Is Bronchitis Contagious? 9 Ways to Not Spread It
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Is Bronchitis Contagious? 9 Ways to Not Spread It

Is Bronchitis Contagious? 9 Ways to Not Spread It
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Updated on April 3, 2024
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It’s a straightforward question, but the answer has some nuance.

Technically, bronchitis is a symptom, rather than a disease. It’s an inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, which are the passageways that carry air to and from your lungs.

There’s no single, specific germ that gives you bronchitis. A number of different things can cause it — some that can be spread, some that can’t.

RELATED: 8 Home Remedies for Bronchitis to Ease Coughing and Wheezing

Is Bronchitis Contagious?

Bronchitis can either be chronic or acute.

Chronic bronchitis is characterized by repeated flare-ups of symptoms that don’t ever go away; this is one of the conditions included in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. It is not contagious.

Acute bronchitis is often caused by a virus (such as a cold or the flu) and typically gets better after a week or two, though a cough may last for weeks after the infection is over. The germs that cause acute bronchitis are often extremely contagious.

“Most respiratory viruses are highly contagious,” explains Fernando Holguin, MD, a professor of medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora. Some of the more common viruses that can lead to bronchitis include influenza, coronavirus, adenovirus, and rhinovirus, among others.

But because “acute bronchitis” refers to a symptom (inflammation of the bronchial tubes), it is in and of itself not contagious.

RELATED: Cold and Flu Complications: How Dangerous Are They?

Coughing, a hallmark symptom of bronchitis, is one of the main ways the germs that cause acute bronchitis travel from one person to another. When someone with bronchitis coughs, sneezes, or even talks, droplets of saliva or mucus containing the virus that caused their infection can fly through the air. The airborne virus can then come into direct contact with someone else, perhaps going right into their eyes or mouth. Or it could land on a surface that is then touched by an uninfected person, who then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth, spreading the infection.

How Long Will I Be Contagious?

How long you are contagious when you have bronchitis varies depending on the type of infection, how active symptoms are, and your overall health. When it comes to colds, people are the most contagious for the first two to three days of the infection, Dr. Holguin says. With the flu, people are most contagious in the first three days after the onset of their illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

To make sure they are no longer contagious, the CDC advises anyone with a fever to stay home from school or work for at least 24 hours after their temperature has stayed down without any fever-reducing medication.

Is Bronchitis Contagious After Antibiotics?

Doctors usually do not prescribe antibiotics for bronchitis because most cases are caused by a virus (and antibiotics cannot kill viruses).

But if bronchitis is caused by a bacteria and it’s not improving, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic. After 24 hours on the medication, you should no longer be contagious.

Is Bronchitis Contagious for Babies?

Infants and babies younger than 2 years more commonly get an infection called bronchiolitis, which causes the tiny breathing tubes of the lungs (bronchioles) to become swollen and inflamed and filled with mucus, restricting airflow and making it difficult for babies to breathe. (Bronchitis, in contrast, affects the larger central airways, called the bronchi, and is more common in older children and adults.) Several highly contagious viruses can cause bronchiolitis, including RSV and influenza.

RELATED: What to Do When Your Child Has Bronchitis

How Can I Avoid Getting Bronchitis?

There’s no way to completely eliminate your risk of contracting bronchitis, but you can take measures to lower it. And if you’re someone who has a higher risk of bronchitis in general (due to asthma, age, or other factors), these nine steps are even more important.

1. Wash Your Hands Thoroughly and Often

The best way to reduce your risk of bronchitis is also the best way to avoid any viral illness: Wash your hands. This is especially true during and after preparing food and before eating, after blowing your nose, and before and after taking care of someone who is sick.

And yes, there is a right way to wash your hands: Get a good lather and scrub them — including the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails — for at least 20 seconds, or the time it takes to hum “Happy Birthday” from start to finish twice.

If washing with soap and water isn’t possible, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that’s at least 60 percent alcohol.

