Bronchitis vs. COVID-19: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Key takeaways:
Bronchitis and COVID-19 have many of the same symptoms, like cough and shortness of breath.
The best way to tell the difference between COVID and bronchitis is to get a COVID test.
Both bronchitis and COVID can turn into pneumonia. So watch out for serious symptoms like shortness of breath or worsening cough or fever. These require medical attention.
Table of contents
Feeling sick during cold and flu season is no fun. And it can be challenging to figure out what’s causing your symptoms because COVID, the flu, colds, and bronchitis (a type of chest infection) share some similar symptoms. So, if you’re coughing, short of breath, or have a fever, it can be hard to tell what you might have.
While COVID and bronchitis have some things in common, there are also some big differences that can help to tell them apart. Here’s how to know if you have COVID or bronchitis and what to do if you think you might have one of them.
What causes COVID-19 and acute bronchitis?
Both COVID and bronchitis are respiratory conditions caused by different things. COVID is an illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
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Anything that causes inflammation of the bronchi — the tubes that carry air from the trachea to the lungs — can cause acute bronchitis. Viruses like influenza or rhinovirus (the common cold virus) usually cause it. But sometimes certain bacteria and air pollutants, like smoke, can also cause it.
We’ll focus on acute bronchitis (a “chest cold”), which is usually caused by an infection and goes away after a few weeks. It’s different from chronic bronchitis — a type of chronic obstructive respiratory disease (COPD) that lasts for a much longer time.
Can COVID turn into bronchitis?
This is a bit tricky. Human coronaviruses (different from the virus that causes COVID) that cause the common cold and even the virus that causes COVID can lead to inflammation of the bronchi. This means COVID can technically cause acute bronchitis. It’s also why so many of the symptoms of COVID — and what’s traditionally known as “acute bronchitis” — can be the same.
How are the symptoms of COVID and bronchitis similar?
Both COVID and bronchitis affect the respiratory system (the parts of the body that help you breathe). So they can share similar symptoms, including:
Cough
Shortness of breath
Nasal congestion
Other similar symptoms may include:
Headache
Fever for the first few days
Muscle or body aches
Chest pain
Is it COVID or a cold? Colds and COVID can share similar symptoms. Understanding the timeline of each can help you tell them apart.
Can the flu turn into bronchitis? Yes, it can. Learn how the flu virus can spread past the upper respiratory tract and into the lungs.
What does bronchitis feel like? A few readers share their personal experience with bronchitis.
Quiz: Do I have bronchitis?
How can you tell the difference between COVID and bronchitis?
Your best option to tell COVID apart from bronchitis is to get tested for COVID. But there are a few other clues.
With COVID, symptoms can affect more than just the lungs and breathing. So, you’re more likely to have COVID than bronchitis if you have any of these symptoms:
New loss of taste or smell
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Sore throat
You may be able to tell the two apart from the type of cough you have, too. The cough with COVID is often dry, while the cough with bronchitis may start out dry and then become wet (with mucus).
COVID and bronchitis also share symptoms with the common cold. If you’re having a hard time figuring out if you have COVID, bronchitis, or a cold, don’t hesitate to see a healthcare professional
Why is COVID more serious than acute bronchitis?
So, if both COVID and acute bronchitis can cause similar symptoms, why is COVID such a big deal? This is because COVID can affect the whole body and lead to severe complications, including:
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS), a rare but serious condition that causes inflammation all over the body
Pneumonia, an infection of the lungs
Kidney failure
Heart attack
Liver inflammation
Stroke
Death
COVID is also much more contagious than “regular” acute bronchitis, so it’s a public health risk, too.
But bronchitis can also be serious. Just like COVID, bronchitis can turn into pneumonia. No matter the underlying cause, pneumonia has a higher risk for death. This is especially true if you’re older than 65 years or you have underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, asthma, or a weakened immune system.
So, if you’re sick, watch for shortness of breath or worsening cough or fevers. If these happen, see a healthcare professional right away to get checked out.
How long do bronchitis and COVID last?
COVID and acute bronchitis last about the same amount of time — around 1 to 2 weeks. With both conditions, the cough can also last up to a few weeks, even after all other symptoms have improved and you’re no longer contagious. This is more common in people with underlying lung issues like asthma or COPD.
But it can take people longer to recover from COVID. For some people, it can take weeks or months for their sense of taste and smell to return. Some people who have had COVID also report symptoms that last for several weeks to months after their initial illness, including fatigue, headaches, and shortness of breath.
Scientists continue to learn more about long COVID. This is a broad term that includes the wide range of symptoms that some people feel for months to years after an acute COVID infection.
How do you treat COVID and acute bronchitis?
If you’re sick with a mild case of either COVID or acute bronchitis, over-the-counter (OTC) medications can help treat your symptoms while you recover at home. These include:
Cough medications, like guaifenesin (Robitussin or Mucinex) and dextromethorphan (Delsym), help decrease coughing.
Fever reducers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), can help lower your temperature and relieve body aches.
And don’t forget to rest and hydrate while your body fights off the infection.
Bronchitis treatment
Most cases of bronchitis are caused by viruses, like the common cold virus. And there aren’t specific medications to treat them. But if your bronchitis is caused by the flu, a healthcare professional may prescribe an antiviral medication like Tamiflu (oseltamivir). Flu medications can shorten how long you have symptoms, especially if you take it in the first 1 to 2 days after your symptoms start.
If your bronchitis is caused by bacteria rather than a virus, it can be treated with a course of antibiotics.
COVID-19 treatment
There are several COVID treatments, such as Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir), Lagevrio (molnupiravir), and Veklury (remdesivir). COVID medications require a prescription, and they may have limited availability. A healthcare professional can help you figure out the best treatment option for your situation.
If you aren’t getting better with at-home treatments, check in with a healthcare professional. You may need other prescription medications, like an inhaler to help with your cough. And to make sure you don’t have pneumonia, they may recommend a chest X-ray.
What to do if you have COVID or acute bronchitis
To prevent spreading COVID or acute bronchitis, make sure to isolate yourself and stay away from others. Both infections can spread through coughing, sneezing, and poor hand hygiene.
The CDC recommends COVID testing for anyone with symptoms of COVID. You can go online to see where testing centers are available near you, or consider starting with an at-home COVID test.
You can manage mild COVID symptoms at home, but stay in contact with your primary care provider if you aren’t sure what to do.
With either condition, call 911 right away if you start to have severe symptoms, such as:
Chest pain
Difficulty breathing
Confusion
The bottom line
A cough and flu-like symptoms may be a sign of COVID or acute bronchitis. Rapid COVID testing can help you figure out the cause of your symptoms. And to prevent spreading the infection to others, stay away from others, wear a mask, and wash your hands often while you’re sick.
Usually you can manage both mild COVID and bronchitis at home. But see a healthcare professional if you have a high risk for severe illness, think you may have the flu, or your symptoms are not getting better. Flu treatment, COVID treatment, or even antibiotics may help. And keep a lookout for worsening cough, breathlessness, or fever. Both conditions can turn into pneumonia.
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References
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). About MIS.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Symptoms of COVID-19.
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