
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions ā written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Acute bronchitis medical therapy
Introduction
Overview
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
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
References
- ā 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): 3029ā35. doi:10.1001/jama.293.24.3029. PMIDĀ 15972565.
- ā 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. PMIDĀ 24585130.
- ā 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): 95Sā103S. doi:10.1378/chest.129.1_suppl.95S. PMIDĀ 16428698.
- ā 4.0 4.1 Wenzel RP, Fowler AA (2006). “Clinical practice. Acute bronchitis”. N. Engl. J. Med. 355 (20): 2125ā30. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp061493. PMIDĀ 17108344.
- ā 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): 956ā66. PMIDĀ 17002029.
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.
