Asthma Symptoms Print Is It Bronchitis or Asthma? Medically reviewed by a board-certified physician Written by twitter linkedin Written by Pat Bass, MD Dr. Bass is a board-certified internist, pediatrician, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Physicians. Learn about our editorial policy Pat Bass, MD Updated on March 27, 2019 Cultura RM Exclusive/Jason Butcher/Getty Images More in Asthma Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Triggers Living With Prevention Asthma in Children Sometimes I find bronchitis to be what I call a “wastebasket diagnosis.” What I mean by this is that sometimes your doctor does not know what you really have and just calls it bronchitis. Other times, doctors who are suspicious of asthma will not want to “label” you as an asthmatic and will label the initial episodes of asthma-like symptoms as bronchitis. However, bronchitis is its own disorder and there is some overlap with asthma, which may explain some of the above-described confusion. Symptoms Your doctor has likely ruled out a more serious cause for your symptoms which could include wheezing, chest tightness, cough, and shortness of breath. Additional symptoms might include a sore throat, increased sputum production that may be clear or colored, pain associated with chronically coughing, allergy and sinus congestion, chills, or body aches. Fever is generally absent and would make a diagnosis of pneumonia or influenza more likely. Young or old and throughout the entire year, but especially during cold and flu season, you may be impacted by bronchitis symptoms. Bronchitis is most commonly caused by viruses such as influenza and the common cold, but can be caused by bacteria or inhaling dust and fumes. You are more likely to be affected if you: Have a chronic respiratory condition like asthma or COPDSmokeAre over age 65Have a weakened immune system Acute Bronchitis Acute Bronchitis occurs when there is an inflammation and swelling in the lungs occurring in a short period of time. This commonly occurs following exposure the common cold or upper respiratory tract infection. Many patients refer to this as a “chest cold” and complain of a “post-viral cough” that is annoying for several weeks. Acutely patients complain of a cough, sore throat, and congestion. Treatment generally focuses on the relief of these Chronic Bronchitis The official definition of chronic bronchitis is a cough that occurs on most days of the month, 3 months of the year, for at least two years. This could also indicate poorly controlled asthma. In patients who are diagnosed with asthma later in life, it is not uncommon for them to be diagnosed with chronic bronchitis initially, especially if they lack some of the other classic symptoms. However, chronic bronchitis is very different from asthma and is more likely caused by smoking than being an allergic condition. Treatment If you have asthma and experience an episode of bronchitis, you need to follow your asthma action plan. Most asthmatics with a good plan will be able to manage symptoms at home and adjust their treatment accordingly. In addition to following your asthma action plan, treatment of bronchitis can include: Increasing fluid intake to prevent dehydrationUse of over the counter pain medications as directed by your doctor to relieve a headache, sore throat, or allergy symptomsHumidified air to help improve congestion and runny noseOver the counter cough suppressant and mucolytics to improve symptoms Antibiotics are generally not needed since most bronchitis is due to a viral cause. You need to seek care if you develop any of the following: Parameters from your action plan tell you to seek careYou develop a feverCough that does not improve despite following your action plan or lasts more than 10 daysDevelop a barking cough that makes it hard to speak or breatheCough up bloodWeight loss Bronchitis Doctor Discussion Guide Get our printable guide for your next doctor's appointment to help you ask the right questions. Download PDF Email the Guide Send to yourself or a loved one. Sign Up This Doctor Discussion Guide has been sent to {{form.email}}. There was an error. Please try again. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial policy to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Thoracic Society. What Is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Kuebler KK, Buchsel PC, Balkstra CR. Differentiating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from asthma. J Am Acad Nurse Pract. 2008 Sep;20(9):445–54. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Expert Panel Report 3 (EPR3): Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma. Continue Reading