Complications
Complication
Timeframe
Likelihood
short term
low
About 25% of patients will cough for >4 weeks, and a subset of these will cough for up to 6 months (postbronchitis syndrome).[7] Treatment for persistent cough should be with albuterol or similar short-acting bronchodilators as needed, until the cough resolves.
Evaluation for other causes of persistent cough should be considered (e.g., asthmatic cough/eosinophilic bronchitis, reflux, postnasal drip syndrome, upper airways cough syndrome).[35]
short term
low
Pneumonia is a possible complication of acute bronchitis and should be considered especially in older people.
Use of this content is subject to our disclaimer