Hospital Affiliation
Bronchitis
(Acute Bronchitis; Lower Respiratory Tract Infection)
Definition
| Bronchi of Lungs |
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- Acute bronchitis—This is a sudden onset of symptoms. It only lasts a short time and lung function is fully recovered.
- Chronic bronchitis—This is a serious, long-term condition. It causes blockage and damage of the lungs. It is often the result of many years of cigarette smoking.
Causes
- Viral or bacterial infections
- Irritation from smoke
-
Breathing in certain irritants (usually in a work setting) such as:
- Ammonia
- Chlorine
- Minerals
- Vegetable dusts
Symptoms
- Cough
- Increased sputum production
- Trouble breathing
- Wheezing
Diagnosis
- Blood test
- Chest x-rays—to check for other conditions such as pneumonia
- Sputum cultures to check for the presence of unusual bacteria
Treatment
-
Ibuprofen
or
acetaminophen
to treat pain and fever
- Note: Aspirin is not recommended for children or teens with a current or recent viral infection. This is because of the risk of Reye's syndrome. Ask your doctor which other medicines are safe for your child.
-
Expectorants or cough suppressants
- There are some concerns about the safety of over-the-counter cough and cold products in children. The FDA recommends that these products not be used in children less than 2 years old. The FDA also supports not using them in children less than 4 years old.
- Albuterol to help open airways if there are signs of breathing difficulty
- Herbs and supplements—Pelargonium sidoides extract may help resolve symptoms in patients with acute bronchitis
- Increased fluid intake
- Cool mist humidifier—to ease breathing
Prevention
- Avoid contact with people who have respiratory viral or bacterial infections.
- Stop smoking or never start.
- Avoid passive smoke.
- Avoid exposure to irritants in the air.
RESOURCES
American Academy of Family Physicians Family Doctor http://familydoctor.org
American Lung Association http://www.lung.org
CANADIAN RESOURCES
The Canadian Lung Association http://www.lung.ca
The College of Family Physicians of Canada http://www.cfpc.ca
References
Acute bronchitis. American Academy of Family Physicians Family Doctor website. Available at: http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/acute-bronchitis.html. Updated February 2010. Accessed March 29, 2013.
Acute bronchitis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php. Updated February 8, 2013. Accessed March 29, 2013.
Know when antibiotics work: Bronchitis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/antibiotic-use/URI/bronchitis.html. Updated May 1, 2012. Accessed March 29, 2013.
Smith S, Fahey T, et al. Antibiotics for acute bronchitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009;CD000245.
Nonprescription cough and cold medicine use in children. Medwatch: 2007 Safety Alerts for Drugs, Biologics, Medical Devices, and Dietary Supplements. US Food and Drug Administration website. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm152691.htm. Accessed: March 29, 2013.
1/4/2011 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php: Timmer A, Gunther J, Rucker G, Motschall E, Antes G, Kern WV. Pelargonium sidoides extract for acute respiratory tract infections. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008;(3):CD006323.