Introduction

Is a deep, chesty cough keeping your little one up all night? Your child may have bronchitis. Also called a chest cold, acute bronchitis is an illness where the large airways to the lungs known as bronchi swell and then make excess mucus. The cough comes on suddenly and generally goes away within 3 weeks Trusted Source with no specific treatment necessary, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The American Lung Association (ALA) says acute bronchitis is generally caused by a viral infection. This is known as viral bronchitis. But it can also be caused by bacteria in the bronchi, which is known as bacterial bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis is another possibility, though research Trusted Source suggests chronic cough is rare in children. It produces similar symptoms, but they may last much longer, usually beyond weeks Trusted Source.

Here’s more about what symptoms your child may experience with bronchitis, how this condition is diagnosed, and what antibiotic and over-the-counter (OTC) options are available for treatment.