Treatment and Prevention
For acute (infectious) bronchitis:
- Antibiotics are normally only prescribed if a bacterium is the cause. If a virus is the problem, the infection will generally go away by itself.
- Over-the-counter painkillers are used to control the fever symptoms of a viral infection. Children should never take aspirin for a viral infection of the respiratory tract. It can cause Reye's syndrome, which is a rare and lethal inflammation of the brain.
- Cough medications used may be suppressants that control the cough, or expectorants that thin the bronchial secretions. Bronchodilators are inhaled medications that help open up the airways. They are usually taken as a "puffer" (metered-dose inhaler) or as a mist used with a mask (nebulizer).
Non-medication remedies for acute bronchitis include:
- drinking lots of fluids - this makes mucus easier to get rid of
- using a cool or warm moist-air humidifier to help thin the mucus blocking the air passages
Medications for chronic bronchitis include:
- inhaled bronchodilators and corticosteroids used regularly may open the airways, decrease inflammation, and improve health-related quality of life
- anticholinergic medications may help reduce the amount of coughing
- corticosteroids pills such as prednisone*, sometimes given when chronic bronchitis suddenly becomes worse - these medications help reduce the inflammation and swelling of the airways
Non-medication remedies for chronic bronchitis include:
- drinking plenty of fluids helps to thin out the mucus so it is easier to get rid of
- using a cool or warm moist-air humidifier helps to thin the mucus blocking the air passages (humidifiers should be cleaned according to the manufacturer's directions to make sure bacteria or mold does not build up inside the machine)
- exercising regularly
- in some cases, taking oxygen therapy - this may be recommended for severe chronic bronchitis, especially when the symptoms suddenly worsen (Many chronic bronchitis sufferers find that "home oxygen therapy" is helpful when they have difficulty breathing. This therapy is only useful if a measurement of oxygenation shows that the oxygen level in your blood is low.)
If you already have chronic bronchitis and there has been some damage to the airways, quitting smoking slows down the disease and also lessens the chances of getting lung cancer. Seeking counseling from a health professional and joining a support group are the best ways to help you quit smoking.
Quitting smoking is also the best way to prevent bronchitis. Another important preventive measure is to be vaccinated against influenza and pneumonia. These vaccinations are recommended for seniors, people with certain medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, heart disease), and everyone with chronic bronchitis or COPD.
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
Jeffrey Heit, MD, Internist with special emphasis on preventive health, fitness and nutrition, Philadelphia VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.