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I have this terrible cough, is it bronchitis? by Susan Sims Barger, FNP Family Medicine “Cough for me.” “Oh, that hurts. It hurts like that when I take a deep breath. Right here in the middle of my chest. And I cough up this disgusting yellow-green phlegm. I can’t catch my breath; I’m running a fever. ‘Got chills, headaches and sore muscles. I’m miserable.” “Sounds like bronchitis,” he said, looking over the rim of his glasses which were still focused on the disk of his stethoscope positioned on his patient’s breastbone. “I want an antibiotic. I want to knock this thing out so I can get back to work.” “An antibiotic probably won’t do it. They only work on bacterial infections and bronchitis is usually caused by a virus.” Bronchitis is swelling and irritation in the air passages or bronchial tree that connects the windpipe with the lungs.  Most commonly viruses attack the lining of the bronchial tree causing damage. As your body fights back against these viruses, more swelling occurs and more mucous is made. With acute bronchitis you usually have a cough that produces phlegm, and a pain behind the sternum or breastbone when you breath deeply or cough, and sometimes wheezing. How does it occur?  It is commonly associated with viral infections of the respiratory tract, such as colds and flu. Only about 5 percent to 10 percent of acute bronchitis is caused by a bacterial infection. It may also occur with childhood illnesses, such as measles and whooping cough. Attacks are most frequent during winter and when air pollution is high.  Infants, young children, the elderly, smokers, and people with lung and heart disease are most likely to get acute bronchitis. How is it diagnosed? Your health provider will ask you questions about your symptoms and examine you. There are no tests to prove that you have acute bronchitis. However, you may need to have some tests to make sure that you don’t have something else like pneumonia. Tests which may be ordered include phlegm analysis, chest X-ray, blood tests, or respiratory measurements. How is it treated?  Treatment may include taking medicines and caring for yourself at home to relieve symptoms. Bronchodilators are inhaled medicines which treat the symptoms of cough and wheezing. The majority of cases of bronchitis are of viral origin. However, you may need to take antibiotics if your infection is caused by a bacteria and not a virus. Other ways you can help yourself treat the symptoms are using a vaporizer, humidifier, or steam from hot water to add moisture to the air, drink plenty of fluids, resting in bed, taking analgesics to reduce fever and muscle or headache pain,  eating nutritious, balanced meals,  and taking medications recommended by your health provider. Health care workers always need to respect infection control measures. If you have acute bronchitis, take the following steps to avoid spreading it. Take antibiotics if indicated, avoid close contact with others for 24 to 48 hours from when you start taking antibiotics, use tissues when you cough, wash you hands with soap and warm water after you cough, sneeze, or wipe your nose or mouth, don’t share food, utensils, cups or towels with others.