Bronchitis Medical Tests & Diagnosis - OmniMedicalSearch.com, Acute & Chronic Bronchitis

Conditions & Diseases: Lung & Respiratory Diseases & Disorders

Bronchitis

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.

Article by Jason L Morrow
Founder & Editor
OmniMedicalSearch.com