What are the symptoms of bronchitis?

Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
Updated on September 04, 2024
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Bronchitis is a common clinical disease, which can generally be divided into acute bronchitis and chronic bronchitis in clinical practice. Acute bronchitis often has a sudden onset, with symptoms such as coughing and expectoration; some people may also experience fever, chest tightness, and wheezing. Typically, the course of the disease lasts two to three weeks. Chronic bronchitis, on the other hand, has a longer duration, with a more gradual onset and symptoms of recurrent coughing and expectoration, and even chest tightness. The annual duration of the disease is more than three months, with a typical onset lasting over two years, making it very long and difficult to control.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu
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Does bronchitis cause asthma?

Bronchitis can be classified into acute bronchitis and chronic bronchitis based on the onset and progression of the condition. Acute bronchitis usually begins suddenly, with generally mild systemic symptoms. It can include fever and is mostly characterized by a dry cough or a small amount of mucous sputum. Over time, the amount of sputum may increase and the coughing may intensify, occasionally accompanied by blood-streaked sputum. There is generally no significant hemoptysis or chest pain. The duration of cough and expectoration can be quite long, potentially lasting two to three weeks. A small portion of patients may experience prolonged symptoms, eventually progressing to chronic bronchitis. The most common symptoms of chronic bronchitis are also cough and expectoration, but these symptoms last much longer, typically persisting for more than two years and occurring for three months each year. A small number of bronchitis patients may experience bronchial spasms or bronchial asthma, leading to varying degrees of chest tightness, shortness of breath, or wheezing.

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How to treat bronchitis in children?

For pediatric bronchitis, it is primarily important to determine the cause of the infection in the child and to treat the disease based on its cause. Choose corresponding sensitive antibiotics or antimicrobial drugs for treatment. If coughing and expectoration are severe, it may be necessary to use some antitussive and expectorant drugs. Moreover, if the child shows signs of wheezing or obvious suffocation, nebulized inhalation can be used for treatment to relieve symptoms. It is generally advisable to be cautious; if the baby shows signs of breathing difficulty, it is best to take the baby to the hospital for a chest X-ray. Typically, this will only reveal a coarse lung texture, but if the pathogen causing bronchitis in children is complex, then combined medication may be required for treatment.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
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Symptoms of bronchitis in children

The symptoms of bronchitis in children mainly present as symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection. At the onset of the disease, symptoms such as chills, cold fear, high fever along with a runny nose and sneezing will appear, followed by coughing, expectorating phlegm, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. Severe cases may show signs of flaring nostrils, rapid breathing, and the three concave sign. Some patients may also experience symptoms like high fever leading to coma, so it is important to promptly use sensitive antimicrobial drugs and anti-inflammatory treatments, while also managing the fever to prevent febrile convulsions. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor based on the specific circumstances.)

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How is bronchitis treated?

In clinical settings, bronchitis is treated in two main ways. The first approach includes general and symptomatic treatment. The second and most crucial approach is the use of sensitive antimicrobial drugs to kill the pathogens and provide anti-inflammatory treatment. Increased water intake and the use of antipyretic analgesic drugs for fever symptoms are recommended. It is necessary to identify whether the infection is bacterial, viral, or mycoplasmal, and to use sensitive antimicrobial drugs to kill the pathogens. Once the inflammation subsides, the symptoms caused by bronchitis will gradually diminish and fade away.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
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Does bronchitis cause a fever?

Bronchitis, a condition that can cause symptoms of fever if it is acute inflammation. During the acute phase of inflammation, the pathogens in the body stimulate the body's temperature regulation center, leading to chills and fever. Clinically, there may also be an acute facial expression, accompanied by complications such as difficulty breathing and cyanosis of the lips. If it is chronic bronchitis, fever symptoms generally do not occur, with the main symptoms being cough, sputum production, and difficulty breathing. Diagnosis requires combination with laboratory test results, and treatment measures and plans should be taken according to the cause of the disease.