Acute Bronchitis
Acute bronchitis is a usually viral, self-limiting acute cough syndrome caused by temporary inflammation of the conducting airways; the high-yield task is to exclude pneumonia, serious illness and an exacerbation of underlying airways disease before avoiding unnecessary antibiotics.
Definition
Acute bronchitis is an acute cough syndrome caused by temporary inflammation of the trachea and major bronchi, usually viral, with or without sputum and wheeze. It is a clinical diagnosis made after considering pneumonia and other serious or alternative causes.
First principles
Acute bronchitis is an airway syndrome, not a diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia
The working diagnosis is acute cough with temporary inflammation of the trachea and major bronchi, usually without the focal signs, hypoxaemia or systemic toxicity that suggest alveolar infection. The distinction is clinical and must be revisited if the patient deteriorates; do not use the label to dismiss a patient with signs of pneumonia, sepsis, pulmonary embolism or another serious condition.
This page is exam revision material, not medical advice, and must not be used for patient care. Always check drug doses against the BNF and current guidance. Full disclaimer.