Acute bronchitis

Acute bronchitis
Other names	Chest cold
Figure A shows the location of the lungs and bronchial tubes. Figure B is an enlarged view of a normal bronchial tube. Figure C is an enlarged view of a bronchial tube with bronchitis.
Specialty	Pulmonology
Symptoms	Cough with sputum, wheezing, shortness of breath, fever, chest discomfort[1][2]
Duration	Up to 6 weeks[3]
Causes	Typically viral infection[1]
Risk factors	Tobacco smoke, dust, air pollution[2]
Diagnostic method	Based on symptoms[4]
Differential diagnosis	Asthma, pneumonia, bronchiolitis, bronchiectasis, COPD[1]
Prevention	Avoiding air pollution, handwashing[5]
Treatment	Rest, paracetamol (acetaminophen), NSAIDs[3][6]
Frequency	~5% one or more episodes a year[7][8]

Acute bronchitis, also known as a chest cold, is short-term bronchitis – inflammation of the bronchi (large and medium-sized airways) of the lungs.^[2][1] The most common symptom is a cough.^[1] Other symptoms include coughing up mucus, wheezing, shortness of breath, fever, and chest discomfort.^[2] The infection may last from a few to ten days.^[2] The cough may persist for several weeks afterward with the total duration of symptoms usually around three weeks.^[2][1] Some have symptoms for up to six weeks.^[3]

In more than 90% of cases, the cause is a viral infection.^[1] These viruses may be spread through the air when people cough or by direct contact.^[2] Risk factors include exposure to tobacco smoke, dust, and other air pollution.^[2] A small number of cases are due to high levels of air pollution or bacteria such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae or Bordetella pertussis.^[1][9] Diagnosis is typically based on a person's signs and symptom.^[4] The color of the sputum does not indicate if the infection is viral or bacterial.^[1] Determining the underlying organism is typically not needed.^[1] Other causes of similar symptoms include asthma, pneumonia, bronchiolitis, bronchiectasis, and COPD.^[1][7] A chest X-ray may be useful to detect pneumonia.^[1]

Prevention is by not smoking and avoiding other lung irritants.^[5] Frequent hand washing and flu vaccination may also be protective.^[5][10] Treatment of acute bronchitis typically involves rest, paracetamol (acetaminophen), and NSAIDs to help with the fever.^[3][6] Cough medicine has little support for its use and is not recommended in children less than six years of age.^[1][11] Antibiotics should generally not be used.^[12] An exception is when acute bronchitis is due to pertussis.^[1] Tentative evidence supports honey and pelargonium to help with symptoms.^[1]

Acute bronchitis is one of the most common diseases.^[3][13] About 5% of adults are affected and about 6% of children have at least one episode a year.^[7][8] It occurs more often in the winter.^[7] More than 10 million people in the United States visit a doctor each year for this condition with approximately 70% receiving antibiotics, most of which are not needed.^[3] There are efforts to decrease the use of antibiotics in acute bronchitis.^[13]