top of page

🌟 Acute bronchitis

 🎯 Pathology​

  • inflammation of the lining of the bronchi that is self-limiting

 💡 Causes​

  • infection

    • most commonly due to viruses (occurs especially during autumn and winter seasons)

    • bacterial infections are uncommon

      • common pathogens: Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus

  • irritants

    • cigarette smoke

    • dust

    • air pollution

🩺 Clinical features​

  • symptoms

    • shortness of breath

    • fever

  • signs

    • productive cough

    • wheeze

    • sputum may be purulent

🧐 Acute bronchitis versus pneumonia 

  • vital signs

    • acute bronchitis: normal +/- fever

    • pneumonia: hypotension, tachycardia, tachypnoea and fever

  • sputum

    • acute bronchitis: may be clear or purulent

    • pneumonia: purulent

  • auscultation

    • acute bronchitis: wheeze

    • pneumonia: dullness to percussion, reduced breath sounds, bronchial breathing, crackles

  • chest x-ray

    • acute bronchitis: normal

    • pneumonia: consolidation

🕵️‍♂️ Investigations

  • diagnosis is clinical

  • bacterial sputum cultures are discouraged as they rarely cause acute bronchitis

💆‍♂️ Management

  • self-limiting

bottom of page