186/s12931-017-0548-3John Hopkins Medicine.Chronic bronchitis.Kinkade S, Long NA.Acute bronchitis.Am Fam Physician.2016;94(7):560–565.MedlinePlus.Chronic bronchitis.Allan GM, Arroll B.Prevention and treatment of the common cold: making sense of the evidence.CMAJ. 2014;186(3):190-199. doi:10.1503/cmaj.121442MedlinePlus.Pneumonia.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Acute bronchitis.National Library of Medicine.Bronchitis, chronic.Miravitlles M, Ribera A.Understanding the impact of symptoms on the burden of COPD.Respir Res. 2017;18(1):67. doi:10.1186/s12931-017-0548-3John Hopkins Medicine.Chronic bronchitis.Kinkade S, Long NA.Acute bronchitis.Am Fam Physician.2016;94(7):560–565.MedlinePlus.Chronic bronchitis.Allan GM, Arroll B.Prevention and treatment of the common cold: making sense of the evidence.CMAJ. 2014;186(3):190-199. doi:10.1503/cmaj.121442MedlinePlus.Pneumonia.
MedlinePlus.Acute bronchitis.
National Library of Medicine.Bronchitis, chronic.
Miravitlles M, Ribera A.Understanding the impact of symptoms on the burden of COPD.Respir Res. 2017;18(1):67. doi:10.1186/s12931-017-0548-3
John Hopkins Medicine.Chronic bronchitis.
Kinkade S, Long NA.Acute bronchitis.Am Fam Physician.2016;94(7):560–565.
MedlinePlus.Chronic bronchitis.
Allan GM, Arroll B.Prevention and treatment of the common cold: making sense of the evidence.CMAJ. 2014;186(3):190-199. doi:10.1503/cmaj.121442
MedlinePlus.Pneumonia.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
