How is Acute Bronchitis Treated?
Acute bronchitis is caused by viruses, so antibiotics (medicines that kill bacteria) are not helpful. Even when the mucus you cough up is colored or thick, antibiotics probably won’t help you get better any faster. For some people with acute bronchitis, doctors prescribe medicines that are used to treat asthma. These medicines help open the bronchial tubes and clear out the mucus. The asthma medicines used for acute bronchitis are usually given in an inhaler. An inhaler sprays the medicine right into the bronchial tree, where it is most useful. If you smoke you should cut down on the number of cigarettes you smoke, or stop smoking altogether. This will help limit the damage to your bronchial tree. You will heal faster if you are not smoking. You should also avoid breathing fumes or chemicals that can damage your lungs, such as smoke or industrial fumes. What special problems can occur with acute bronchitis? Sometimes the cough from acute bronchitis lasts for several weeks. The cough ca
