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Acute Bronchitis
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Lungs Breathing

Acute Bronchitis

Acute bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes that typically results in a persistent cough and is most often caused by viral infections.

Overview

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, the airways that carry air to your lungs. It causes a cough that often produces mucus, along with shortness of breath, wheezing, low fever, and chest tightness. There are two main types: acute and chronic.

Causes

Most cases of acute bronchitis are caused by the same viruses responsible for colds and the flu, which spread through the air or physical contact. Other causes include exposure to tobacco smoke, air pollution, dust, vapors, and fumes. Less frequently, the condition is caused by bacteria.

Diagnosis & Treatment

A health care provider will diagnose the condition by reviewing symptoms and listening to your breathing. While most cases resolve within several days, the cough may persist for weeks.

Treatment focuses on symptom relief:

  • Rest and fluids
  • Aspirin (for adults) or acetaminophen to manage fever
  • Humidifiers or steam to ease breathing
  • Inhaled medicine to open airways if wheezing is present

Antibiotics are only effective if the bronchitis is caused by bacteria, not viruses.

Frequently Asked Questions

While both conditions involve respiratory symptoms, pneumonia typically presents with more severe systemic signs such as a high fever (often above 101 F or 38.3 C), rapid breathing, and sharp chest pain that worsens with deep breaths. Acute bronchitis usually involves a lower-grade fever, general malaise, and a cough that may produce mucus but lacks the intense pleuritic pain of pneumonia. A healthcare provider can differentiate between the two using a physical exam, listening to the lungs for crackles or rales, and sometimes through a chest X-ray if the diagnosis is unclear.
ntibiotics are ineffective against viruses, which are the cause of the vast majority of acute bronchitis cases. Prescribing them unnecessarily contributes to antibiotic resistance and offers no benefit in reducing symptom duration. Antibiotics are only indicated if a bacterial cause is confirmed or strongly suspected, such as in cases of whooping cough (pertussis) or if the patient has underlying conditions like COPD that increase the risk of bacterial superinfection. Self-medicating with leftover antibiotics is dangerous and should be avoided.
Effective home management includes staying well-hydrated to thin the mucus, using a cool-mist humidifier to moisten the airways, and using over-the-counter cough suppressants or expectorants as directed. Honey (for those over one year old) can soothe the throat, and steam inhalation may help loosen congestion. Rest is crucial to allow the immune system to fight the infection. If the cough persists beyond three weeks or is accompanied by shortness of breath, a follow-up with a doctor is necessary to rule out other conditions.
The acute phase of bronchitis usually lasts one to three weeks, but the cough can persist for up to eight weeks as the airways heal. Immediate medical attention is required if you experience difficulty breathing, blue lips or fingernails, confusion, or a high fever that does not respond to medication. Additionally, seek care if you cough up blood or if your symptoms worsen after initially improving, as this may indicate a secondary bacterial infection or another underlying issue.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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