Signs and Symptoms of Acute Bronchitis

Most cases of acute bronchitis clear up on their own without intervention in 3 to 10 days, says Fernando Holguin, MD, director of asthma clinical and research programs at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. However, your cough may last for several weeks. And while bronchitis symptoms aren’t contagious, underlying causes such as a cold or the flu can be transmitted from one person to another.

• Chest discomfort or pain
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing

If you have chest pain, trouble breathing, a high fever, blood in your mucus, or a cough that lasts longer than three weeks, Dr. Holguin recommends seeing a doctor right away.

Pneumonia is one condition that’s commonly mistaken for bronchitis, as it can be particularly tricky to tell the difference between the two.

In most cases, pneumonia is characterized by chest pain and shortness of breath that’s more severe than that of bronchitis, says Holguin. Fatigue and weakness are more prominent with pneumonia too, particularly in older adults.

Your doctor will conduct a series of tests to determine whether you have bronchitis or pneumonia. They will likely listen to your lungs (with pneumonia, doctors hear bubbling, crackling, or rumbling sounds) and order X-rays to look for fluid or pus in the lungs.

Pneumonia isn’t the only condition commonly confused with acute bronchitis. The coughing, wheezing, and chest pain that come with acute bronchitis can be similar to symptoms of allergies, asthma, the common cold, the flu, sleep apnea, and other conditions.

• A cough that produces blood
• A cough that lasts longer than three weeks
• A fever higher than 101 degrees F
• Trouble breathing
• Wheezing that’s more frequent you’re active

If you’re experiencing coughing, wheezing, or trouble breathing, it’s important to accurately identify whether it’s bronchitis or something else, so that you can receive the right treatment. If you’re unsure, consult your doctor.

Bronchitis can be tricky to diagnose because its symptoms often mimic those of other conditions. “Recurring bronchitis can mask an underlying condition such as asthma,” says Holguin.

Most cases of acute bronchitis clear up on their own and don’t require treatment from your doctor. But if you experience unfamiliar symptoms, or, for instance, you experience coughing spells every time you get a cold, see your doctor to rule out any undiagnosed illnesses or underlying problems.

• Have your mucus tested for a bacterial infection (because you can’t tell by its color whether an infection is bacterial or viral, or even confirm the presence of an infection at all, says Holguin)

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• Listen to your lungs for any abnormal sounds like wheezing
• Order a chest X-ray, lung function tests, or blood tests
• Test the oxygen levels in your blood

• Acute bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchial tubes typically caused by a viral infection that results in a persistent, mucus-producing cough, fatigue, and mild fever.
• While most cases clear up on their own within a couple weeks, the condition can be confused with pneumonia, which is a more serious infection of the lung tissue that usually presents with higher fevers and requires different medical treatment.
• Diagnosis involves a physical exam, where doctors listen to lung sounds and potentially order X-rays or mucus tests to rule out underlying conditions like asthma, allergies, or bacterial infections.
• Medical attention is recommended if a cough lasts longer than three weeks or if symptoms include a high fever, chest pain, bloody mucus, or significant difficulty breathing.