Should i see a specialist for bronchitis, or can my regular doctor take care of it?

Regular Doctor: "bronchitis" is usually a viral upper respiratory infection, but can be caused by irritants (eg: smoke), allergens, & sometimes bacteria. Your doctor may prescribe cough medication (otc meds don't work well), inhalers for wheezing (can cause dry cough), or anti-inflammatories such as prednisone. Antibiotics are often (over) prescribed, sometimes to placate patients. Your regular doctor is perfect.

Your doctor can: Your doctor can treat you. He or she can determine what medications you'll need.

Depends...: Acute bronchitis can be diagnosed and treated by your family doctor. Chronic bronchitis, a form of copd, sometimes requires the help of a lung doctor to both diagnose and treat the disorder, although treatment can be monitored by your family doctor.