Bronchitis Can Present with Dry Cough

Yes, bronchitis can present with a dry cough, although it often progresses to a productive cough as the condition develops. 1

Types of Cough in Bronchitis

Acute bronchitis typically manifests as cough with or without phlegm production that lasts up to 3 weeks 1
The cough in bronchitis can initially be dry before developing into a productive cough with sputum 1
The distinction between dry and productive cough is not always clear-cut in bronchitis, as patients may transition between cough types during the course of illness 1, 2

Bronchitis involves inflammation of the airways that activates the afferent limb of the cough reflex 1
Viral infections account for more than 90% of acute bronchitis cases, triggering mucosal injury and epithelial cell damage 1, 3
The inflammatory process can cause a dry, irritating cough before mucus production increases 1
Heightened cough receptors in bronchitis patients lead to increased sensitivity to irritants 1

Acute bronchitis is defined as an acute respiratory infection with cough lasting no more than 3 weeks 1
Diagnosis requires ruling out pneumonia (no infiltrate on chest radiograph), common cold, acute asthma, or COPD exacerbation 1
The cough may be accompanied by constitutional symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, and fatigue 1
In children, persistent bacterial bronchitis (PBB) can present with a wet cough that is often misdiagnosed as asthma 4

Cough associated with the common cold is often related to upper airway cough syndrome with throat clearing and postnasal drip sensation 1
Bronchitis cough is presumed to originate from the lower airways but may also be accompanied by upper airway symptoms 1
Asthma is commonly misdiagnosed as acute bronchitis in approximately one-third of patients presenting with acute cough 1
When cough persists beyond 3 weeks, other diagnoses should be considered, including postinfectious cough, upper airway cough syndrome, asthma, and gastroesophageal reflux disease 1

Antibiotics are generally not indicated for acute bronchitis since viruses are responsible for more than 90% of cases 3, 2
Symptomatic treatment of cough is the primary approach, though the condition is typically self-limiting 2, 5
Transient airflow obstruction and bronchial hyperresponsiveness can occur in approximately 40% of previously healthy individuals with acute respiratory infections 1
In most patients, airflow obstruction and bronchial hyperresponsiveness resolve within 6 weeks 1

Misdiagnosing bronchitis as asthma or vice versa is common due to similar clinical presentations 1, 4
Assuming that colored (e.g., green) sputum reliably indicates bacterial infection is incorrect; this does not differentiate between viral and bacterial infections 3
Overuse of antibiotics for acute bronchitis is a significant problem that should be avoided 1, 3
Failing to recognize when "acute bronchitis" might actually be an early presentation of chronic respiratory conditions like asthma 1