When to worry about fever with acute bronchitis

Acute bronchitis inflames the breathing tubes and often follows an infection. Fever may occur with cough, chest soreness, mucus and tiredness. Cough can linger after the fever settles. A fever that returns after improvement, or fever paired with increasing breathlessness, chest pain or marked weakness, may signal a different or more serious problem and deserves assessment.

Rest and drink regularly to replace fluid lost through sweating or rapid breathing. Keep track of fever symptoms, breathing comfort and whether you can carry out simple activities. Avoid tobacco smoke and other airway irritants. A pharmacist can help you choose symptom relief that fits your health history; avoid taking leftover antibiotics, because they may not treat the cause of bronchitis.

Seek emergency care for severe breathlessness, blue lips, confusion, fainting or crushing chest pain. Arrange prompt medical review for fever that is worsening, returns after it had settled, or comes with coughing blood, dehydration or unusual drowsiness. Get advice sooner if you are pregnant, have significant lung or heart disease, or care for someone whose breathing is deteriorating.

Ask whether your breathing should be examined, which fever changes require same-day care, whether any current medicines are suitable, and how to recognise pneumonia or another cause of worsening symptoms.