Dragonfly Health - Cough & Bronchitis

Cough & Bronchitis

Whether it’s dry or wet and productive, coughing can be annoying and tiring. Sometimes a cough can be a sign of bronchitis, croup, upper respiratory infection, or pneumonia. Dragonfly Health can evaluate your symptoms and provide a treatment plan which may include over-the-counter or prescription medications if needed.

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Find out what your cough is from at one of our offices.

What to know before your visit

Patients with the following may be directed to another health care setting:

Severe shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Severe chest pain
Night sweats
Swelling of the face and tongue
Infection of MRSA within last 30 days
Hospitalization in the last 30 days
Children with difficulty swallowing and drooling
Children with underlying heart or lung conditions
Children with neurologic impairment
Children with 2 or more episodes of croup who are less than 36 months old and have a history of intubation

What to expect at your visit

Greeted by one of our attentive patient coordinators.
Sign in and fill out your intake form on one of our ipads.
Your practitioner will review your medical history, discuss your symptoms, conduct an examination and provide a personalized treatment plan.
Your practitioner may conduct needed testing. Please note that additional charges apply for these tests.
The summary of your visit can be sent to your primary care provider with your permission.

What is bronchitis?

Bronchitis is caused when bronchial tubes that carry air into and out of your lungs become inflamed and irritated. This makes them swell and produce mucus that causes coughing.

There are two types of bronchitis — acute and chronic. Acute bronchitis usually gets better in a couple of days, but your cough can last for a few weeks. Chronic bronchitis is bronchitis that lasts longer than 3 months.

Causes of bronchitis

A virus usually causes acute bronchitis. It could follow a respiratory infection like a cold or the flu. Seniors, babies and young children are most at risk of getting acute bronchitis.

The most common cause of chronic bronchitis is smoking cigarettes. It also can be caused by long-term exposure to air pollution, dust or toxins in the environment.

Symptoms of bronchitis

If you have acute bronchitis, you might experience:

A cough that starts dry but is later accompanied by clear, yellow or green mucus
Mild fever
Feeling tired
Wheezing and hoarseness
Chest pain, tightness or burning that feels worse when coughing or breathing deeply

A high fever or more severe symptoms including chills or shortness of breath may be signs of pneumonia. If you are not sure what’s wrong with you, visit a health care provider who can diagnose and treat you. Major chronic bronchitis symptoms include:

A cough with clear, yellow or green mucus that occurs nearly every day for at least 3 months
Shortness of breath
Wheezing

Bronchitis treatment

Treatment for acute bronchitis is to relieve symptoms. Since bronchitis is a viral infection, antibiotics aren’t usually prescribed.

Here are a few ways to help:

Wash your hands frequently. Use soap and water or an alcohol-based antibacterial gel.
Bend your arm to sneeze or cough into it.
Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth if you or others around you are ill.
Wash frequently touched items such as toys, kitchen and bathroom counters frequently as viruses can last hours.

If you see a practitioner, he or she might prescribe medicine to help relieve your cough or reduce the inflammation in your lungs.

Chronic bronchitis, on the other hand, is more serious and can require frequent medical treatment.