Acute Bronchitis

Nota:

• Inflammation of the bronchi

1. Commonly Viral

   Nota:

   • Commonly viral: adenovirus, parainfluenza, influenza, coronavirus, rhinovirus, coxsackie, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
2. Bacterial Causes

   Nota:

   • Bacterial Causes: Less Common S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, M. catarrhalis, mycoplasma

1. Cough

   Nota:

   • Present for at LEAST 5 days, usually lasts 1-3 weeks
2. Dyspnea, wheezing, rhonchi
3. Runny nose, low grade fever, malaise, sore throat
4. Hemoptysis

1. CLINICAL Dx
2. No imaging required

   Nota:

   • CXR usually normal/nonspecific 

1. Supportive tx

   Nota:

   • Tx sx w/ fluids, antitussives, antipyretics, analgesics
2. Abx not usually indicated

Nota:

• The following complications occur in ~10% of patients with acute bronchitis

1. Bacterial Superinfection
2. Pneumonia

   Nota:

   • Develops in ~5% of pts with bronchitis (incidence of subsequent PNA, unaffected by abx tx)
3. Chronic Bronchitis

   Nota:

   • May develop with repeated episodes of acute bronchitis
4. Hemoptysis