If you’re feeling sick, it can sometimes be tempting to try to fight off the infection on your own, rather than seek medical care. However, not every illness will go away with at-home management. Bronchitis is a secondary infection that affects the lungs by creating swelling and irritation in what's known as the bronchial tubes. In most cases, it can go away on its own, but this depends on what kind of bronchitis you have. If you’re experiencing symptoms of bronchitis, walk into AFC Urgent Care Burlington for convenient same-day care. Our walk-in clinic is open daily from 8am-8pm, including on weekends!

About Acute and Chronic Bronchitis

The differences between acute and chronic bronchitis can ultimately be narrowed down to their duration, inflammation profile, and early symptoms they show. Let’s take a look at each condition and see how they differ;

Duration

When it comes to duration, acute bronchitis can usually last anywhere between ten days and 3 weeks, and it is usually not so severe that people can’t recover on their own without any long-term effects. For chronic bronchitis on the other hand, the duration can extend as far as three months and is more likely to cause permanent issues to the affected body.

Causes

Acute and chronic bronchitis vary in the sense that in acute cases, pathogens like viruses and bacteria are to blame, but when it's chronic, other irritants such as allergens or environmental factors may be at play.

Symptoms of Bronchitis

Bronchitis typically begins as a mild illness. However, failing to properly manage your symptoms can result in them worsening over time and potentially developing a secondary infection such as bronchitis. It is important to monitor your illness symptoms for signs of worsening, particularly after a week of symptoms. Worsening symptoms could suggest the start of a secondary infection that requires treatment.

Common symptoms of bronchitis include:

• Runny nose
• Coughing persistently
• Green phlegm
• Sore throat
• Shortness of breath.
• Fatigue
• Muscle aches
• Low fever
• Wheezing
• Chest pain

Treatment for Bronchitis

Depending on the underlying cause of bronchitis, it can sometimes resolve on its own. However, there are cases, such as in the case of a bacterial infection, where bronchitis will require specialized treatment. Because of this, you should never try to power through symptoms if you think you could have bronchitis. Seeking early treatment will help prevent your symptoms from worsening and ensure a quicker recovery.

Because bronchitis is contagious, you should self-isolate until you seek medical treatment for a proper diagnosis for your symptoms. Prevention is the best medicine when it comes to bronchitis. Taking care of illnesses while your symptoms are mild and practicing good hygiene can help reduce your risk of developing bronchitis.

Walk Into AFC Burlington for Same-Day Cough Diagnosis & Treatment

If you’re experiencing symptoms of bronchitis, or are simply feeling under the weather and are in need of symptom relief, AFC Urgent Care Burlington can help. We offer walk-in illness diagnosis and treatment for patients near Burlington, MA 7 days a week! Our clinic maintains short wait times, making it easy to walk in and receive rapid care when it’s convenient for your schedule. Our medical providers are fully board-certified and trained to expertly diagnose and treat common conditions including bronchitis. For more information, walk into the clinic or contact us by calling (781) 270-4700.