How long does bronchitis last?

The beginning of the disease is often characterized by an unproductive cough. From this point on, the duration of the bronchitis is about 7 to 10 days. In some cases, the cough can continue for some time, but by then the disease is often no longer contagious.

How long the bronchitis lasts is difficult to influence. Unfortunately, there are no medications that can fight a viral infection, which is typical for acute bronchitis. The best way to shorten the duration of the disease is to follow the well-tried advice and take care of your body, drink a lot and do not smoke.

Pregnancy

In general, uncomplicated acute bronchitis is not dangerous for the fetus. Nevertheless, it is advisable to consult your family doctor if you have a severe cough, fever or other symptoms that indicate bronchitis. This can be important if only to rule out other, possibly more serious, diseases.

Another argument for seeking advice from a doctor is that a number of medicines are not suitable for use during pregnancy as they can be potentially harmful to the child. These include even over-the-counter medicines like ibuprofen and aspirin (ASA, acetylsalicylic acid). Paracetamol can be an alternative to the painkilling and antipyretic effect of these two drugs.

However, the use of paracetamol should also be discussed with a doctor, as individual risk factors and the maximum dose for taking the tablets should be discussed. Caution is also advised when using nasal sprays. The effective substances contained in these can, if used frequently, restrict the supply of blood to the placenta and thus also the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the child. For this reason, it is advisable to use children’s nasal sprays which contain a lower concentration of the active substance.

The bronchitis in the baby

Especially at the beginning and during the cold season many babies and infants fall ill with respiratory tract infections. Babies can easily get bronchitis from their peers or sick adults because their immune system is still immature. In addition, their airways are still very small and are therefore quickly narrowed by an increase in mucus production through the mucous membrane of the bronchi.

In medical terminology, this is referred to as an obstruction of the airways. The consequences are shortness of breath, typical rattling noises when breathing, increased temperatures and fever and a slimy to purulent sputum when coughing. As a reaction to the inflammation, the muscles of the bronchi can also contract, making breathing more difficult, comparable to an asthma attack.

First of all, it is important to make sure that no smoking is allowed in the baby’s environment. Warm but not too dry ambient air is also beneficial for recovery. In any case, however, if the child has a strong cough or a cough that lasts longer than 3 days, the paediatrician should be consulted.

The pediatrician can first decide whether the administration of an antibiotic is helpful and necessary and whether an allergic reaction instead of a viral one might be the cause of the child’s symptoms. He can also decide whether expectorant or cough-relieving medication should be administered. Finally, inhalation medication can be prescribed if the child has obstructive (constrictive) bronchitis. With the help of these treatment steps, the baby should recover quickly.