Is acute bronchitis contagious?

Written by Li Jian Wu

Pulmonology

Updated on January 06, 2025

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Acute bronchitis is somewhat contagious, mostly caused by viruses, bacteria, mycoplasma, or staphylococci due to inflammatory irritation. It can spread through respiratory secretions and expelled air containing pathogens. If a healthy person comes into contact with these pathogens, they may get infected. Therefore, acute bronchitis can be contagious. It is advisable to promptly disinfect indoor air, drink plenty of water, rest adequately, select sensitive antimicrobial drugs to kill the pathogens, and treat symptoms accordingly.

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Written by Liu Jing Jing

Pulmonology

1min 1sec

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Can acute bronchitis cause coughing up blood?

Acute bronchitis can potentially lead to coughing up blood. This is because acute bronchitis involves the infection of the bronchi by pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, and mycoplasma, leading to congestion and swelling of the airway mucosa. Patients often exhibit symptoms such as coughing, expectoration, and fever. If coughing is severe, it could rupture small blood vessels, causing symptoms of coughing up blood. If blood is present in the cough, hemostatic treatment is needed. However, not all instances of coughing up blood are due to acute bronchitis. Other possible causes of coughing up blood include lung tumors, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and pulmonary embolism. Therefore, if symptoms of coughing up blood occur, chest X-rays or a chest CT scan should be conducted to confirm the diagnosis.

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Written by Han Shun Li

Pulmonology

1min 16sec

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How to treat acute bronchitis?

Acute bronchitis is an acute inflammation of the bronchi caused by various pathogenic factors and is relatively common in clinical practice. Symptoms mainly include coughing, production of sputum, and some patients may experience chest tightness, shortness of breath, fever, and blood in the sputum. For initial instances of acute bronchitis, it is important to first ensure rest, increase fluid intake, avoid fatigue, and avoid exposure to cold. Secondly, symptomatic treatment should be considered; cough suppressants can be used for coughs that are dry or produce little sputum, and expectorants should be used when the cough produces sputum that is difficult to expel. If there is chest tightness and wheezing, asthma medications should be chosen. If fever is present, antipyretic and analgesic medications should be used for symptomatic treatment. Thirdly, the use of antibiotics is appropriate only when there is evidence of bacterial infection; otherwise, it is best to avoid them. Treatment with antibiotics should be under a doctor's guidance, and self-medication should be avoided. With the above treatments, acute bronchitis can generally be controlled, but a minority of patients with weaker constitutions may develop chronic conditions.

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Written by Han Shun Li

Pulmonology

48sec

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Is acute bronchitis pneumonia?

The bronchi are the organs through which air enters and exits the lungs. The bronchi and lungs are two separate organs, so inflammation occurring in the bronchi is not the same as inflammation occurring in the lungs. Thus, acute bronchitis is not pneumonia, but both conditions can exhibit similar symptoms, such as fever, coughing, and expectoration. So how do we differentiate between acute bronchitis and pneumonia? Clinically, when such symptoms appear, doctors usually recommend a lung X-ray. If the lung X-ray appears normal, or there is only an increase or thickening of lung markings, the doctor will diagnose acute bronchitis. If the lung X-ray shows imaging signs of inflammatory exudation or shadows, then the doctor will diagnose pneumonia.

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Written by Han Shun Li

Pulmonology

54sec

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Can you exercise with acute bronchitis?

Common symptoms of acute bronchitis include coughing and expectoration. Some patients may experience chest tightness and shortness of breath. It is generally advised to rest during the illness period, as exercise is not recommended. Exercise increases lung capacity and the volume of air entering and leaving the airways, which can directly stimulate the respiratory tract, leading to worsened symptoms such as coughing and chest tightness. Additionally, after physical activity, the consumption of oxygen increases, which may lead to breathing through the mouth. This means the air bypasses the nasal cavity's filtering and warming, directly irritating the respiratory tract and exacerbating the symptoms of acute bronchitis. Therefore, it is advised to rest and avoid exercise, especially high-intensity activities, during an episode of acute bronchitis.

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Written by Han Shun Li

Pulmonology

48sec

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What medicine is good for acute bronchitis?

Acute bronchitis is an acute inflammation of the bronchial mucosa, often caused by pathogenic microbial infections, as well as physical and chemical factors and allergic factors. Patients experience symptoms such as coughing, expectoration, fever, and wheezing. Generally, acute bronchitis does not require intravenous fluid treatment. It can be cured within two to three weeks through oral medication, such as oral anti-inflammatory drugs and oral cough suppressants and asthma relievers. However, in some cases, such as when symptoms are relatively severe, there is a bacterial infection, and oral medication is difficult, intravenous antibiotics can be considered for treatment.