Is Bronchitis Contagious?

Is bronchitis contagious? To answer that question, first of all, one needs to understand what bronchitis is and its types. Bronchitis is a condition where the lung airways are inflamed. Due to the swollen airways, you will experience coughing, wheezing, and may find it difficult to breathe. There are two types of bronchitis: chronic bronchitis and acute bronchitis. However, only acute bronchitis is contagious and to know why to keep on reading.  

Chronic bronchitis: If you are experiencing coughing for at least three months, then you may have chronic bronchitis. If you have chronic bronchitis, it means your lungs have been inflamed for a long time. When the airways are irritated, they produce thick mucus. This mucus makes it hard for you to breathe in air, and, thus, leads to coughing and difficulty in breathing. Those with chronic bronchitis may also have a feeling of tightness in the chest because of thick mucus accumulation. This type of bronchitis is not contagious.

Acute bronchitis: Unlike chronic bronchitis, acute bronchitis is not a long-term condition. It lasts up to 1 week to a maximum of three weeks. In acute bronchitis, the airways of the lungs are inflamed. However, inflammation is sudden. Just like the flu and cold, acute bronchitis is caused by a virus and is contagious. The infection can last for 3 to 10 days, however, the cough may persist for weeks.

How long is acute bronchitis contagious?

Well, in most cases, if you have acute bronchitis, you are contagious for a few days or just a week. It totally depends upon the kind of virus you have. Generally, till the time you have cold-like symptoms like coughing, wheezing, you could spread the disease.

How to prevent the spread of acute bronchitis?

Acute bronchitis spreads just like the flu and the cold. It is transmitted through sneezing, coughing and shaking hands with an infected person. To lower your chances of getting acute bronchitis, avoid close contact with those who have flu-like symptoms. Wash your hands regularly. Do not touch your eyes, mouth, or nose with your hands. If you have acute bronchitis, it is best to cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze and cough and wash your hands regularly, otherwise, you will end up spreading the infection to others.

How would you know if you have acute bronchitis?  

The symptoms of chronic bronchitis and acute bronchitis are almost similar. However, the symptoms of acute bronchitis usually last a few days or week whereas, in the case of chronic bronchitis, the symptoms don’t go away for months.

Some of the common symptoms of acute and chronic bronchitis are:

• The main symptom is coughing
• Chest congestion
• Breath difficulty
• Wheezing
• Sore throat
• Fever
• Body aches

Ayurvedic medicine for bronchitis

If you are having constant cough and breathing difficulty you may have acute bronchitis or chronic. Our ayurvedic medicine for bronchitis, Pankajakasthuri Breathe Eazy, helps you get long-lasting relief. Made with the potent combination of black pepper, Indian long pepper, dry ginger and cardamom, Breathe Eazy provides relief by improving respiratory strength and building immunity. The main ingredients are known for their anti-inflammatory properties. To buy Pankajakasthuri Breathe Eazy, click here.