Acute Bronchitis

Question 1

Acute Bronchitis: What is it

Answer 1

Acute bronchitis= a type of lower respiratory tract infection. Infection and inflammation of the trachea, bronchi and bronchioles.

Question 2

Acute bronchitis: Symptoms

Answer 2

• Cough +/- productive
• sore throat
• rhinorrhoea
• low-grade fever
• wheeze

Question 3

Acute bronchitis: Investigations

Answer 3

• CRP testing may be used to guide whether antibiotic therapy

Question 4

Acute bronchitis: Management

Answer 4

• analgesia
• good fluid intake
• consider antibiotic therapy if patients
• systemically unwell
• pre-existing co-morbidities
• CRP of 20-100mg/L (offer delayed prescription)
• CRP >100mg/L (offer antibiotics immediately)

antibiotics:
* doxcycline cannot be used in children or pregnant
* alternatives include amoxicillin

Question 5

Acute bronchitis: Prognosis

Answer 5

• usually resolves before 3 weeks

Question 6

Acute Bronchitis: Differential Diagnosis

Answer 6

• acute bronchitis vs pneumonia
• acute bronchitis - no breathlessness and systemic features (fever, malaise, myalgia)
• acute bronchitis - No focal chest signs (dullness to percussion, crepitations, bronchial breathing)