How to treat acute bronchitis?

Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
Updated on January 20, 2025
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Acute bronchitis is an acute inflammation of the bronchi caused by various pathogenic factors and is relatively common in clinical practice. Symptoms mainly include coughing, production of sputum, and some patients may experience chest tightness, shortness of breath, fever, and blood in the sputum.

For initial instances of acute bronchitis, it is important to first ensure rest, increase fluid intake, avoid fatigue, and avoid exposure to cold. Secondly, symptomatic treatment should be considered; cough suppressants can be used for coughs that are dry or produce little sputum, and expectorants should be used when the cough produces sputum that is difficult to expel.

If there is chest tightness and wheezing, asthma medications should be chosen. If fever is present, antipyretic and analgesic medications should be used for symptomatic treatment.

Thirdly, the use of antibiotics is appropriate only when there is evidence of bacterial infection; otherwise, it is best to avoid them. Treatment with antibiotics should be under a doctor's guidance, and self-medication should be avoided. With the above treatments, acute bronchitis can generally be controlled, but a minority of patients with weaker constitutions may develop chronic conditions.

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What fruits to eat for acute bronchitis

During acute bronchitis, it's important to pay attention to your diet and mainly consume liquid or semi-liquid foods. You can eat porridge, soup noodles, vegetable soups, or stewed soups. Additionally, it's appropriate to eat some pears or grapefruit. Other fruits like apples are also good choices. These fruits contain a rich amount of vitamins that can enhance your immune system. Vitamin C in particular has anti-inflammatory and bactericidal effects, which can help in the treatment of bronchitis. It is advised to maintain a light diet during illness and avoid spicy, greasy, cold, and irritating foods. Furthermore, consider having some honey water, or foods like loquat, lily, or mung beans which can also be appropriate. Drinking these ingredients made into porridge or soup is also beneficial.

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What to do about vomiting with acute bronchitis?

Acute bronchitis is often seen in patients with weakened immune systems, or who accidentally catch cold. It frequently occurs in infants and young children who generally have lower immune functions. The invasion of pathogens into the respiratory tract can lead to various symptoms including fever, cough, phlegm, and breathing difficulties. During the acute phase of bronchitis, intense coughing due to the vigorous nature of the cough can increase gastric pressure. Therefore, sometimes after eating, patients may experience vomiting in conjunction with severe coughing. At this time, prompt treatment with anti-infection measures, cough suppression, and expectorants can naturally lead to improvement in vomiting.

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Written by Han Shun Li
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How to prevent acute bronchitis

Acute bronchitis is relatively common in clinical practice, especially among elderly and frail patients. Common symptoms include fever, cough, expectoration, chest tightness, and more. To prevent acute bronchitis, it is important to exercise regularly, enhance physical fitness, rest adequately, balance work and rest, and avoid overwork and staying up late. During seasons when colds are prevalent, it is advisable to drink more water, ensure room ventilation to prevent colds, and strive to improve the living and sanitary conditions to keep the air fresh. Active treatment should be sought for those with upper respiratory infections, such as diseases in the nose, pharynx, or larynx areas.

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Can you run with acute bronchitis?

It is not recommended to run when suffering from acute bronchitis. For this condition, it is usually necessary to rest. During the acute phase of the illness, running and similar physical exercises are not advised as they can be detrimental to the patient's condition. Patients with acute bronchitis should also pay attention to maintaining a light diet, avoiding spicy and irritating foods. Appropriate symptomatic treatment should be given, such as using cough suppressant medications. If a patient has persistent cough symptoms or develops purulent sputum, it’s crucial to check for the possible presence of pneumonia. This may require a chest CT and a complete blood count. If the patient has bacterial pneumonia, antibiotic treatment is necessary. Moreover, it is important to note that although patients with acute bronchitis should not run during the acute phase, running and exercising regularly, enhancing nutrition, and avoiding staying up late are measures that can help prevent acute bronchitis.

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Can acute bronchitis cause coughing up blood?

Acute bronchitis can potentially lead to coughing up blood. This is because acute bronchitis involves the infection of the bronchi by pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, and mycoplasma, leading to congestion and swelling of the airway mucosa. Patients often exhibit symptoms such as coughing, expectoration, and fever. If coughing is severe, it could rupture small blood vessels, causing symptoms of coughing up blood. If blood is present in the cough, hemostatic treatment is needed. However, not all instances of coughing up blood are due to acute bronchitis. Other possible causes of coughing up blood include lung tumors, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and pulmonary embolism. Therefore, if symptoms of coughing up blood occur, chest X-rays or a chest CT scan should be conducted to confirm the diagnosis.