Bronchitis (Acute)
Evaluation
Description—“chest cold” in a patient without underlying cardiopulmonary disease lasting <A onclick="get_content(event,'AB1-M12'); return false;" onmouseover="window.status=this.title; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;" title="<3 weeks
Clinical
Main symptoms—coughwithin 2 days of infection and lasting 2 to 8 weeks, ± phlegm production
Additional symptoms—shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, fever, malaise, and hoarseness
Mechanism—bronchial injury → inflammation → airway hyperresponsiveness and mucus production
Etiology
Viral (most cases)—during influenza season, perform rapid influenza testing
Bacterial (5% of cases)—most common—Mycoplasma, Bordetella, and Chlamydia
Yeast and fungi
Noninfectious (asthma, air pollutants, cannabis, tobacco, etc.)
Imaging—no need for chest x-ray (CXR) in acute bronchitis
CXR only for those whose examination suggests pneumonia or cardiopulmonary disease
Differential diagnosis
Treatment
Expectorants (promote expulsion of phlegm)
For patients with diabetes mellitus, consider sugar-free, alcohol-free Diabetic Tussin EX (guaifenesin)
Antitussives (control or prevent cough; indicated if cough is creating significant discomfort.)
Nonopioid
