Acute Bronchitis
Most cases of acute bronchitis are caused by a viral infection in the lungs. If your bronchitis is caused by a virus, the best that any treatment can do is relieve symptoms, because there are no cures for viruses.

For mild cases, treatment is similar to treatment for a head cold: drink plenty of water and other fluids, eat healthy food, and get a lot of sleep and rest. Taking a nonprescription (over-the-counter) painkiller such as aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen may help relieve symptoms.

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Drugs that open the bronchi or airways (bronchodilating drugs), such as albuterol, may help relieve coughing and wheezing and let you return to your regular activities more quickly. Bronchodilators can be swallowed or squirted into the mouth with an inhaler. They are available with a physician’s prescription.

Most people with acute bronchitis don’t need antibiotics, which are only effective against bacteria and not against viruses. In fact, the use of antibiotics when they are not needed or the use of antibiotics that are less effective against particular bacteria can actually help bacteria develop resistance to the drug—and potentially to other antibiotics in the same chemical family. Antibiotic resistance can make bacterial infections difficult to treat.

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Acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis
For acute exacerbations or flare-ups of chronic bronchitis, your health care provider may prescribe antibiotics if the cause of the flare-up is believed to be a bacterial infection. Several different kinds of antibiotic medications can be used to treat flare-ups of chronic bronchitis. Even laboratory tests cannot always quickly pinpoint which kinds of bacteria are causing the problem. In such cases, the health care provider may choose an antibiotic that is known to kill the most common types of bacteria. Antibiotics that are often prescribed for flare-ups of chronic bronchitis include penicillin-like drugs (such as amoxicillin), cephalosporins (such as ceftriaxone and cefotaxime), macrolides (such as clarithromycin and azithromycin), and fluoroquinolones (such as Avelox).

To improve breathing, a bronchodilator, theophylline or another drug may be prescribed. Taking drugs called corticosteroids for a week or two may also help improve the flow of air during flare-ups of chronic bronchitis. Corticosteroids reduce inflammation, swelling, and the amount of mucus (which blocks the flow of air) that is produced by the body.

A person who has so much trouble breathing that too little oxygen is reaching the blood, a condition called hypoxemia, may have to be given extra (supplemental) oxygen through a nasal canula.

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