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.

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.

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

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.

With Maple, you can start talking to a healthcare practitioner about your symptoms in a matter of minutes. We’re a healthcare app for fast, convenient 24/7 access to Canadian doctors.

Simply log in, tap a button to request a consultation, and we’ll immediately connect you to a healthcare provider via live chat or video. Visit How it Works to learn more.

Our healthcare team can assess symptoms, and provide treatment, including prescriptions online as necessary.