LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Bronchitis: People
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If you have bronchitis, you cough a lot, and you probably cough up phlegm (mucus, sputum, slimy material) that comes out of your lungs. Some people with bronchitis ... may have a fever. Some feel an ache or tightness in the chest. It may hurt to breathe. Some people may speak hoarsely, have trouble catching their breath, and wheeze when they breathe.
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Acute bronchitis in nonsmokers and healthy people is best managed symptomatically. In any inflammatory process with fever, the body consumes a great deal of water; making fluid replacement essential. Tylenol, aspirin, or Ibuprofen are effective in controlling fever. You can best achieve cough suppression with dextromethorphan, and reduce sputum production and the relief of chest congestion with guiafenissen.
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For some people with acute bronchitis, doctors prescribe medicines that are usually used to treat asthma. These medicines can help open the bronchial tubes and clear out mucus. They are usually given with an inhaler. An inhaler sprays the medicine right into the bronchial tree. Your doctor will decide if this treatment is right for you.
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Most people can treat symptoms of acute bronchitis at home. Drink plenty of fluids. Use an over-the-counter cough medicine with an expectorant if your doctor recommends it. This can help you bring up mucus when you cough. Suck on cough drops or hard candies to soothe a dry or sore throat. Cough drops won't stop your cough, but they may make your throat feel better.
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More than 17 million people in the U.S. will be affected by two serious respiratory infections, community-acquired pneumonia and acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. Of those 17 million, 45,000 will die. Those at greatest risk are older Americans. According to the American Lung Association, pneumonia and flu are the seventh leading cause of death and the leading cause of death by infectious disease in the U.S.
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Acute bronchitis symptoms usually start 3 or 4 days after an upper respiratory tract infection. Most people get better in 2 to 3 weeks. But some people continue to have a cough for more than 4 weeks.
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