Do antibiotics treat acute bronchitis?

They may be appropriate when a clinician diagnoses a bacterial infection that antibiotics can treat, but that is a different decision from treating cough or coloured phlegm alone.

Acute bronchitis is temporary inflammation of the larger breathing tubes. A respiratory virus can irritate these airways and trigger mucus production, leaving a cough after fever or nasal symptoms improve. Antibiotics target susceptible bacteria; they do not calm viral airway inflammation.

Yellow or green phlegm can reflect immune cells in airway mucus and does not, by itself, establish a bacterial infection. The clinician considers breathing, chest findings, temperature pattern, general health and the course of illness when deciding whether another diagnosis needs investigation or treatment.

Drink enough fluid to avoid dehydration, rest as needed and avoid smoke, dust and strong fumes. A warm drink may ease throat irritation. Choose pain or fever medicine only when it is safe with your health conditions and other medicines, following the product directions.

Do not start leftover antibiotics or share them. If antibiotics are prescribed for a confirmed or suspected bacterial infection, take them exactly as directed and seek advice about a missed dose or troublesome reaction. Report rash with swelling, breathing difficulty or faintness as an emergency.

Seek emergency help for severe difficulty breathing, blue or grey lips, confusion, collapse or crushing chest pressure. Coughing up more than a small streak of blood also warrants urgent assessment.

Arrange clinical review if breathlessness or fever is worsening, fluids are difficult to keep down, wheezing is new, or symptoms improve and then clearly deteriorate. Contact a clinician earlier if you are pregnant, immunocompromised, frail, or have a significant heart or lung condition.

You can ask which findings support acute bronchitis, whether another infection is being considered and what benefit an antibiotic is intended to provide. If one is prescribed, confirm how to take it, possible interactions, common unwanted effects and the signs of an allergic reaction.