Is bronchitis contagious?

Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
Updated on May 15, 2025
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Bronchitis is a common disease clinically, typically presenting symptoms such as coughing, expectorating phlegm, chest tightness, etc. Whether this disease is contagious or not depends on specific analysis. If bronchitis is caused by physical, chemical factors, or allergies, it is not contagious. However, if it is caused by pathogenic microorganisms, it could be contagious. For example, bronchitis caused by influenza virus or Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is infectious, and isolation should be considered.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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What are the symptoms of bronchitis?

Bronchitis is a common clinical disease, which can generally be divided into acute bronchitis and chronic bronchitis in clinical practice. Acute bronchitis often has a sudden onset, with symptoms such as coughing and expectoration; some people may also experience fever, chest tightness, and wheezing. Typically, the course of the disease lasts two to three weeks. Chronic bronchitis, on the other hand, has a longer duration, with a more gradual onset and symptoms of recurrent coughing and expectoration, and even chest tightness. The annual duration of the disease is more than three months, with a typical onset lasting over two years, making it very long and difficult to control.

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How is bronchitis treated?

If the body suffers from bronchitis, how should it be treated? When the body has inflammation, the main principle is to choose antimicrobial drugs for anti-inflammatory treatment. Patients with mild symptoms can be treated with anti-inflammatory drugs either orally or by intramuscular injection. If oral medication alone does not produce clear effects, or if symptoms do not improve, a drug sensitivity test can be done. Based on the test results, administer a sensitive antibiotic intravenously. At the same time, it's also important to choose antipyretic analgesics to relieve fever symptoms, as well as medications that thin the mucus for symptomatic treatment.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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Can bronchitis be cured?

This still depends on the specific situation. If it is acute bronchitis, in most cases, the recovery is usually good after treatment and it can generally be cured. However, in some individual cases, such as elderly and frail patients or those who have not received timely treatment, symptoms may persist and develop into chronic bronchitis. If it is chronic bronchitis, treatment is relatively difficult and it's hard to completely cure. Patients often suffer from the condition every year, with episodes lasting more than three months, affecting the quality of their daily life.

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Does bronchitis cause asthma?

Bronchitis can be classified into acute bronchitis and chronic bronchitis based on the onset and progression of the condition. Acute bronchitis usually begins suddenly, with generally mild systemic symptoms. It can include fever and is mostly characterized by a dry cough or a small amount of mucous sputum. Over time, the amount of sputum may increase and the coughing may intensify, occasionally accompanied by blood-streaked sputum. There is generally no significant hemoptysis or chest pain. The duration of cough and expectoration can be quite long, potentially lasting two to three weeks. A small portion of patients may experience prolonged symptoms, eventually progressing to chronic bronchitis. The most common symptoms of chronic bronchitis are also cough and expectoration, but these symptoms last much longer, typically persisting for more than two years and occurring for three months each year. A small number of bronchitis patients may experience bronchial spasms or bronchial asthma, leading to varying degrees of chest tightness, shortness of breath, or wheezing.

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How to completely cure bronchitis?

Bronchitis is an infection of the bronchial mucosa caused by various pathogens, often secondary to upper respiratory tract infections or as a manifestation of acute infectious diseases. It is a common respiratory disease in childhood, typically caused by viruses or bacteria, or a combination of both. The treatment mainly involves symptomatic management, and when necessary, anti-inflammatory treatment can be administered. For viral infections, symptomatic treatment is usually sufficient, generally involving the use of expectorants, or if there is severe wheezing, nebulized asthma medications may be needed. For those with allergic constitutions, appropriate use of anti-allergy medications can be considered. Treatment can also integrate unique approaches from traditional Chinese medicine. If there are clear signs of bacterial infection, antibiotic treatment is necessary, and the use of antibiotics is recommended to be carried out in hospitals, with doctors prescribing appropriate antibiotics for children based on their specific conditions.