Medically reviewed by Dr. Kenneth Knowles, MD on January 16th, The majority of people with bronchitis have symptoms for about 10 to 14 days, although some symptoms notably cough and fatigue may last up to a month. Older adults can experience disruptive symptoms for longer and may have higher risk for potentially serious complications like pneumonia.
An important consideration when discussing the duration of bronchitis is what type is present. Most cases of bronchitis are acute, meaning that it develops as a result of a virus, bacterial infection, or inhaled air pollutants. Acute bronchitis usually lasts for ten to 14 days and may occur after a common cold or another upper respiratory infection. Because this illness is usually caused by a virus, antibiotics are not useful, because they only treat infections caused by bacteria.
Over-the-counter medications can be used to treat your symptoms. Acetaminophen lowers fever. You can use cough suppressants eg, dextromethorphan if you have a dry, hacking cough that does not produce any mucus, especially if your cough interferes with your sleep. Expectorants eg, guaifenesin can help you cough up mucus in your airways. Drinking plenty of water also helps by thinning mucus, making it easier to clear. Contact your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms, so that other illnesses, such as asthma or pneumonia , can be ruled out:.
Remember to always consult your doctor when treating children younger than 2 years, because it is best to avoid overthe-counter cough and cold medication in young children without specific guidance. Chronic bronchitis is defined as a nagging cough that is present for 3 months out of the year for 2 consecutive years. Read: Bronchitis vs Pneumonia.
Many people just want to know how to get rid of bronchitis quickly or what the best medicine for bronchitis is. However, in most cases, bronchitis goes away on its own after a couple of days or weeks, with the most severe symptoms lessening after the first few days. Since the majority of cases are caused by viral infections, antibiotics for bronchitis are not needed. Thus, the treatment for bronchitis is simply rest, drink water, and eat healthy meals.
If it is a rare case of bronchitis caused by bacteria, then a doctor can prescribe antibiotics. The most likely choices for antibiotics are amoxicillin and doxycycline with erythromycin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
If you have asthma or allergies and contract bronchitis, a doctor may also prescribe an inhaler, which counteracts the narrowing of the airways and helps shortness of breath. Talk to a doctor before using cough medicine. Cough medicine allows the body to be less irritated by mucus, but this inhibits the body from coughing the mucus and getting it out of your system. Over-the-counter pain medication such as aspirin, naproxen Aleve , Ibuprofen Motrin, Advil , and acetaminophen Tylenol can help with the pain and any feverish symptoms.
The treatment for bronchitis that is recurring is similar to acute cases. There is no cure for chronic bronchitis other than addressing the underlying causes, most commonly smoking and other environmental factors. In severe cases, your doctor may prescribe a bronchodilator inhaler, which helps clear airways, or corticosteroids, which contain steroid hormones to decrease inflammation in the lungs. If damage to the lungs is too great, oxygen therapy may be necessary to regulate oxygen intake.
What helps with bronchitis naturally? The average person reports symptoms for 10 to 14 days and misses an average of 2 to 3 days of work. Since most cases of bronchitis are caused by viral illnesses that do not respond to antibiotics, here are some ways to lessen the symptoms as your body works to get better:. Read: Home Remedies for Bronchitis. How long does it take to get rid of bronchitis?
Acute bronchitis usually forms three to four days following a viral illness, like a cold or flu. On the other hand, a common cold is like a less severe form of bronchitis. You may have a sore throat and fever, but your symptoms usually go away after a few days.
Acute bronchitis often stems from a common cold or viral infection and normally resolves in about days. Common symptoms of acute bronchitis include:. Chronic bronchitis is an ongoing condition that causes persistent coughing for at least three months for two consecutive years.
Patients who smoke frequently have a high risk of developing chronic bronchitis. Other risk factors are long-term exposure to lung irritants, pollutants, and aging. The first step to treating bronchitis is to determine how severe your symptoms are. When you visit our urgent care clinic for bronchitis, we first discuss your symptoms and perform a physical exam.
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