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People who have bronchitis often cough up thickened mucus, which can be discolored. Bronchitis may start suddenly and be short term (acute) or start gradually and become long term (chronic). Acute bronchitis, which often develops from a cold or other respiratory infection, is very common.
Most cases of acute bronchitis get better without treatment, usually within a couple of weeks. Medications. In some circumstances, your doctor may recommend other medications, including: Cough medicine. If your cough keeps you from sleeping, you might try cough suppressants at bedtime. Other medications.
If your healthcare professional can't find the cause of your cough, special scope tests may be used to look for possible causes. These tests may include: Bronchoscopy. A bronchoscope is a thin, flexible tube that has a light and camera attached to it. Your health professional can look at your lungs and air passages.
Bronchiolitis starts out with symptoms much like a common cold. But then it gets worse, causing coughing and a high-pitched whistling sound when breathing out called wheezing. Sometimes children have trouble breathing. Symptoms of bronchiolitis can last for 1 to 2 weeks but occasionally can last longer.
Chronic bronchitis can cause a cough that brings up colored sputum. Emphysema causes shortness of breath and damages the air sacs in the lungs, also known as alveoli. Most people with COPD are current or former smokers.
Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection. In many people, it's marked by a severe hacking cough followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like "whoop." Before the vaccine was developed, whooping cough was considered a childhood disease.
To ease your cough, try these tips: Suck cough drops or hard candies. They may ease a dry cough and soothe an irritated throat. Don't give them to a child under age 6, however, because of the risk of choking. Consider taking honey. A teaspoon of honey may help loosen a cough.
Yes. Most of the time, acute bronchitis is caused by a virus, such as the flu (influenza) virus. However, many different viruses — all of which are very contagious — can cause acute bronchitis. Viruses spread mainly from person to person by droplets produced when an ill person coughs, sneezes or talks and you inhale the droplets.
An occasional cough is normal and healthy. A cough that persists for several weeks or one that brings up discolored or bloody mucus may indicate a condition that needs medical attention. At times, coughing can be very forceful. Prolonged, vigorous coughing can irritate the lungs and cause even more coughing.
In adults, some of the more common causes of coughing up blood include: Bronchitis. Bronchiectasis, which leads to a buildup of mucus that can be streaked with blood and raise the risk of infection. Pneumonia.