Acute bronchitis

Question 1

Name 2 ways patients may present

Answer 1

• Low grade fever
• Cough
• Wheeze
• Sore throat

Question 2

Name a way acute bronchitis can be differentiated from pneumonia

Answer 2

• Sputum, wheeze and breathlessness may be absent in acute bronchitis but at least one tends to be present in pneumonia
• No other focal chest signs (bar wheeze) in bronchitis whereas there tends to be others in pneumonia i.e. dullness to percussion, crepitations and bronchial breathing
• No systemic features in bronchitis, but more likely in pneumonia

Question 3

Name a reason why antibiotic therapy should be initiated in acute bronchitis

Answer 3

• CRP >100 (immediate antibiotics)
• CRP 20-100 (delayed prescription)
• Systemically unwell
• Co-morbidities

Question 4

1) What is the first line antibiotic?
2) What is the first line antibiotic for children or pregnant women?

Answer 4

1) Doxycycline
2) Amoxicillin