How to treat acute bronchitis?

Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
Updated on January 20, 2025
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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 Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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Is acute bronchitis prone to recurrence?

Acute bronchitis is often due to the patient's low immune function, accidental exposure to cold or getting rained on, leading to an acute onset of bronchitis, causing clinical symptoms like fever, cough, sputum production, dyspnea, and wheezing. In clinical practice, acute bronchitis generally heals within about a week after timely and effective anti-infective treatment, cough suppression, expectoration facilitation, and asthma relief. Bronchitis is divided into acute bronchitis and chronic bronchitis. Acute bronchitis, generally after effective symptomatic treatment such as anti-infection, is not likely to recur frequently if the patient has a relatively good immune function.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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Can you not exercise with acute bronchitis?

Acute bronchitis has a relatively rapid onset and occurs fairly frequently. It typically causes clinical symptoms such as fever, cough, sputum, shortness of breath, and wheezing. During an acute episode of bronchitis with fever, it is generally not advisable to engage in strenuous exercise, as the body’s ability to dissipate heat is already compromised due to the fever. Continuing to exercise might lead to a rapid increase in body temperature because intense physical activity enhances heat production while the cooling functions are relatively diminished. Therefore, it is not recommended to exercise during the feverish phase of acute bronchitis. Exercise can be considered when the body temperature returns to normal and other clinical symptoms have significantly improved.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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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 An Yong Peng
Pulmonology
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Can you run with acute bronchitis?

It is not recommended to run when suffering from acute bronchitis. For this condition, it is usually necessary to rest. During the acute phase of the illness, running and similar physical exercises are not advised as they can be detrimental to the patient's condition. Patients with acute bronchitis should also pay attention to maintaining a light diet, avoiding spicy and irritating foods. Appropriate symptomatic treatment should be given, such as using cough suppressant medications. If a patient has persistent cough symptoms or develops purulent sputum, it’s crucial to check for the possible presence of pneumonia. This may require a chest CT and a complete blood count. If the patient has bacterial pneumonia, antibiotic treatment is necessary. Moreover, it is important to note that although patients with acute bronchitis should not run during the acute phase, running and exercising regularly, enhancing nutrition, and avoiding staying up late are measures that can help prevent acute bronchitis.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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How to prevent acute bronchitis

Acute bronchitis is relatively common in clinical practice, especially among elderly and frail patients. Common symptoms include fever, cough, expectoration, chest tightness, and more. To prevent acute bronchitis, it is important to exercise regularly, enhance physical fitness, rest adequately, balance work and rest, and avoid overwork and staying up late. During seasons when colds are prevalent, it is advisable to drink more water, ensure room ventilation to prevent colds, and strive to improve the living and sanitary conditions to keep the air fresh. Active treatment should be sought for those with upper respiratory infections, such as diseases in the nose, pharynx, or larynx areas.