How Contagious Is Bronchitis?

Bronchitis is a disease that can be very contagious. Its main characteristic feature is severe lower respiratory tract ailments. It happens when the bronchial tubes become inflamed due to infection or for other reasons, such as smoking or inhaling toxic gases and dust for a long time.

There are two types of bronchitis: chronic and acute. According to epidemiological studies, the first of them, long-lasting and complex, may occur in up to 11% of the population aged between 20 and 70 years.

So wondering if bronchitis is contagious is perfectly normal. Please take a moment to read our today’s article to learn more about it.

Types of bronchitis

Bronchitis usually appears acute or chronic. Depending on the clinical picture, it may be very contagious or completely non-contagious.

But in order to answer the title question correctly, we first need to detail the two types of bronchitis that can affect people. In short, acute bronchitis is contagious, but chronic bronchitis is not.

This statement takes a long list of nuances to take into account, so take a few minutes to read. But, in general, bronchitis is contagious when it is caused by viruses or bacteria.

Acute bronchitis

According to Medicina de Urgencias , a respected source of medical statistics, more than 10 million people consult a doctor each year for this disease. Therefore, it can be said that it is a relatively common condition.

According to other specialist sources, 90% of the infectious agents that cause acute bronchitis are viruses (adenovirus, influenza virus, parainfluenza, RSV, rhinovirus, bocavirus, Coxsackie or herpes simplex virus).

Streptococcus pneumonia is responsible for the disease in the remaining 10% . As you can see, this disease is definitely contagious in nature.

According to the references already cited, acute bronchitis is seasonal due to its association with viral infections. This means that it occurs much more frequently in the winter months as a cold and dry climate is directly correlated with higher virus transmission.

For example, consider the influenza virus, which appears to have a baseline reproductive R0 value of around 1.3 (according to the New York Times). This means that an infected person transmits the disease to 1.3 people on average. Thus, acute bronchitis is subject to epidemiological parameters of this type.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the symptoms of acute bronchitis can be summarized as follows:

• Strong cough.
• Tiredness.
• Breathing difficulties.
• Slight fever and chills.
• Chest discomfort.

Note that this variant of bronchitis is self-limiting. The disease will usually resolve spontaneously 10-14 days after the first symptoms appear.

Despite the relationship with pathogens, acute bronchitis can also appear as a result of non-infectious processes (allergies, inhalation of harmful substances or gastroesophageal reflux). Therefore, not all cases of acute bronchitis are contagious. But most of them are.

Chronic bronchitis is generally not contagious

The main characteristic of this long-term variant of the described disease is recurrent inflammation of the airways with secondary damage. The cough lasts for several months, explains the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). In addition, the process repeats itself as it may keep coming back for two or more consecutive years.

This type of bronchitis has nothing to do with any pathogens. Sources like the Mayo Clinic say up to 75% of cases are related to smoking. Other risk factors may be asthma, cystic fibrosis, age, or genetic predisposition. It is also often part of a general serious condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

According to the US National Library of Medicine, symptoms of chronic bronchitis are more severe and longer lasting than those found in acute bronchitis. Among them, the most important are:

• Constant, frequent and prolonged cough.
• Wheezing breath (whistling or squeaking when breathing).
• Dyspnoea, especially during exercise.
• Chest tightness.

Despite the fact that this pathology is usually associated with non-infectious factors, this is not always the case. This type of bronchitis can also be caused by microorganisms such as Streptococcus pneumoniae , Haemophilus influenzae , Moraxella catarrhalis, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae .

The risk of an additional complication of respiratory infections occurs mainly in people who have had a tracheostomy or in immunocompromised patients.

How to prevent bronchitis?

So, it is high time to answer the question of whether bronchitis is contagious or not? Well, in short, the acute form is usually infectious, but the chronic one is not. Therefore, your preventive measures will depend on the type of condition you are trying to protect yourself from.

In any case, the Mayo Clinic suggests that there are always some general considerations to consider. Some of the most important recommendations are as follows:

• Avoid close contact with people who have the flu or other respiratory illnesses. The viruses travel through the microparticles of saliva that are secreted by coughing and sneezing.

• Wash your hands often with soap, especially in winter and during periods of high epidemiological risk.
• Do not touch your eyes, nose and mouth without washing your hands first.
• Get vaccinated against the flu, especially if you are at risk – for example, over the age of 65.

As you can see, these measures are aimed at preventing acute bronchitis as it is a disease with a much higher contagiousness. At this point, it should also be clear that not smoking is the best way to avoid chronic bronchitis.

In summary, the chronic form of bronchitis is a component of COPD and requires specific treatment.

So is bronchitis contagious?

Despite what many people believe, these two types of bronchitis do not differ depending on the causative agent, but rather the duration of the disease as a whole. Therefore, not all acute cases are caused by pathogens, nor are all chronic cases caused by cigarette smoking.

There are, of course, exceptions to the general rule we described above. However, common flu viruses are generally responsible for the acute form of the disease.

Finally, important information. Always consult your doctor if you are complaining of a troublesome cough that lasts more than two weeks. This is important because it may be some form of bronchitis or other upper respiratory disease.