Stages of bronchitis can range from acute to chronic.
Acute bronchitis and chronic bronchitis have similar symptoms, including a dry or productive cough and shortness of breath.
However, they are different illnesses that last for different lengths of time.
Illustration by Verywell
In contrast, chronic bronchitis is a long-term, serious illness.
This article covers the symptoms and stages of bronchitis.
It discussesrecovery times, common and uncommon symptoms, and complications.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
It also details when to get medical treatment for symptoms of bronchitis.
Types of Bronchitis
Bronchitis is divided into two types: acute and chronic.
Acute bronchitis is a short-term form of the disease.
It may only take a few days or weeks for people to recover from acute bronchitis.
Chronic bronchitis means long-term illness.
Acute bronchitis is usually because of an infection and may be contagious.Chronic bronchitisis not contagious.
Common Symptoms of Acute Bronchitis
Not everyone who gets acute bronchitis will have the same symptoms.
However, some symptoms of acute bronchitis are more common than others.
Most of the time, acute bronchitis is resulting from a virus.
Acute bronchitis normally improves on its own but may require treatment if it is due to a bacterial infection.
Most cases of acute bronchitis last between three and 10 days.
However, the cough can linger for several weeks, even after the infection that caused it is resolved.
Chronic bronchitis is not a disease that can be cured, but symptoms can be managed with medication.
While emphysema and chronic bronchitis can occur at the same time, there aredifferences between emphysema and bronchitis.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
Acute vs. A cough may linger for up to two to three weeks.
Here’s a snapshot of the symptoms that distinguish acute bronchitis from chronic bronchitis.
Unusual Bronchitis Symptoms
Bronchitis is generally recognizable by a productive cough.
However, there are a few other, less common, symptoms of bronchitis.
Bad Breath
Bad breathcan develop quickly in people with acute bronchitis.
Chronic bad breath can also be a sign of chronic bronchitis.
This bacteria may produce an odor.
In general, it is not recommended to take antibiotics to reduce this bacteria that causes bad breath.
Sometimes this may limit your ability to exercise or walk long distances.
If you have acute bronchitis, this will improve a few days after the illness resolves.
If you have chronic bronchitis, you may need physical therapy to improve your endurance.
Your healthcare provider will work with you to develop a treatment plan.
Early treatment can minimize the risk of these concerns.
Infection
you could become more susceptible to another respiratory tract infection if you have bronchitis.
If you get another infection while you have acute bronchitis, it can delay your recovery.
An episode of acute bronchitis is likely to be more severe and last longer than chronic bronchitis.
Pneumonia is a prolonged infection that makes you feel sicker than acute bronchitis does.
Aspiration pneumoniacan be a persistent infection that takes a toll on your health and takes months to recover from.
It causes persistent cough and shortness of breath and aggravates those symptoms if they already exist.
Summary
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchi, which carry air to and from your lungs.
Early stages of bronchitis may have milder symptoms compared to later stages when symptoms may become severe.
Acute bronchitis is short-lived and often goes away within days or a few weeks.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you’re experiencing symptoms of bronchitis that aren’t going away quickly.
If not treated, bronchitis can lead to complications that can be severe and life-threatening.
Getting early treatment is one of the best ways to avoid these complications.
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