What home management and treatment options are recommended for an adult or pediatric patient with bronchitis, without chronic conditions, where antibiotics (Abx) are not indicated?

Home Management Information for Bronchitis (No Antibiotics Needed)

Antibiotics will not help your bronchitis get better faster, and they can cause side effects like nausea, diarrhea, and allergic reactions while contributing to antibiotic resistance. 1, 2

What You Need to Know About Your Cough

• Your cough will typically last 10-14 days after today's visit, and may continue for up to 3 weeks—this is completely normal even without antibiotics 1, 2, 3
• Viruses cause 89-95% of bronchitis cases, which means antibiotics (which only work on bacteria) are completely ineffective 1, 2, 3
• Green or yellow mucus does NOT mean you need antibiotics—this colored sputum occurs in 89-95% of viral cases and is caused by your body's inflammatory cells, not bacteria 1, 2, 3

What You Can Do at Home

For Cough Relief

• Over-the-counter cough suppressants containing dextromethorphan or codeine may provide modest relief, especially if dry cough is keeping you awake at night 1, 2, 3
• Humidified air and eliminating environmental irritants (smoke, strong odors) may help 1, 2
• If you have wheezing with your cough, an albuterol inhaler may be helpful—discuss this with your provider 1, 2

What NOT to Use

• Do not use expectorants, mucolytics, antihistamines, or anti-inflammatory doses of NSAIDs—these have no proven benefit for bronchitis 2, 4, 3
• Avoid over-the-counter cough and cold preparations in children younger than 6 years 5

When to Return for Reassessment

Come back or call if:

• Fever persists for more than 3 days (suggests possible bacterial infection or pneumonia) 2, 3
• Cough persists for more than 3 weeks (may indicate other conditions like asthma, pertussis, or COPD) 2, 3
• You develop shortness of breath, rapid breathing, or chest pain 1, 3
• Symptoms worsen rather than gradually improve 2, 3

Why No Antibiotics?

• Studies show antibiotics only reduce cough duration by approximately half a day (12 hours) 1, 2
• Antibiotics significantly increase adverse effects including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and allergic reactions 1, 2
• Using antibiotics when not needed increases your risk of carrying antibiotic-resistant bacteria that could cause harder-to-treat infections in the future 1, 3

Rest and Recovery

• Get adequate rest and stay well-hydrated 2
• Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke exposure 4
• Your body's immune system will clear this viral infection on its own within 2-3 weeks 2, 3