Bronchitis
Bronchitis
Bronchitis means the main airways of the lungs (the bronchi) get infected, which leaves them irritated and inflamed.
Most people can manage it at home without much trouble.
It can affect anyone, though it shows up most often in children under 5. Cases tend to rise in winter, usually following a cold, sore throat or flu.
Common Symptoms
Emergency Warning Signs
When to get medical advice
Phone 999 or go to A&E if:
- you have severe difficulty breathing – for example, you struggle to speak without pausing, gasping or choking
- you have severe chest pain in the middle of your chest that isn’t going away – it may feel like pressure, tightness or squeezing
- you have pain that spreads to your arms, back, neck and jaw
- you feel more drowsy than usual or find it more difficult to wake up
- your lips or skin are turning pale, blue or grey – on brown or black skin this is easier to see on the palms of your hands
Contact your GP practice urgently if you:
- are more short of breath than usual
- have pain when breathing in or coughing
- are feeling confused, dizzy, or lightheaded
- feel sick or are being sick – for example, you can’t keep food or fluids down
- are coughing up blood (haemoptysis)
- have heart palpitations – this may feel like your heart is racing, going too slowly or skipping a beat or like a fluttering feeling in your chest
- are peeing less than usual – this can be a sign of dehydration
- have a very high or low temperature – for example, you feel either hot or cold to touch or you’re shivering
If your GP practice is closed, phone 111.
Speak to your GP practice if:
- you have breathlessness which is not improving
- you have had a cough for more than 3 weeks
- your symptoms are not improving or they are affecting your daily life
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
When to See a Doctor
When to get medical advice
Phone 999 or go to A&E if:
- you have severe difficulty breathing – for example, you struggle to speak without pausing, gasping or choking
- you have severe chest pain in the middle of your chest that isn’t going away – it may feel like pressure, tightness or squeezing
- you have pain that spreads to your arms, back, neck and jaw
- you feel more drowsy than usual or find it more difficult to wake up
- your lips or skin are turning pale, blue or grey – on brown or black skin this is easier to see on the palms of your hands
Contact your GP practice urgently if you:
- are more short of breath than usual
- have pain when breathing in or coughing
- are feeling confused, dizzy, or lightheaded
- feel sick or are being sick – for example, you can’t keep food or fluids down
- are coughing up blood (haemoptysis)
- have heart palpitations – this may feel like your heart is racing, going too slowly or skipping a beat or like a fluttering feeling in your chest
- are peeing less than usual – this can be a sign of dehydration
- have a very high or low temperature – for example, you feel either hot or cold to touch or you’re shivering
If your GP practice is closed, phone 111.
Speak to your GP practice if:
- you have breathlessness which is not improving
- you have had a cough for more than 3 weeks
- your symptoms are not improving or they are affecting your daily life
Treatment
Do
- drink lots of fluid
- get plenty of rest
- stop smoking if you smoke
- avoid smoky environments
- take paracetamol for headaches, fever and pain, following the manufacturer's instructions
- try making a honey and lemon drink to soothe a sore throat and ease your cough
In most cases, bronchitis clears up by itself within a few weeks without needing treatment. This type is known as acute bronchitis. Your cough may last for several weeks after other symptoms have gone, and the continual coughing may leave your chest and stomach muscles sore.
Complications
Pneumonia is the most common complication of bronchitis. It develops when the infection spreads deeper into the lungs, causing the tiny air sacs there to fill up with fluid.
Some people are more likely to develop pneumonia than others, including:
- older people
- people who smoke
- people who already have heart, liver or kidney disease
- people whose immune system is weakened
If the pneumonia is mild, it can usually be treated at home with antibiotics. In more serious cases, treatment in hospital may be needed.