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Lung Center

Bronchitis and shortness of breath

06/02/2009

Question:

I had bronchitis and my doctor gave me 10 worth of antibiotics. I have all the medications gone. My cough is almost totaly gone. But I still have shortness of breath. It gets worse if I do any thing. Could I still have bronchitis without the cough? How long might the shortness of breath last?

Answer:

By definition, bronchitis includes cough and sputum production. However, it may take several days to a few weeks to recover fully from a respiratory illness or infection, especially if you are a smoker or have any underlying lung disease such as asthma or emphysema. If your shortness of breath does not continue to slowly improve, I would seek re-evaluation by your doctor to look for other possible causes.

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Response by:

Jennifer McCallister, MD Jennifer McCallister, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care & Sleep
College of Medicine
The Ohio State University