Bronchitis treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

Yes, you can. The healthcare practitioner will likely suggest performing a physical exam so that they can listen to your breathing with a stethoscope. They'll also ask you about your cough and whether it’s producing mucus.

Because the early symptoms and signs of bronchitis are similar to that of a cold, they may also suggest some additional testing be done before they offer a diagnosis for bronchitis or suggest treatment options.

Yes, you can. Physicians on Maple can prescribe bronchitis medications online during your consultation. Once you accept a bronchitis prescription, you’ll have the option to pick it up from any pharmacy conveniently located to you or to have it delivered right to your door at no additional cost.

You can visit our How it Works page to learn more.

Bronchitis is the name for inflammation of the lining of your bronchial tubes, which hare the pathways that carry air to and from your lungs.

There are two types of bronchitis: acute and chronic.

Acute bronchitis is very common, with symptoms that present themselves similarly to the common cold in its early stages (i.e., headache, nasal congestion, store throat). However, those experiencing bronchitis will have a cough as their dominant symptom as the condition continues to develop.

Typically, acute bronchitis symptoms last less than 10 days although the coughing can linger for several weeks after.

On the other hand, chronic bronchitis can last for weeks, months, or even years. It may disappear for a while and then return.

Chronic bronchitis is one of the conditions included under chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), alongside emphysema.

For acute bronchitis, signs and symptoms could include:

• Sneezing
• Wheezing or whistling
• Runny nose
• A sore throat
• A cough that starts dry but becomes productive (will produce mucus)
• Tenderness in your chest when you cough
• Sputum that can be white, yellow, green, or clear

Sometimes, symptoms that are rare to present themselves along with bronchitis can help identify other conditions, which can be mistaken for bronchitis (e.g., influenza, pneumonia, COVID-19, etc.). Some of these include:

• Chills (or easily feeling cold)
• Muscle aches
• Tiredness
• Low-grade fever (between 100°F - 100.4°F)

In addition to these, chronic bronchitis symptoms also include:

• A stubborn cough that lasts for weeks, months or years at a time
• Chronic chest discomfort

The majority of the time, acute bronchitis is caused by viruses. These are the same viruses that cause colds and the flu.

The most frequent cause of chronic bronchitis is smoking cigarettes. In addition to this, chronic bronchitis can also be caused by exposure to environmental or workplace irritants, such as:

• Toxic or chemical gases
• Air pollution
• Dust

A bronchitis diagnosis normally starts with a physical exam. This way the healthcare provider can check your current condition and listen to your breathing. They'll want to know how long you've been showing the signs of bronchitis and if this is a recurrent problem.

Due to the relationship between chronic bronchitis and smoking, the healthcare practitioner will also want to know any history of smoking you may have.

Because early symptoms and signs of bronchitis are very similar to those of a common cold, the healthcare practitioner may also suggest additional testing, such as:

• Chest X-rays
• Pulmonary function tests
• Sputum tests

In cases where patients have been experiencing a chronic cough and there is a history of tobacco use, CT scans may be suggested for further evaluations.

In most cases, acute bronchitis won't need treatments - the condition will clear up on its own.

There are some home remedies you can use to help reduce your bronchitis signs and symptoms, such as:

• Avoiding inhaled irritants (smoking, dust, chemical fumes, pollution, etc.)
• Using a humidifier
• Wearing a mask around known irritants

When bronchitis treatments are needed, antibiotics usually won't be effective. This is because acute bronchitis is normally caused by viruses, which aren't affected by antibiotics. However, if the healthcare practitioner believes you could have a bacterial infection, they may suggest prescription bronchitis antibiotic medications.

The healthcare provider may suggest other medications, such as cough medicine or an inhaler, to reduce your inflammation and allow for better airflow to your lungs.

If you've received a chronic bronchitis diagnosis, the healthcare provider may suggest pulmonary rehabilitation, to ease your bronchitis symptoms and allow you to breathe more easily.

If you are showing signs of bronchitis, remember that acute bronchitis will often go away on its own within 10 days.

However, if your bronchitis symptoms become severe or chronic (longer than 10 days), you should speak to a healthcare practitioner.

Also, if you begin coughing up a lot of mucus, it's a good idea to consult with a healthcare provider on Maple. They may want to have additional testing performed to determine the severity of your condition.

If the healthcare provider determines your bronchitis is caused by bacterial infection, you may also require prescription bronchitis medications in order to fight the infection.

Maple is a virtual care platform that connects you with doctors and other healthcare providers via text, audio, or video. After you log in to your Maple account, you can request an online consultation.

Consultations work similarly to in-person appointments — the doctor can complete an assessment by asking questions about your symptoms, going through your health history, and determining what treatment is right for you. If they think your condition is more serious, they may tell you to go to a clinic for an in-person examination.

As a Maple member, you get 24/7 access to virtual primary care online and more. You can connect with our network of providers via text, audio, or video call within minutes.

Our membership costs $85/month and covers virtual care for patients and their families, including the primary account holder's spouse and any dependents.

For patients in eligible provinces, our membership includes:

• Access to daily primary care provider visits: One daily visit with a primary care provider for each family member in their household.
• Paediatric care: Covered paediatric primary care visits, available by appointment.
• Second medical opinions: Access to a network of experts for a second opinion if diagnosed with a complex condition (e.g. cancer).
• Personal Health Check-Ins: A series of personalized, evidence-based proactive care screenings to maintain and improve health.
• iCBT courses: Access to iCBT (internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy) self-assessment and courses.
• Access to specialists in eligible provinces: Easy access to specialists on Maple within days, not months. No referral is needed.
• Specialist referrals in eligible provinces: Ability to be referred to a physician specialist for in-person care, if needed.
• Credit discounts: An $80 credit per month to be applied to a Maple specialist visit.

Please note that our membership cannot be combined with other offerings, such as private insurance coverage and provincial programs, where available. In some cases, membership fees can be covered by a Healthcare Spending Account (HSA) — check with your HSA provider for more details.

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Our policies and consent processes are designed to be simple and easily understood, empowering individuals with control and a clear understanding of their healthcare journey. When using our services, a patient’s session is protected by a comprehensive security infrastructure and stringent data policies.

Patients also retain full control of their personal health information, medical records and test results at all times. Our approach is reinforced by consultations with leading experts, guaranteeing comprehensive policy frameworks that are reviewed at a regular cadence.

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