Bronchitis and fever: what to know

Acute bronchitis often follows a viral respiratory infection. Inflammation in the breathing tubes can cause coughing, chest discomfort, tiredness and a raised temperature. The fever may settle as the infection improves, while the cough can continue because irritated airways take longer to recover.

A fever may also occur with conditions that resemble bronchitis, including a common cold, COVID-19 or another chest infection. Bronchiolitis is mainly a condition of babies and young children. The pattern of symptoms, breathing examination and your general health help a clinician decide whether bronchitis is the likely explanation.

Rest, drink fluids regularly and avoid smoking or smoky air. Light clothing and a comfortably cool room may make a fever easier to tolerate. Follow the label or a clinician’s advice before taking a fever medicine, particularly if you are pregnant, have liver or kidney disease, or take other medicines.

Keep track of whether the temperature is improving and whether you are able to drink and pass urine normally. Antibiotics do not treat viral bronchitis, so a clinician should decide whether they are appropriate rather than using leftover medicine.

Seek urgent help for severe difficulty breathing, blue or grey lips, new confusion, fainting, or chest pain that is severe or does not ease. Arrange prompt medical advice if the fever is persistent, returns after improving, or comes with worsening breathlessness, marked weakness, dehydration or coughing blood.

Ask whether your symptoms fit acute bronchitis or another infection, whether you need a chest examination or testing, and which fever medicine is suitable with your health history. Tell the clinician when the fever and cough began, the highest temperature you measured, and any breathing changes.