For those of us that have rather uncomplicated bouts of the flu (or even COVID-19), one of the worst parts of getting sick to begin with is the lingering cough. We’ve all either been the person or worked with the person that took a few days off to get over the flu, only to bring their cough back to work. According to the CDC, it’s common that after upper respiratory infections (most often related to viruses), acute bronchitis sets in- aka that chest cold with a painful cough.

Unfortunately, post viral acute bronchitis isn’t treatable with antibiotics, meaning you just have to muddle through the time it takes for your body to recover. There are things you can do though to get through it, though. You should start by talking with a provider to make sure your cough really is post-viral, and not something more serious like whooping cough or pneumonia. Here are examples from the CDC of what providers may recommend to make the nasty cough a little bit more bearable:

• Use a humidifier, cool mist vaporizer, or take deep breaths over steaming water
• Stay hydrated and rested
• Use over the counter pain relievers
• Use over the counter cough and cold medicines

If you start to feel unwell, our urgent cares are here to help! Our urgent care centers are open every day of the week 8:00 am to 8:00 pm- No appointment necessary! We offer flu shots, flu tests, as well as COVID-19 testing. To be seen by a provider, simply walk in, or save your spot online by clicking here! For information on E-registration to save time click here. Telemedicine options are available here. We look forward to helping you Get Better. Faster!

https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/community/for-patients/common-illnesses/bronchitis.html