What are the most common early symptoms of bronchitis?

Cough: The first symptom in acute bronchitis is cough (>90 percent of patients). This can be followed by fever, shortness of breath, chest pain and sputum production. Sometimes, however, bronchitis can start in the upper respiratory tree as a cold or sinus infection.

Depends...: There are 2 types of bronchitis: acute and chronic. Common early signs of acute bronchitis include productive cough, fever, body aches. Common early signs of chronic bronchitis, a form of copd, include: productive cough, shortness of breath w/ exertion. Diagnosis can be made by your doctor and appropriate treatment rendered. Regardless of type, smoking cessation is crucial.