Acute bronchitis medical therapy

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Seyedmahdi Pahlavani, M.D. [2]; Nate Michalak, B.A.

Overview

There is no need for medical therapy in most of acute bronchitis patients; reassurance and symptomatic therapy are usually sufficient. Antibiotics should not be prescribed routinely for patients with acute bronchitis^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]

Medical Therapy

Majority of patients may benefit from NSAIDs, such as aspirin or acetaminophen, to relieve constitutional symptoms and albuterol if the cough is disruptive.^[3]

Medications

Albuterol: alleviation of wheezing and symptoms of airway obstruction
Antitussives: codeine or dextromethorphan for ^[3]
NSAIDs: alleviation of constitutional symptoms, such as myalgia and fever

Antibiotics SHOULD NOT be prescribed unless there is strong evidence of bacterial infection, especially in comorbid conditions, such as chronic heart or lung diseases and immunocompromised or neuromuscular diseases.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Little P, Rumsby K, Kelly J, Watson L, Moore M, Warner G, Fahey T, Williamson I (2005). “Information leaflet and antibiotic prescribing strategies for acute lower respiratory tract infection: a randomized controlled trial”. JAMA. 293 (24): 3029–35. doi:10.1001/jama.293.24.3029. PMID 15972565.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Smith SM, Fahey T, Smucny J, Becker LA (2014). “Antibiotics for acute bronchitis”. Cochrane Database Syst Rev (3): CD000245. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000245.pub3. PMID 24585130.
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 Braman SS (2006). “Chronic cough due to acute bronchitis: ACCP evidence-based clinical practice guidelines”. Chest. 129 (1 Suppl): 95S–103S. doi:10.1378/chest.129.1_suppl.95S. PMID 16428698.
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 Wenzel RP, Fowler AA (2006). “Clinical practice. Acute bronchitis”. N. Engl. J. Med. 355 (20): 2125–30. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp061493. PMID 17108344.
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 Wong DM, Blumberg DA, Lowe LG (2006). “Guidelines for the use of antibiotics in acute upper respiratory tract infections”. Am Fam Physician. 74 (6): 956–66. PMID 17002029.

Template:WikiDoc Sources

[pmid15972565-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Little P, Rumsby K, Kelly J, Watson L, Moore M, Warner G, Fahey T, Williamson I (2005). “Information leaflet and antibiotic prescribing strategies for acute lower respiratory tract infection: a randomized controlled trial”. JAMA. 293 (24): 3029–35. doi:10.1001/jama.293.24.3029. PMID 15972565.

[pmid24585130-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Smith SM, Fahey T, Smucny J, Becker LA (2014). “Antibiotics for acute bronchitis”. Cochrane Database Syst Rev (3): CD000245. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000245.pub3. PMID 24585130.

[pmid16428698-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 Braman SS (2006). “Chronic cough due to acute bronchitis: ACCP evidence-based clinical practice guidelines”. Chest. 129 (1 Suppl): 95S–103S. doi:10.1378/chest.129.1_suppl.95S. PMID 16428698.

[pmid17108344-4] 4.0 ^4.1 Wenzel RP, Fowler AA (2006). “Clinical practice. Acute bronchitis”. N. Engl. J. Med. 355 (20): 2125–30. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp061493. PMID 17108344.

[pmid17002029-5] 5.0 ^5.1 Wong DM, Blumberg DA, Lowe LG (2006). “Guidelines for the use of antibiotics in acute upper respiratory tract infections”. Am Fam Physician. 74 (6): 956–66. PMID 17002029.

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