A member asked:

How do i treat bronchitis

23 doctors weighed in across 12 answers

Bronchitis: Typically it's treated with inhaled albuterol, corticosteroids, and sometimes antibiotics. Most cases are viral, however, & don't need antibiotics. If you smoke, that makes things worse, so you need to quit if possible. For smokers, ipratropium may be added to the albuterol.

Answered 4/3/2014

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Time: Most cases of bronchitis are caused by viruses and will resolve on their own.

Answered 10/10/2014

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Push fluids, rest: Bronchitis is usually a viral infection. Antibiotics usually do not help so supportive care is usually the best thing to do. This means making sure that you get plenty of sleep and eat nutritious food. You should also push fluids and not smoke. Sometimes over the counter cough syrups help. If symptoms are persistant for more than a few weeks i would see a doctor.

Answered 7/21/2014

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Dr. Sue Ferranti answered

Specializes in Internal Medicine

Acute or chronic...: Acute bronchitis is usually due to an infection. If it is a bacterial infection, antibiotics are usually used but if it is viral, symptoms are treated while the infection runs its course. If it is chronic bronchitis, a form of copd, the treatment consists of bronchodilator and steroid inhalers as well as smoking cessation. Other treatments depend on disease severity.

Answered 9/28/2016

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Depends on cause: Bronchitis can be viral or bacterial. Viruses take time to resolve. Bacterial infections can go away on their own, but sometimes needs antibiotics. Depending on your other health history, like smoking and presence of other lung disease like asthma or copd, your doctor may consider treatment of bronchitis.

Answered 2/25/2018

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Varies: Bronchitis is usually cause by a a virus and the care is supportive. Sometimes we use antibiotics or even inhalers if the patient has asthma or copd. There is one clinical study that supports eating chicken soup to decrease the inflammation.

Answered 11/7/2017

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Dr. Hesham Hassaballa answered

Specializes in Pulmonary Critical Care

Depends: Depends on the cause: if it is from infection, then antibiotics usually take care of it. If it is viral, then antibiotics won't help. If it is from smoking, then stop smoking. There are a lot of other causes as well, and if this is a recurrent problem, you should see a doctor.

Answered 9/28/2016

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Dr. Sue Ferranti answered

Specializes in Internal Medicine

Acute or chronic? : Acute bronchitis is treated with antibiotics, if it is determined to be caused by a bacterial infection, as well as bronchodilator and steroid inhalers. If a viral infection is the etiology, antibiotics are ineffective so the inhalers are prescribed to control symptoms, if needed. Chronic bronchitis, a form of copd, is treated usually with the inhalers and supplemental oxygen, if needed.

Answered 11/27/2017

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DepentsAcute/Chronic: Depends Acute or Chronic Acute Bronchitis is mainly treated with increased fluids and cough medicine and most of the times gets better within10 to 20 days without the use of Antibiotics which are rarely used for treating this condition Chroniic Bronchitis patients have mucus producing cough most days of month three months/year&treated Smoking cessation Bronchdilators/InhaledSteroids Expecorants

Answered 10/10/2016

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Like a cold: For the vast majority of people, "bronchitis" is a fancy word for a chest cold. It is caused by one of hundreds of viruses, and antibiotics won't help. Cough remedies are usually of little use, since the airway is designed to make us cough when irritated. It's a life-saving reflex that no syrup will overcome. However generic Benadryl (diphenhydramine) might help with sleep. Sleeping sitting up can reduce congestion

Answered 4/16/2016

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Bronchitis: Bronchitis is usually treated with antibiotics. Occasionally bronchodilators (albuterol) and oral steroids are added.

Answered 11/28/2017

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Cause dependent: This is dependent upon the cause. MOST bronchitis cases are viral and just need time and rest to heal. If it has gone over into bacterial, then antibiotics might be helpful or even necessary to get rid of it. Your MD can make that call.

Answered 10/4/2016

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