Clinical QuickiePulmonary
Acute Bronchitis
A cough after a URI is usually not an antibiotic problem.
Rule out pneumonia first
Vital signs, oxygenation, focal lung findings, age/comorbidity, and overall appearance determine whether imaging or a different workup is needed.
Cough can linger
Postinfectious airway inflammation can produce cough for weeks even as the infection resolves.
Sputum color is nonspecific
Green or yellow sputum reflects inflammatory cells and does not reliably distinguish bacterial from viral bronchitis.
Treat the symptom selectively
Supportive care is primary; bronchodilators are most useful when bronchospasm/wheezing is present rather than as routine treatment for every cough.
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