Learn what a typical Bronchitis prognosis is at Consumer Reports Health.

Bronchitis

What will happen to me?

Bronchitis usually gets better on its own. But if you have a very bad cough with other symptoms like a high temperature, you should go back to your doctor.

Your cough should clear up in about seven to 10 days.

Source:
Hueston WJ, Mainous AG.
Acute bronchitis.
American Family Physician. 1998; 57: 1270-1276.

But some people find it lasts longer. In one study, half the people had a cough that lasted for up to three weeks.

Source:
Falck G, Heyman L, Gnarpe J, et al.
Chlamydia pneumoniae (TWAR): a common agent in bronchitis.
Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases. 1994; 26: 179-187.

² A quarter had a cough for over a month.

Source:
Falck G, Heyman L, Gnarpe J, et al.
Chlamydia pneumoniae (TWAR): a common agent in bronchitis.
Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases. 1994; 26: 179-187.

It's a good idea to see a doctor if you have a cough that lasts for more than two weeks, or if you're worried about your symptoms.

We're not sure how often acute bronchitis leads to more serious lung diseases, such as chronic bronchitis or pneumonia.

One large study of people who went to their doctors with coughs found that, within a month, a fifth of people had gone back to their doctor with the same symptoms.

Source:
Macfarlane J, Holmes W, Gard P, et al.
Prospective study of the incidence, aetiology and outcome of lower respiratory tract illness in the community.
Thorax. 2001; 56: 109-114.

³
Another study found that a third of adults with acute bronchitis went on to get symptoms of chronic bronchitis or

asthma
Asthma is a long-term disease of the lungs. It makes you wheeze, cough and feel short of breath. Asthma attacks are caused by iflammation and narrowing of the airways, which makes it hard for air to pass in and out of the lungs.

asthma within three years.

Source:
Jónsson JS, Gíslason T, Gíslason D, et al.
Acute bronchitis and clinical outcome three years later: prospective cohort study.
Thorax. 1998; 317: 1433.

⁴ But we can't be sure if the original attack of bronchitis caused these conditions, or whether some people are just prone to lung disease.

Some other conditions can be made worse by bronchitis. For example, if you have asthma,

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an illness that causes coughing and difficulty breathing. Most of the people who get it have smoked for a long time. COPD can include both emphysema, which is the breakdown of air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs, and chronic bronchitis, which is a recurrent, long-lasting cough that brings up phlegm.

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or

heart disease
You get heart disease when your heart isn't able to pump blood as well as it should. This can happen for a variety of reasons.

heart disease, your condition can be made worse by bronchitis. You should see your doctor if your underlying condition becomes worse. Your doctor may need to adjust your usual treatment to help.

Sources for the information on this page:

Hueston WJ, Mainous AG.Acute bronchitis.American Family Physician. 1998; 57: 1270-1276.

Falck G, Heyman L, Gnarpe J, et al.Chlamydia pneumoniae (TWAR): a common agent in bronchitis.Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases. 1994; 26: 179-187.

Macfarlane J, Holmes W, Gard P, et al.Prospective study of the incidence, aetiology and outcome of lower respiratory tract illness in the community.Thorax. 2001; 56: 109-114.

Jónsson JS, Gíslason T, Gíslason D, et al.Acute bronchitis and clinical outcome three years later: prospective cohort study.Thorax. 1998; 317: 1433.

This information was last updated on Feb 05, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
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