Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosisCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Coping
Acute bronchitis is inflammation that happens in the breathing tubes called the bronchi. The bronchi carry the air to your lungs, so you can breathe. When these airways to the lungs are inflamed, they can swell and make mucus, which makes you cough. Another name for acute bronchitis is a chest cold.
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Types of Bronchitis
The two main categories of bronchitis are:
In some cases, acute bronchitis can get worse and become chronic.
Acute Bronchitis Symptoms
The most common symptoms of acute bronchitis are:
The most common cause of acute bronchitis is a virus. Sometimes, bacteria can cause this condition. Acute bronchitis often occurs after you have the common cold or flu. It can also happen after an upper respiratory infection. In other cases, breathing in toxic or chemical compounds can lead to bronchitis.
Other causes of acute bronchitis include breathing in:
Other treatment options include:
In general,acute bronchitiscan go away on its own, and some people start to feel better in a few days. However, most people have symptoms for about two weeks. It is also possible for the cough to last up to eight weeks.
If you have the following conditions, you are more likely to get acute bronchitis and for it to return:
Acute bronchitis can be serious if you have heart or lung diseases that may affect your breathing. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have these medical conditions, as you may need additional treatment.
In rare cases, complications such aspneumoniaoccur after bronchitis. You are more likely to get pneumonia if you:
There are steps you can take to make coping with bronchitis easier. Since acute bronchitis can make you feel tired and achy, it is important to rest as much as you can. Reach out to friends and family if possible for additional support.
Bronchitis can make it more difficult to breathe, so you want to avoid smoking or smoky environments. Using a humidifier or breathing in steam from a hot bowl of water can help. Another option is to take hot showers with steam.
A Word From Verywell
Although most cases of acute bronchitis clear up on their own, you should see a healthcare provider if your symptoms do not go away or get worse. Talk to a healthcare professional right away if you have a fever over 100 degrees F for more than three days or cough up mucus with blood. A practitioner can also determine if there are complications from bronchitis that require additional treatment.
Acute bronchitis is one of the most common infections to affect the lungs and is also one of the top reasons for seeing a healthcare provider. Although it is more common in children, adults at any age can have this condition.
4 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.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Acute bronchitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chest cold (acute bronchitis).American Lung Association.Bronchitis (acute).
4 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.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Acute bronchitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chest cold (acute bronchitis).American Lung Association.Bronchitis (acute).
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.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Acute bronchitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chest cold (acute bronchitis).American Lung Association.Bronchitis (acute).
MedlinePlus.Acute bronchitis.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Acute bronchitis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chest cold (acute bronchitis).
American Lung Association.Bronchitis (acute).
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