Bronchitis: acute and chronic forms

Bronchitis is inflammation of the lining of the bronchi. It has two forms that are very different from each other: acute bronchitis usually appears after a cold and clears up on its own within a few weeks, while chronic bronchitis is a long-term condition that can lead to serious breathing problems. Here is how to recognise them and what you can do.

Acute bronchitis

Cause: in the vast majority of cases a virus, the same ones that cause colds and flu. A bacterial infection is less often behind it. It is most common in autumn and winter.

Symptoms:

• a cough, dry at first and later producing phlegm,
• a scratchy throat, chest discomfort,
• a mild fever, tiredness, often after a cold.

Course: most symptoms clear up within 1–3 weeks, but the cough can sometimes linger for weeks. Since it is usually caused by a virus, antibiotics are generally not needed; your doctor will decide.

What can you do at home for acute bronchitis?

• Rest and drink plenty of fluids (water, tea, soup).
• Warm tea with honey or lemon water can ease a scratchy throat. Do not give honey to children under one year old.
• Keep the room's humidity between 40 and 60%. Air that is too dry irritates, while air that is too humid encourages mould.
• Do not smoke, and avoid smoky places.
• For fever and pain, a fever reducer recommended by your pharmacist can help.

Folk remedies (such as chest compresses) can improve how you feel, but do not put strong, skin-irritating substances (horseradish, mustard) directly on the skin, especially in children, as they can cause burns.

When to see a doctor

• if the fever lasts more than 3 days or rises above 39 °C,
• if breathing difficulty, wheezing or chest pain occurs,
• if you cough up blood-stained phlegm,
• if the cough lasts more than 3 weeks,
• sooner in the elderly, babies, people with chronic heart or lung disease, or weakened immunity.

Chronic bronchitis

Bronchitis is called chronic when a cough with phlegm lasts for at least three months a year in at least two consecutive years. This is no longer an infection but long-term inflammation of the bronchi, and it is one form of COPD.

Main causes: smoking, workplace dust and chemicals, long-term air pollution. It most often appears after the age of 40.

Why treatment matters: long-term inflammation can eventually lead to permanent narrowing of the airways. Stopping smoking, a lung specialist's assessment (spirometry) and the treatment your doctor recommends can slow the decline.

What can salt do for the airways?

Salt has long been part of home care for respiratory complaints:

• Saltwater nasal rinsing and saline nasal sprays can help keep the nose clear, which during a cold means less mouth breathing and a less dried-out throat.
• Inhaling salty steam feels pleasant to many people and gives a sense of loosening mucus.
• Dry salt climate: many people use salt therapy as a complement in the recovery period because breathing feels easier. However, do not use salt therapy during an acute infection or fever.

It is important to know that large studies have not confirmed the effect of salt therapy in bronchitis, so think of it as a complementary option that supports wellbeing. With chronic bronchitis, talk to your lung specialist before using a salt climate.

In children, tracheitis and croup deserve special attention. We write about them in this article.

This article is for general information only and does not replace medical diagnosis or treatment. AREC salt generators are not medical devices.