Symptoms of Bronchitis

Bronchitis symptoms occur when people have an infection of the airways leading to the lungs. This is different from pneumonia where an infection occurs in the tissue of the lungs. In general the diagnosis of bronchitis is considered less severe than pneumonia. People with bronchitis symptoms can go on to develop pneumonia.

When people with bronchitis symptoms have a chest x-ray, there generally is no evidence of infection. The airways are difficult to visualize on a chest x-ray.

Bronchitis symptoms include cough, fever, post nasal drip, chest pain, and wheezing. People with a history of emphysema are predisposed to developing bronchitis symptoms.

Bronchitis can develop from bacterial infections or viral infections. If bronchitis symptoms occur because of a viral infection, then antibiotics will not help.

Bronchitis symptoms can often improve if patients stop smoking. Treatments often include, bronchodilators, cough suppressants, and sometimes antibiotics.

 To view general information about bronchitis symptoms go to our Bronchitis Questions and Answers.

Symptoms of bronchitis often do not lead directly to the underlying diagnosis and many symptoms can be misleading. Please review all concerns and information found on this website with your health care provider.