Examination and testing For Bronchitis
If your health professional feels that your acute bronchitis is caused by:
- A virus, then no more testing is needed in most cases.
- Bacteria, then more testing may be done and antibiotics may be prescribed.
More testing may be necessary for infants and people older than 65, or if:
- Acute bronchitis does not clear up in 2 to 3 weeks.
- Pneumonia, heart failure, or tuberculosis is suspected or has been recently diagnosed.
- Your immune system is not functioning well (impaired immune system). People with immune problems are more likely to develop complications, such as pneumonia.
- You have a chronic respiratory disease, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- You do not get better with antibiotic therapy, or you require hospitalization.
- You have a heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute, a respiratory rate greater than 24 breaths per minute, and a fever greater than 100.4° F (38° C) .
- Whooping cough, a bacterial infection of the upper respiratory system, is suspected.
- Influenza (flu), a viral upper respiratory illness, is suspected.
For the rest of this article, including other testing procedures visit Test for Bronchitis website
Yours in Good Health
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