Symptoms of acute bronchitis typically persist for approximately three weeks. The common cold often causes coughing however, nasal congestion and rhinorrhea are also usually present, and a cold typically lasts only seven to 10 days. Most Common Differential Diagnosis of Acute CoughĬhronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about the dangers of certain commonly used agents underscore the importance of using only evidence-based, effective therapies for bronchitis. 2 Although some physicians cite patient expectations and time constraints for using these therapies, recent warnings from the U.S. 1 However, studies show that most patients with acute bronchitis are treated with inappropriate or ineffective therapies. As patient expectations for antibiotics and therapies for symptom management differ from evidence-based recommendations, effective communication strategies are necessary to provide the safest therapies available while maintaining patient satisfaction.Ĭough is the most common symptom for which patients present to their primary care physicians, and acute bronchitis is the most common diagnosis in these patients. The supplement pelargonium may help reduce symptom severity in adults. Food and Drug Administration recommends against using cough and cold preparations in children younger than six years. The typical therapies for managing acute bronchitis symptoms have been shown to be ineffective, and the U.S. Antibiotics are generally not indicated for bronchitis, and should be used only if pertussis is suspected to reduce transmission or if the patient is at increased risk of developing pneumonia (e.g., patients 65 years or older). Viruses are responsible for more than 90 percent of acute bronchitis infections. The presence or absence of colored (e.g., green) sputum does not reliably differentiate between bacterial and viral lower respiratory tract infections. Symptoms of bronchitis typically last about three weeks. Acute bronchitis should be differentiated from other common diagnoses, such as pneumonia and asthma, because these conditions may need specific therapies not indicated for bronchitis. Cough is the most common symptom bringing patients to the primary care physician's office, and acute bronchitis is usually the diagnosis in these patients.
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