Cough suppressants: If you have a persistent cough from the body trying to clear mucus from the airways, cough medicine may help. Triaminic and Vicks 44 Cough and Cold are two OTC options. Both contain the active ingredient dextromethorphan.
Acute Bronchitis Medicines
Should a cough persist and become dry, cough suppressants can be used for up to two weeks to treat the symptoms. Common cough suppressants include dextromethorphan (available over the counter) and codeine (prescription).
Usually, doctors recommend not suppressing a cough in cases of acute bronchitis, unless your cough is keeping you from sleeping at night. Antibiotics. Studies show that antibiotics are not an effective treatment for acute bronchitis, and they may contribute to antibiotic resistance.
Bronchitis can also be triggered by breathing in irritant substances, such as smog, chemicals in household products or tobacco smoke. Smoking is the main cause of long-term (chronic) bronchitis, and it can affect people who inhale second-hand smoke, as well as smokers themselves.
Most people get over an acute bout of bronchitis in two to three weeks, although the cough can sometimes hang on for four weeks or more.
Although there are several different types of bronchitis, the most common are acute and chronic. Acute bronchitis may also be called a chest cold. Most symptoms of acute bronchitis last for up to 2 weeks. The cough can last for up to 8 weeks in some people.
Vicks VapoRub can help to improve breathing and the ability to rest when you're dealing with bronchitis congestion. It can be especially effective in children. Will bronchitis go away on its own? Acute bronchitis infections typically resolve within 10-14 days, although the cough may last for up to a few more weeks.
The most common cause of chronic bronchitis is cigarette smoking. Air pollution and dust or toxic gases in the environment or workplace also can contribute to the condition.
To manage bronchitis symptoms at home: Stay hydrated. Rest. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and milk products.
Furthermore, medications called expectorants (examples include Mucinex, Robitussin) don't help either. Using these medications to treat acute bronchitis are not only ineffective but they can cause problems such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, liver irritation, and allergic reactions.
Your cough from bronchitis may be worse at night because the airways tend to be more sensitive and prone to irritation when the airway muscles are relaxed. 9 You may also feel more congested and stuffed up because mucus can pool in your upper respiratory tract when you're lying down.
A bronchitis cough sounds like a rattle with a wheezing or whistling sound. As your condition progresses, you will first have a dry cough that can then progress towards coughing up white mucus.
You usually bring up mucus when you cough with bronchitis, but you might get a dry cough instead. You might also hear a whistling or rattling sound when you breathe (wheezing). You might have other symptoms, including: Shortness of breath (dyspnea).
If you have chronic bronchitis, your cough generally lasts longer than six weeks because the airways are repeatedly irritated by one or more of the causes listed above, especially tobacco smoke. In addition to persistent coughing, you may have these symptoms: Tightness in your chest. Mucus when you cough.
The most common symptoms of acute bronchitis include: A persistent cough; this may last 10 to 20 days. Some people cough up mucus, which may be clear, yellow, or green in color (in this case, coughing is a good response to help clear the bronchi of the mucus).
Small amounts of white mucus may be coughed up if the bronchitis is viral. If the color of the mucus changes to green or yellow, it may be a sign that a bacterial infection has also set in. The cough is usually the last symptom to clear up and may last for weeks.
The incubation period lasts around three to four days after exposure to the virus. You will develop symptoms at the end of the incubation period, and will remain contagious until your symptoms resolve. If you have symptoms of bronchitis, stay home to avoid spreading your viral infection to others.
If bronchitis becomes pneumonia, a person's symptoms usually worsen. They will have a cough with mucus and a fever. If a doctor cannot diagnose pneumonia based on the person's symptoms, they may suggest a chest X-ray or blood test.
Symptoms of bronchitis
In a quarter of patients however the cough may persist for six to eight weeks. The cough is worse and more noticeable in the morning because of pooling of secretions in the lying down position that get then mobilized with morning activities.
Acute bronchitis usually gets better on its own—without antibiotics. Antibiotics won't help you get better if you have acute bronchitis.