Health

A common winter infection, acute bronchitis is generally benign. Since it is most often of viral origin, antibiotics are not useful.

I HAVE ACUTE BRONCHITIS, WHAT IS IT?

It is a temporary inflammation of the bronchi, generally due to a viral infection. You have:

• a cough that is often dry and painful, then productive, with phlegm,
• a fever that is generally low,
• sore throat, blocked nose, body aches, headaches.

SHOULD I TAKE ANTIBIOTICS?

Most of the time, the origin of acute bronchitis is viral. This is why antibiotics are useless, because they are ineffective against viruses. They neither lower the fever nor heal faster, because they do not treat the cause of the infection. They also do not prevent contagion.

If you have colored sputum, it is not a sign of a bacterial superinfection.

The bronchial infection will disappear after a few days, but the cough may persist longer.

CAN I TAKE OTHER MEDICATIONS TO FEEL BETTER?

There is no treatment for acute bronchitis when it is viral, but it is possible to relieve the symptoms with antitussive medications in the case of a dry cough, bronchial fluidifiers in the case of a productive cough, antipyretics to fight fever, analgesics for pain, drops to unblock the nose, mouthwashes to reduce sore throats.

IN WHICH CASES IS AN ANTIBIOTIC INDICATED?

Antibiotics are sometimes necessary if:

• You have a chronic respiratory disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• You have an associated disease (heart failure, kidney failure, cancer, cirrhosis, etc.).
• In elderly and fragile people.

To know

"Antibiotics are not automatic." In France, we still consume far too many antibiotics compared to real needs.