Bronchitis Treatment: A Comprehensive Guide

Medically Reviewed by Zilpah Sheikh, MD on July 17, 2024
Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors
7 min read

Bronchitis is when your bronchial tubes, which carry oxygen from your windpipe to your lungs, become inflamed. The lining of the tubes makes mucus, which makes your cough worse. The condition can also cause wheezing and make it hard to catch your breath.

To know whether you have bronchitis and not an allergy or other problem, you should see your doctor. They may test you for COVID-19, which has some of the same symptoms.

Many cases go away on their own with rest and self-care. If not, bronchitis treatment may require medications such as cough suppressants or inhalers. In more serious cases, you might need further treatment, such as oxygen therapy.

If you recently had a cold that turned into a nagging cough, you might have acute bronchitis. (In medical terms, “acute” means conditions that come on quickly and last a short time). A virus is the most common cause of this type of bronchitis. It usually lasts anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks and goes away on its own with rest and self-care.

If you have a cough with mucus most days of the month for at least 3 months a year, you might have chronic bronchitis. This is long-term irritation of your bronchial tubes and is often caused by smoking or exposure to air pollutants. It's considered a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

There's no cure for chronic bronchitis, which may lead to permanent lung damage. But ongoing treatment can help you manage its symptoms. Chronic bronchitis treatment usually involves a combination of medications and lifestyle changes.

Important ways you can improve your lung health include:

Those steps are important if you think you have acute bronchitis, too.

When you see your doctor, be ready to talk about your symptoms in detail. You should be able to answer:

  • How long have you had your cough?
  • Are you coughing up mucus?
  • Is there blood in your sputum?
  • Did you ever have a fever or other symptoms, such as chest tightness?
  • Did you have a cold before the cough?
  • Are you wheezing?
  • Do you have trouble catching your breath?
  • Have you been around other people who have the same kinds of symptoms?

At the appointment, your doctor will go over your symptoms and give you a physical exam. They’ll listen to your chest with a stethoscope while you cough. This may be enough for them to make an acute bronchitis diagnosis.

You may not need any tests. But in some cases, you might need one or more.

To make a chronic bronchitis diagnosis, your doctor will also give you a physical exam and ask questions about your symptoms and health history.

They'll also do a test to see how well your lungs are working, called a pulmonary function test. You may have other tests as well.

 

 

Here are some of the tests your doctor might order:

Pulse oximetry. This uses a device on the end of your finger to measure oxygen levels in your blood.

Chest X-ray. If you have a fever or had one recently, this can help rule out or confirm pneumonia.

Nasal swab. This type of test is done to rule out COVID-19 or flu as the cause of your symptoms.

Blood tests. Your doctor may test a sample of your blood for infections or other indicators of health problems.

Sputum culture. If your symptoms are serious, your doctor might get a sample of the mucus you cough up (sputum). A lab test can tell whether the mucus is caused by an allergy or whooping cough (pertussis), which is a very contagious bacterial infection. Serious symptoms may also mean another test.

Spirometry. This is a test of your lung function. You blow into a machine called a spirometer, which measures how much air your lungs can hold and how quickly you can blow it all out. This also helps your doctor see whether you have signs of asthma or emphysema.

Don’t be surprised if your doctor simply recommends rest and lots of fluids. A bout of acute bronchitis will often fade away on its own. Letting your body rest and drinking plenty of fluids may help it disappear more quickly.

Medicines for bronchitis

If you do need medicine for bronchitis, your doctor might recommend one or more of these to ease your symptoms:

Over-the-counter pain relievers. Medications such as aspirin, acetaminophen, and naproxen reduce fever and body aches.

Cough suppressants. Your doctor will only suggest these if you’re not bringing up mucus anymore. If you are, it means your body is still clearing your airways.

Antiviral medicine. Your doctor might prescribe this if the flu is causing your bronchitis. If you take it soon after getting sick, it can keep symptoms mild and speed recovery.

Bronchodilators. These medications relax the muscles surrounding your airways, which helps open them. They come in short-acting and long-acting forms. You can take them by tablet, nebulizer, or inhaler.

Inhalers for bronchitis. Most bronchodilators are taken in an inhaler. Some inhalers contain corticosteroids to reduce swelling in your lungs. Your doctor might prescribe an inhaler for bronchitis if your condition is chronic or if you also have allergies or asthma, both of which can narrow your airways.

Bronchitis home remedies

In addition to getting plenty of rest, you might try:

  • Sleeping near a humidifier or sitting in a steamy bathroom to help you breathe easier
  • Drinking plenty of fluids to loosen congestion in your chest
  • Cough drops or tea with honey to soothe your throat
  • Using a nasal saline spray or neti pot to remove mucus from your sinuses

How to treat chronic bronchitis

If you have chronic bronchitis, the most important step is to make lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, avoiding secondhand smoke, and getting regular exercise.

Along with bronchodilator medication and vaccines to protect you from flu and pneumonia, your doctor may suggest:

Oxygen therapy. You might get extra oxygen all the time or only when needed.

Pulmonary rehabilitation. This therapy is aimed at improving the health of people with breathing problems. You'll learn exercises to improve your breathing. Your treatment may also include psychological counseling and nutrition guidance.

A lung transplant. This may be an option if you have very serious chronic bronchitis that hasn't responded to other treatments.

Antibiotics are powerful medicines that treat bacterial infections. But acute bronchitis is usually caused by a viral infection. Antibiotics don’t help with a virus.

If your doctor thinks the cause is bacteria, they might prescribe antibiotics.

If so, be sure to take the full prescription of antibiotics. Even if you feel better, the infection could still be in your system. You want to make sure you kill all the bacteria on the first try.

Even with treatment for acute bronchitis, your cough may last a few more weeks. It should become milder and drier as the days go by. You may also feel tired for a while longer. Plan to get rest. Don’t expect to have a lot of energy right away.

If your cough doesn’t improve and you continue to feel sick, see your doctor again. It could be a bacterial infection after all. Or you might have other breathing problems that could be delaying your recovery from acute bronchitis.

While there's no cure for chronic bronchitis, treatment can improve your symptoms and reduce how many flare-ups you have.

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, which take oxygen from your windpipe to your lungs. Depending on what type you have, treatment may involve rest and self-care, lifestyle changes, or medication. See your doctor if you have wheezing or a cough that won't go away.

How long does bronchitis last without treatment?

Acute bronchitis usually gets better within 2 weeks, but full recovery could take up to 6 weeks. Chronic bronchitis never goes away completely. 

What is the best medicine for bronchitis?

There's no specific medicine that treats acute bronchitis itself. Over-the-counter pain relievers and cough suppressants can help relieve symptoms. But don't take cough suppressants while your lungs are still clearing mucus.

If you have chronic bronchitis, your doctor may prescribe bronchodilator medication. You could also get a corticosteroid to reduce inflammation in your lungs.

How do you stop a bronchitis cough fast?

Drinking plenty of liquids and breathing moist air (from a humidifier or in a warm shower) can help ease your coughing. Ask your doctor if you should take a cough suppressant.

Does vapor rub help with bronchitis?

Mentholated vapor rubs can help ease coughing and may bring some relief for that symptom of bronchitis. But don't use them on babies or toddlers unless you check with a pediatrician first.

Does bronchitis get worse at night?

Coughing is often worse at night. When you lie down, gravity causes mucus to pool in the back of your throat. This leads to coughing. You may also notice coughing more at night because it keeps you awake.