Bronchitis

Question 1

What is acute bronchitis?

Answer 1

Acute infection of the tracheobronchial tree causing inflammation leading to bronchial oedema and mucous formation.

Question 2

Aetiology of acute bronchitis?

Answer 2

VIRAL (80%): rhino / corona /adeno / influenza / RSV

BACTERIAL (20%): M. pneumoniae, C. pneumoniae, S. pneumoniae

Question 3

Viral v bacterial bronchitis?

Answer 3

Bacterial typically high fevers + copious purulent sputum.

May be ass/w COPD

Question 4

Ix in acute bronchitis?

Answer 4

Typically clinical Dx.

• CXR if ?pneumonia (cough >3/52; focal chest signs) or CHF.
• RFTs and methacholine challenge if ?asthma

Question 5

Rx acute bronchitis?

Answer 5

• Primary prevention (hand washing, quit smoking)
• Symptomatic relief: rest, fluids, humidity, analgesics, antitussives.
• NO ABx (as usually viral) unless strong suspicion of bacterial