How does bronchitis spread

Treat symptoms of bronchitis at home with these 10 remedies, and learn about other treatments. If you have a very bad case of bronchitis, your doctor may prescribe an inhaler or nebulizer treatment to help open up your lungs. One of the most telltale symptoms of bronchitis is a nagging cough that may start out dry, but become productive as the infection progresses.

Left untreated, bronchitis can turn into pneumonia. Recognizing the symptoms of bronchitis can help you get treatment earlier and may prevent…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Bronchitis: Is it Contagious? Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D. Symptoms and incubation. Seeing a doctor.

Read this next. Medically reviewed by Dr. Sirisha Yellayi, DO. Once the infection is gone, bronchitis is no longer contagious. However, it is important that people maintain good hygiene and continue to wash their hands regularly. The primary symptom of bronchitis is a persistent cough. The primary symptom of bronchitis is a persistent, usually wet cough that contains lots of mucus. A wet cough occurs because the airways have become inflamed, and they produce mucus in response. Acute bronchitis is defined as short-term inflammation of the lungs and airways, usually lasting less than 3 weeks.

Acute bronchitis is most common in the elderly, infants, and young children. A virus usually causes acute bronchitis, which makes it more likely that a person will develop the condition during the winter months when viral infections are more common.

With acute bronchitis, symptoms can be similar to that of a cold or the flu. Chronic bronchitis is one of several conditions also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD.

If the symptoms of bronchitis are present and last for over 3 consecutive weeks, then a medical diagnosis is required. This diagnosis helps the doctor to determine whether the condition is chronic bronchitis. Since the symptoms of bronchitis can be similar to a range of other diseases, a medical professional will need to diagnose the condition to treat it correctly.

A range of different factors may cause acute or chronic bronchitis. The causes of both types of bronchitis are explored below. Acute bronchitis is usually caused by a viral infection, similar to the viruses that cause colds and flu, which means acute bronchitis may be contagious.

Some environmental factors can increase the chances of developing acute bronchitis. These conditions cause airway inflammation and make the lungs more prone to infection. There are some steps that people can take to avoid or reduce the risk of developing both acute and chronic bronchitis. These include:. Read more on Lung Foundation Australia website. Bronchitis is an inflammation of the large airway passages that go to the lungs.

Symptoms include coughing, and also a runny nose, wheezing and fever. Read more on raisingchildren. Bronchitis is usually caused by viruses, including the common cold and flu, but bacteria can sometimes cause it.

Read more on Choosing Wisely Australia website. Acute bronchitis: should I take antibiotics? Downloads Acute bronchitis: should I take antibiotics? Publication year Resource type Guide, user guide or guidelines Topics Antimicrobial resistance, use and stewardship. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD is an umbrella term for the lung diseases emphysema, chronic bronchitis and bronchiectasis. Read more on WA Health website. Learn what you can do about respiratory tract infections RTIs - from colds, flu and sore throat to pneumonia.

Read more on Better Health Channel website. Respiratory tract infections RTIs are respiratory illnesses that refer to a variety of infections of the sinuses, throat, airway or lungs. Read more on Ausmed Education website. While we will see this rating lower and fluctuate over the week, it is worth keeping in mind there is no safe level of air pollution.

Managing the emergence and increasing resistance to antimicrobials in hospitals and the community has become an urgent national and international problem. Mayo Clinic. April 11, Chronic Bronchitis. American Lung Association. Managing and Preventing Acute Bronchitis. March 13, NIH News in Health. May Singh A, Zahn E. Acute Bronchitis. November 15, Acute Bronchitis: Overview. Informed Health Online. September 7, Learn About Acute Bronchitis. What Causes Acute Bronchitis?

Harvard Health Publishing. September Acute Bronchitis: Is It Contagious? March 11, How Flu Spreads.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. August 27, Nonpharmaceutical Interventions: At Home. February 6,