No Appointment Necessary – Just Walk In!
Colds and other respiratory illnesses are a common part of life – but what happens when your cold symptoms start to go away, but you can’t stop coughing? Chances are, a lingering cough after a respiratory illness means you developed bronchitis.
Acute bronchitis refers to the inflammation and swelling of the bronchial tubes, which carry air to the lungs. This inflammatory process results in production of mucus that makes you cough. It shows up quickly, usually brought on by a virus, and lasts up to three weeks. Chronic bronchitis sometimes recurs, cumulatively lasting up to three months of the year for two years in a row.
Smokers frequently suffer from bronchitis, as will anyone with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Acute bronchitis often shows up in someone with an upper respiratory tract infection resulting from a cold or flu. It may also result from a bacterial infection or inhalation of smoke or irritating chemicals.
With rest, plenty of clear fluids and humidity (humidifier, steam shower, etc.), acute bronchitis should go away after several days to a week. Smokers take much longer to recover. Your doctor might take a chest x-ray to rule out pneumonia, but bronchitis is largely a clinical diagnosis based on your history and the symptoms you are experiencing. Once bronchitis is diagnosed, most doctors will recommend lots of fluid and sometimes an over the counter expectorant to rid the lungs of phlegm. If you are wheezing, you may receive an inhaled medication called Albuterol or Xopenex which can help open inflamed bronchial tubes. “Cough” drops don’t really make a cough go away, but might soothe that sore throat and annoying tickle. Antibiotics are not useful in the treatment of bronchitis.
If you have the following symptoms, along with a fever over 101°F, you should be evaluated by a physician:
If you have been treated for bronchitis and your symptoms do not improve in 14 days, call your doctor again or come in and see us at Express Urgent Care. Proceed to a hospital emergency department right away for severe difficulty breathing.