What are the signs and symptoms of acute bronchitis?
• The most common symptom of acute bronchitis is a frequent cough. The cough of bronchitis may last a month or more. Your cough may be dry, or it may bring up mucus from your lungs. This phlegm (flem) may be green, yellow, white, or have streaks of blood in it. • You may feel tired and have body aches. You may have a fever, chills, or a sore throat. Your nose may feel runny or stuffy. You may have chest pain when you cough or take a deep breath. You may have noisy breathing (such as a high-pitched wheezing) and mild shortness of breath. How is acute bronchitis diagnosed? From your signs and symptoms, caregivers will learn if you have acute bronchitis or another medical condition. If your symptoms are very bad or if you have other health problems, you may need blood tests or x-rays. These tests can help caregivers see how your body is handling your illness. Tests can also help make sure you do not have a more serious illness, such as pneumonia (noo-MOH-nyah) or heart failure. How is acu
The most common sign of acute bronchitis is a frequent cough. It often starts as a dry cough. Within a few days, it may turn into a productive cough. A productive cough is one that brings up mucus from the lungs. Your child’s cough may be worse during the night. He may gag or vomit because of his cough, or if he swallows a lot of mucus. He may have chest pain when he coughs or takes a deep breath. He may make a high-pitched noise when breathing out (wheezing), especially after a coughing spell. You may notice your child having mild shortness of breath. Most signs and symptoms should go away in about 5 to 10 days. However, the cough from bronchitis may last for several weeks. Some of your child’s symptoms may depend on the infection that caused his bronchitis. He may feel tired and have body aches. He may have a fever, chills, or a sore throat. Your child’s nose may be runny or stuffy. He may be fussier or cry more than usual. He may eat less and want to sleep more.
