Same-day illness
Acute bronchitis
We assess and treat acute bronchitis, usually the same day you call. Bronchitis is inflammation of the airways, nearly always viral, and antibiotics do not help it. The reason to be seen is to confirm it is bronchitis and not pneumonia, and to make sure your breathing is safe.
Come in if you have
- A persistent cough with phlegm after a cold
- Wheezing or a rattling feeling in your chest
- Chest discomfort when coughing
- Any shortness of breath
- You have asthma, COPD or a heart condition
What happens at your visit
- We listen to your chest and check your oxygen level and temperature.
- We distinguish bronchitis from pneumonia — they can feel similar and are managed very differently.
- We explain why antibiotics usually will not help, and what will.
- If you have underlying lung disease, we adjust your plan for the flare.
Almost always viral
Acute bronchitis is inflammation of the large airways, usually following a cold or flu. In the large majority of cases it is viral, and antibiotics have been studied extensively for it — they make essentially no difference to how long it lasts or how you feel, while contributing side effects and resistance.
That is not a reason to skip the appointment. It is a reason the appointment is about something else: making sure this is bronchitis and not pneumonia, and checking your breathing is safe.
The green phlegm myth
Worth addressing head-on, because it drives a lot of unnecessary antibiotic requests. The colour of phlegm reflects immune cells, not bacteria. Green or yellow sputum is entirely normal in a viral infection and tells us very little on its own.
Expect a long cough
Two to three weeks is typical, and some people cough for six. It is frustrating but usually not a sign anything is wrong, as long as it is gradually improving and you are not becoming breathless.
What concerns us is a cough that is worsening after initially improving, one accompanied by new fever, or any breathlessness at rest.
If you have asthma or COPD
Come in earlier rather than later. Bronchitis on top of existing lung disease is a different situation and often needs active treatment to prevent a full flare.
If you smoke
This is the single most useful moment to stop. A persistent cough is your airways telling you plainly. Ask us — there is genuinely effective support available, and it works far better than willpower alone.
Go to the ER for
Severe breathlessness, chest pain, blue lips, confusion, or coughing up blood.
Common questions
- Why no antibiotics? My cough is producing green phlegm.
- Green or yellow phlegm is not evidence of bacterial infection — it reflects your immune cells doing their job, and it happens with viral infections too. It is a widespread belief and it is simply not a reliable sign.
- How long will this cough last?
- Longer than most people expect. The cough from acute bronchitis commonly lasts two to three weeks, and sometimes longer, well after you otherwise feel well. That alone is not a reason for concern.
- How is this different from pneumonia?
- Pneumonia is infection of the lung tissue rather than inflammation of the airways, and it tends to bring higher fever, feeling genuinely unwell, breathlessness and sometimes sharp chest pain on breathing in. Listening to your chest and checking oxygen usually separates them quickly.
- What actually helps?
- Fluids, rest, and honey for the cough — which performs comparably to most cough syrups. If you are wheezing, an inhaler may help. Not smoking matters more here than almost anything else.
This page explains how we care for this condition at our office. It is general information, not medical advice for your specific situation — please talk to us about your own care.
Ready to get this looked at?
Call us or send a request and we will get you in — often the same or next day.