Bronchitis: What You Need to Know Right Now

Most people with bronchitis have a short viral infection, not a bacterial one. That means antibiotics often won’t help. Knowing what to expect and when to act makes a big difference—so here are clear, practical steps that actually help.

Recognize the symptoms

Bronchitis usually starts with a cough that can last from a few days to several weeks. At first the cough may be dry, then produce yellow or green phlegm. You might also feel chest tightness, wheeze when breathing, have mild fever, or feel tired. If you’ve had a long history of smoking or COPD, a bronchitis flare can feel worse and last longer.

There are two main types: acute bronchitis (short, often viral) and chronic bronchitis (long-term cough, usually tied to smoking or lung disease). Acute cases often follow a cold or flu. Chronic bronchitis means coughing most days for months each year—if that sounds like you, talk to a doctor about testing and long-term care.

Simple treatment that works

Start with basics: rest, fluids, and humidified air. Warm showers or a cool-mist humidifier can ease coughing and loosen mucus. Over-the-counter pain relievers help with fever and body aches. Sucking lozenges or using a honey-and-lemon drink at bedtime often reduces nighttime coughing.

If you wheeze or feel short of breath, a bronchodilator inhaler (short-acting relief like albuterol) can make breathing easier. For those with chronic bronchitis or repeated flares, a doctor may suggest long-acting inhalers or inhaled steroids. Our short-acting vs. long-acting bronchodilators guide on the site explains when each type is best.

Avoid antibiotics unless your doctor suspects a bacterial infection, you have high fever and pus-like sputum, or you have a chronic lung condition that raises risk. Antibiotics won’t help viral bronchitis and can cause side effects.

When coughs last more than three weeks, or if you cough up blood, have severe trouble breathing, chest pain, or very high fever, seek medical help right away. These signs could mean pneumonia or another serious issue.

Prevention is straightforward: don’t smoke, avoid secondhand smoke, wash hands often, and get annual flu shots. People with chronic lung problems should ask their doctor about the pneumococcal vaccine to lower the risk of serious lung infections.

Bronchitis can be annoying, but most people recover with basic care. If you’re unsure whether you have acute or chronic bronchitis, or if your breathing feels worse than usual, see a clinician. Quick action when symptoms change keeps small problems from becoming big ones.