RELATED: Why Proper Handwashing Is Essential During Cold and Flu Season

2. Avoid Touching Your Face

In addition to washing your hands regularly and properly, it’s a good idea to remember not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. Ralph Gonzales, MD, the associate dean of clinical innovation at UCSF Health in San Francisco, says, “Keep your hands away and wash numerous times a day.”

3. Get a Flu Shot

The flu is a common cause of bronchitis. An annual flu shot can lower your risk of getting sick. Research has shown that if you do get sick after getting the flu shot, your illness may be milder, and bronchitis less likely.

RELATED: 8 Ways to Keep the Flu From Spreading Through Your Household

4. Keep Your Immune System Strong

Get plenty of sleep each night, eat a healthy diet, exercise, and keep stress in check. Research has shown that feeling more psychological stress can increase your risk of getting a cold.

 But habits like a healthy diet and exercise will help keep your immune system healthy so your body can ward off illness.

 “Exercise keeps everything flowing and circulating, which can help maintain a robust immune system,” Dr. Gonzales says.

5. Don’t Overexert Yourself

Moderate exercise is beneficial for immune system health, but overdoing it may actually be counterproductive, especially during cold and flu season, Gonzales says. While research has shown that moderate-intensity exercise improves immune function and potentially reduces people's risk of viral respiratory infections, prolonged and intense exercise can actually suppress immune system function.



RELATED: Should You Work Out When You’re Sick?

6. Clean Surfaces

The flu virus can live on a surface for up to 48 hours after someone who is infected touches it. When someone who doesn’t have the flu touches that surface and then touches their own eyes or mouth, they can become infected.

To prevent illness from spreading, especially during cold and flu season, be sure to regularly wipe down commonly touched surfaces, like doorknobs and refrigerator handles. This is especially important if someone in the family has bronchitis or is coming down with a cold or the flu.

7. Don’t Smoke

Smoking is the main cause of chronic bronchitis, and can increase your risk of acute bronchitis. If you smoke, stop, and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.

8. Consider Vitamin C and Zinc

When it comes to supplements that may fight off viral infections, two may be worth considering: vitamin C and zinc.

A meta-analysis that looked at 29 studies found that vitamin C won’t stop you from catching a cold, but does reduce the severity and duration.

 Gonzales suggests taking 1,000 milligrams (mg) per day during cold and flu season, preventively.
As for zinc, there is substantial evidence showing that zinc lozenges reduce the duration of a cold when taken within 24 hours after symptoms start. It may also keep you from getting a cold if you take it preventively.

There aren't generally accepted guidelines on what dose of zinc works best, but the National Institutes of Health considers 40 mg a day for adults to be the safe upper limit.

RELATED: 7 Potential Benefits of Zinc Supplements

9. Consider Wearing a Face Mask

If you have COPD, asthma, or another lung condition, wear a face mask if you may be exposed to dust or fumes, or if you’re going to be near crowds of people.

If you’re the one who’s sick, you can protect other people by staying home during the period when you’re contagious. Always cough into the crook of your elbow or a tissue, wash your hands frequently, especially after sneezing or coughing, and wear a face mask if you have to go out. Check with your doctor if you aren’t sure what’s causing your bronchitis.

The Takeaway

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, which are the passageways that carry air to and from your lungs. This means that bronchitis is technically a symptom, rather than an isolated condition. It can be either chronic or acute. Chronic bronchitis is linked to chronic respiratory conditions such as COPD and is not contagious. Acute bronchitis is usually a symptom of a respiratory virus, such as a cold or the flu. These viruses are most often highly contagious. To avoid catching a virus that may lead to bronchitis, wash your hands often, avoid touching your face, and keep your immune system strong with a flu shot, exercise, and a healthy diet full of vitamin C and zinc.

Resources We Trust

  • American Academy of Family Physicians: Acute Bronchitis
  • American Lung Association: Bronchitis (Acute)
  • Cleveland Clinic: Bronchitis
  • Mayo Clinic: Bronchitis
  • National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: Bronchitis

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