Medical Tests & Diagnosis
Acute bronchitis is relatively easy for family doctors to diagnose
based on patient reporting and a simple examination. With a
stethoscope, the doctor will listen for rales (abnormal sounds
in the lungs) and other signs of difficult breathing. It is
important that family physicians distinguish between acute bronchitis
and more serious illnesses such as chronic bronchitis (COPD,
Emphysema), acute pneumonia or asthma. Acute bronchitis is temporary
and often clears up in seven to 14 days. If symptoms persist
longer, further examination is necessary to diagnose more serious
illnesses.
In order to be diagnosed with chronic bronchitis, a patient
must have a cough with mucus most days of the month for at
least 3 months within the last 2 years.
Other diagnostic tools include a chest x-ray and pulminary
function test (PFT). A PFT only takes a few minutes and is painless.
"During a PFT, you blow into a device called a spirometer,
which measures the volume of air in your lungs after you've
taken a deep breath and blown it out. The spirometer also shows
how quickly you can get air into your lungs." - Mayo
Clinic.
See Also:
Bronchitis: Introduction
& Overview
Bronchitis: Signs & Symptoms
Bronchitis: Causes
& Risk Factors
Bronchitis: Tests and Diagnosis
Methods
Bronchitis: Treatment
& Prevention Options
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