Medical Treatment

Treatment of bronchitis can differ depending on the suspected cause.

• Medications to help suppress the cough or loosen and clear secretions may be helpful. If the patient has severe coughing spells they cannot control, see the doctor for prescription strength cough suppressants. In some cases only these stronger cough suppressants can stop a vicious cycle of coughing leading to more irritation of the bronchial tubes, which in turn causes more coughing.
  
  
• Bronchodilator inhalers will help open airways and decrease wheezing.
  
  
• Though antibiotics play a limited role in treating bronchitis, they become necessary in some situations.
  
  
  • In particular, if the doctor suspects a bacterial infection, antibiotics will be prescribed.
    
    
  • People with chronic lung problems also usually are treated with antibiotics.
  
  
• In rare cases, the patient may be hospitalized if they experience breathing difficulty that doesn't respond to treatment. This usually occurs because of a complication of bronchitis, not bronchitis itself.