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Bronchitis treatment
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

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Treatment of bronchitis should be started when the first signs of the disease appear, after visiting a doctor. With proper diagnosis and correct treatment, this disease is cured quite quickly.
Acute bronchitis occurs as a result of colds and respiratory viral infections. If the disease makes itself known several times during the year, this may indicate the development of a chronic form.
The risk of bronchitis becoming chronic increases significantly in the presence of such a negative factor as smoking. Constant presence in the environment of smokers, passive inhalation of smoke also provokes the risk of developing the disease.
Bronchitis is an inflammatory process localized in the mucous membrane of the bronchial walls. When an infection gets in, the air circulation from the bronchi to the lungs is disrupted, which causes swelling and mucus formation.
Distinctive signs of bronchitis: a slight increase in temperature, discomfort in the throat, cough (both dry and wet). The latter performs a protective function - phlegm is removed along with the microbes that cause inflammation. If the cough is dry, this indicates thickening of phlegm or its complete absence - the mucous membrane of the bronchi thickens and becomes irritated.
The occurrence of acute bronchitis can be combined with diseases such as tracheitis (inflammation of the tracheal mucosa), laryngitis (disease of the larynx), nasopharyngitis (inflammatory process of the nose and pharynx).
Treatment of acute bronchitis
Treatment of bronchitis with medications should be combined with warm, plentiful drinking (tea with honey, milk with mineral soda), smoking is strictly not recommended, inhalations are prescribed to thin sputum. Treatment of bronchitis with antibiotics for this form of bronchitis is not prescribed, since they do not have a positive effect. With proper treatment, acute bronchitis goes away in a few days.
Treatment of acute bronchitis may involve the use of antispasmodics, therapeutic massage, and breathing exercises. As is known, chronic bronchitis is closely related to constant or fairly long-term irritation of the bronchial mucosa - dust, smoke, harmful chemicals. That is why negative factors should be avoided during treatment. If there are symptoms of an upper respiratory tract disease, for example, breathing through the nose is impaired, then dry and polluted air penetrates directly into the bronchi - this can become another factor negatively affecting the development of chronic bronchitis.
Treatment of chronic bronchitis
Treatment of chronic bronchitis is accompanied by the use of expectorants, soda inhalations, and regular drinking of large amounts is also necessary. The treatment complex also includes special therapeutic exercises.
Since chronic bronchitis reduces the body's defenses, it would be appropriate to use medications that improve the immune system, vitamin complexes, and a balanced diet. Acupuncture is also considered an effective treatment method.
Catarrhal bronchitis is characterized by the release of a small amount of mucus, does not affect the lungs. Inhalations with chamomile are prescribed for four to five days during treatment.
Treatment of other forms of bronchitis
Purulent bronchitis is an advanced form of bronchitis, characterized by the presence of pus in the bronchi in addition to mucus. It often occurs due to a weakened body. That is why immune-boosting drugs are prescribed as treatment. The purulent form can be caused by knowingly incorrect treatment of acute bronchitis, so before using any drugs, it is necessary to consult a doctor. Inhalations (for example, with mucaltin) are also used as treatment, warming up and electrophoresis are prescribed. You should regularly ventilate the room, do wet cleaning, breathe fresh air more often, avoid dusty and smoky rooms.
Catarrhal-purulent bronchitis is associated with diseases in the respiratory tract, arising as a result of viral and bacterial infections, which reduces the level of protective functions of the bronchial mucosa, and ordinary catarrhal bronchitis is replaced by catarrhal-purulent. Bronchoscopy is used to diagnose and differentiate various forms of bronchitis - a method of special examination of the bronchi using a bronchoscope.
Treatment of bronchitis and its complications
The potential risk group for complications after bronchitis includes people with nicotine addiction, as well as people suffering from lung diseases and bronchial asthma. Bronchitis can be complicated by bronchiolitis - an inflammatory process in the lower respiratory tract, accompanied by a runny nose, cough, wheezing, and chills. In such cases, an X-ray examination, blood test, antibiotic therapy, and oxygen treatment by inhalation through the nose and sometimes the mouth are prescribed. Antitussives are also used, and when improvements occur, expectorants are used, mustard plasters are applied locally, and alcohol compresses are applied to the chest.
Treatment of bronchitis is a complex therapy taking into account the characteristic features and severity of the disease, and is carried out strictly as prescribed by a doctor.