Acute Bronchitis
Also known as: Acute bronchitis, unspecified · Chest cold · Bronchitis
General information only. Anpheros does not diagnose and does not recommend treatment. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your situation. In an emergency, call 112 (or your local emergency number).
In short
Acute bronchitis is a type of bronchitis characterized by inflammation of the bronchial tubes, which are the airways carrying air to the lungs. The condition causes a cough that often brings up mucus, and it is associated with symptoms such as dyspnoea, wheezing, a low fever, and chest tightness. Most cases of acute bronchitis improve within several days, and they are often caused by the same viruses that cause colds and the flu, or less frequently by bacteria.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. · Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
AI-generated summary of the sources cited on this page, checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a clinician; not medical advice.
Codes
Description
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, the airways that carry air to your lungs. It causes a cough that often brings up mucus. It can also cause shortness of breath, wheezing, a low fever, and chest tightness. There are two main types of bronchitis: acute and chronic.
Most cases of acute bronchitis get better within several days. But your cough can last for several weeks after the infection is gone.
The same viruses that cause colds and the flu often cause acute bronchitis. These viruses spread through the air when people cough, or through physical contact (for example, on unwashed hands). Being exposed to tobacco smoke, air pollution, dust, vapors, and fumes can also cause acute bronchitis. Less often, bacteria can also cause acute bronchitis.
To diagnose acute bronchitis, your health care provider will ask about your symptoms and listen to your breathing. You may also have other tests.
Treatments include rest, fluids, and aspirin (for adults) or acetaminophen to treat fever. A humidifier or steam can also help. You may need inhaled medicine to open your airways if you are wheezing. Antibiotics won't help if the cause is viral. You may get antibiotics if the cause is bacterial.
NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Related terms in the cited sources
May be associated with
- Cough Symptom
- Shortness of breath Symptom
In alphabetical order.
Next to it in ICD-10
- J11Flu (virus not identified)
- J13Pneumococcal pneumonia
- J14Pneumonia due to Haemophilus influenzae
- J30Allergic and vasomotor rhinitis (hay fever)
- J31Chronic rhinitis and pharyngitis
- J32Chronic rhinosinusitis, unspecified
Neighbouring codes in the classification, not a medical link.
External resources
Questions
What is the ICD-10 code for Acute Bronchitis?
J20 (WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision).
What is the ICD-11 code for Acute Bronchitis?
CA42.Z: Acute bronchitis, unspecified (WHO, ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics).
Sources and attribution
- ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics, © World Health Organization, licensed under CC BY-ND 3.0 IGO.
- Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- Names other than the official source titles: Anpheros translations and plain-language names, made with AI assistance and checked automatically; the source names are in English.
- ICD-10 codes and titles © World Health Organization. Source: WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (2019).
Anpheros Search catalog 2026.10.5, published 17 October 2026. About the data →
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Treatments. Indications are quoted unchanged from official product information (European Medicines Agency, U.S. Food and Drug Administration). They describe what a medicine is approved for, not whether it is right for you. Approved uses can differ between countries. Always read the package leaflet and follow your doctor's or pharmacist's advice.
What people report. Figures marked "reported by Anpheros users" are anonymous counts from at least 20 people who agreed to share them. They show what people report, not what works, and they are not clinical evidence.
Links between terms. "May be associated with" means the link appears in a cited source. It does not mean you have that condition.
In an emergency, call 112 (or your local emergency number). Do not delay seeking medical help because of something you read here.