Key takeaways:
Feeling sick during the COVID-19 pandemic can be a nerve-wracking experience. This is especially because the flu, colds, and bronchitis (a type of chest infection) all share 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 the difference between the two. Here’s how to tell them apart and what to do if you think you might have one of them.
Both COVID and bronchitis are respiratory conditions caused by different things. COVID is an illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. 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, which is a type of chronic obstructive respiratory disease (COPD) and lasts for a much longer time.
Here’s the tricky part. Human coronaviruses (different from the virus that causes COVID) that cause the common cold and even the virus that causes COVID can cause inflammation of the bronchi. This means COVID infection 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.
Since both COVID and bronchitis infections affect the respiratory system (the parts of the body that help you breathe) they can share similar symptoms, including:
Other similar symptoms may include:
Your best option to tell COVID apart from bronchitis is to get tested for COVID. But there are a few other clues.
With COVID infection, symptoms can affect more than just the lungs and breathing. So you’re more likely to have COVID infection than bronchitis if you have any of these symptoms:
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).
So if both COVID infection 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:
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, especially if you’re older than 65 years old 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, you’ll want to see your healthcare provider right away to get checked out.
COVID and acute bronchitis infections 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 a COVID infection 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.
If you’re sick with a mild case of either COVID or acute bronchitis, over-the-counter medications can help treat your symptoms while you recover at home. These include:
And don’t forget to rest and hydrate while your body fights off the infection.
Most cases of bronchitis are caused by viruses, like the common cold virus. And there’s no specific medications to treat them. But if your bronchitis is caused by the flu, your provider 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.
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 provider 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 your healthcare provider. You may need other prescription medications, like an inhaler to help with your cough. And to make sure you don’t have pneumonia, your provider may recommend a chest X-ray.
To prevent spreading COVID or acute bronchitis, make sure to isolate yourself and stay away from others. Both infections can be spread by coughing, sneezing, and poor hand hygiene.
The CDC recommends COVID testing for anyone with symptoms of COVID infection. You can go online to see where testing centers are available near you, or consider starting with an at-home test.
With either condition, if you start to have severe symptoms like chest pain, difficulty breathing, or confusion, call 911 right away. You can manage mild symptoms at home, but stay in contact with your healthcare provider if you aren’t sure what to do.
A cough and flu-like symptoms may be a sign of COVID infection 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.
Both COVID and bronchitis can be managed at home. But see your healthcare provider 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.
American Lung Association. (n.d.). Chronic bronchitis.
Cascella, M., et al. (2021). Features, evaluation, and treatment of coronavirus (COVID-19). StatPearls.
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