Highlights & Basics
- Acute bronchitis is typically associated with a cough that is worse at night or with exercise; lasts >2 weeks in half of patients and 4 weeks in a quarter of patients; may be associated with bronchospasm and/or excessive mucus production.
- Diagnosis is primarily clinical. Other causes for acute cough such as pneumonia, asthma, or postnasal drip should be ruled out if suspected.
- Treatment is aimed at symptom reduction until infection is resolved and bronchial damage repaired. Antibiotics are not recommended in the majority of patients.
- Complications are rare; the primary complication is a postbronchitis syndrome, which can produce a cough lasting several months.
Quick Reference
History & Exam
Key Factors
Other Factors
Diagnostics Tests
Treatment Options
Definition
Epidemiology
Etiology
Pathophysiology
Citations
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Spurling GK, Del Mar CB, Dooley L, et al. Delayed antibiotic prescriptions for respiratory infections. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Sep 7;(9):CD004417.[Abstract][Full Text]
Smith SM, Fahey T, Smucny J, et al. Antibiotics for acute bronchitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Jun 19;(6):CD000245.[Abstract][Full Text]
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