Bronchitis is an inflammation of the tubes that transport air to your lungs. The symptoms can include fever, built-up mucus, sore throat, runny nose, cough, and fatigue. If you have acute bronchitis, the symptoms will usually go away in less than two weeks. Many people recover without visiting a doctor. It is thus important to know how to treat acute bronchitis at home.
How Doctors Treat Acute Bronchitis
In 90% of the cases, the cause of acute bronchitis is a respiratory virus. Doctors thus can’t prescribe any medication that will help you recover from the illness. As a rule, they will recommend a home care treatment plan.
But in rare cases, bacteria may also cause this condition. If so, your doctor will prescribe you an antibiotic. The same rule applies if you have an underlying respiratory problem. Coupled with bronchitis, it may increase your risk of developing pneumonia. As such, you may have to take antibiotics to prevent this.
How to Treat Acute Bronchitis at Home
Proper home care is usually enough to ease the symptoms of this illness. They will go away in no more than 10 days, but coughing may go on for a bit longer. The following tips will help you treat acute bronchitis at home:
- Drink water and other liquids to soften the built-up mucus.
- Ease the symptoms of a sore throat with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication.
- Take a spoon of dark honey in the morning to reduce coughing.
- Relieve the inflammation with ginger tea.
- Use a humidifier to freshen up the air in your room.
Final Word
These simple tips will help you treat acute bronchitis at home. After you recover, take precaution to protect yourself from another case of bronchitis. If it occurs, the symptoms may be worse, and it might take longer for you to recover. Also, if coughing persists after a few weeks, you need to visit your doctor for a checkup.
