CA
A 39-year-old member asked:
how long is acute bronchitis contagious for?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Martin Ostro answered
Allergy and Immunology 49 years experience
It is not contagious: Acute bronchitis is a reaction to a viral respiratory infection (vri) by suseptible indiviuals, leading to frequent cough, increased mucus production, chest tightness, wheezing. Less than 20% of the population over react to the irritation of a vri with symptoms noted previously. The underlying vri is contagious for 24 hr before the onset of symptoms and for about 5 days after the symptoms begin.
6054 viewsAnswered Dec 3, 2019
Dr. Sanjay Agarwal answered
Pulmonology 26 years experience
Days to weeks: Depends on the causative organism, or if the pt has been a chronic smoker then it may be a inherent tendency to have generally inflamed airways without any infection and hence not being contagious.
5432 viewsAnswered Dec 9, 2018
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:
Similar questions
A 34-year-old member asked:
Is acute bronchitis contagious?
3 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
Dr. Daniel Reinharth answered
Internal Medicine 43 years experience
Yes: Acute bronchitis is currently considered to be caused mostly by viruses, which are quite contagious. It can be transmitted in the air, by coughing, and by contact with the sick person's hands (if the hands have been coughed on or touched the mouth). The most contagious period is usually early in the illness, and shortly before the illness begins to show symptoms.
6052 viewsReviewed Jan 30, 2019
A 42-year-old female asked:
When is acute bronchitis contagious and when is it not? Seems physicians some say it is and some say it isn't?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. James Ferguson answered
Pediatrics 46 years experience
Hard to tell: Some cases are viral & contagious during the early febrile phase but less so as it progresses. Some will represent a mycoplasma germ that is contagious & often affects groups. Most that have a simple bacterial bronchitis do so from normal airway germs that settle in after a virus, these are not contagious.My routine is to consider them contagious until fever free 24h or on med 24h.
5588 viewsAnswered Feb 23, 2018
Cantonment, FL
A 27-year-old male asked:
Is my acute bronchitis contageous? For how long?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Oscar Novick answered
Pediatrics 58 years experience
What is the cause?: If its caused by a virus or bacteria.You are contagious until you are under treatment for a bacterial infection.For a viral illness you may be contagious for four to seven days.Acute bronchitis caused by allergy ( asthma) doesn't not carry an allergic component.
5326 viewsAnswered Jan 1, 2019
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Last updated Dec 3, 2019
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