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:

• Do not smoke
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Rest
• Take aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol) if you have a fever. DO NOT give aspirin to children
• Use a humidifier or steam in the bathroom

If your symptoms do not improve, your doctor may prescribe an inhaler to open your airways. If your doctor thinks that you have a secondary bacterial infection, antibiotics will be prescribed.

For chronic bronchitis, the most important step you can take is to QUIT smoking. If caught early enough, you can reverse the damage to your lungs. Other important steps include:

• Limit your exposure to pollutants and other lung irritants.
• Get a flu vaccine each year and a pneumococcal vaccine as directed by your doctor.
• Attend a respiratory training program that includes physical activity and breathing exercises. Your doctor can recommend a medically appropriate and well-supervised program. If it is early in the disease process, you can likely exercise on your own. Talk to your doctor about safety.

Your doctor will usually prescribe inhaled medicines for chronic bronchitis. These drugs, which include bronchodilators like albuterol and ipratropium, open your airways and help clear mucus. A bronchodilator taken by mouth (theophylline) and steroids (either inhaled or by mouth) are often necessary as well. If you have an active infection, your doctor will put you on antibiotics. You may also need antibiotics to prevent infection.

If you have low oxygen levels, home oxygen will be used.

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:

• Emphysema
• Right-sided heart failure or cor pulmonale
• Pulmonary hypertension

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