What is a common treatment option for bronchitis?

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, often caused by viral infections, but it can also be exacerbated by bacterial infections in some cases. Antibiotics are specifically used to treat bacterial infections. If bronchitis is determined to have a bacterial cause, then administering antibiotics is an appropriate treatment option to help eliminate the infection.

In cases of acute bronchitis, particularly when the condition is viral, antibiotics would not be helpful, which is why they are not the first line of treatment. For chronic bronchitis, other treatments may be employed to manage symptoms and inflammation, but the use of antibiotics is specifically justified when there’s a bacterial infection present.

Inhalers, antihistamines, and corticosteroids are also used in treatment plans for respiratory issues but serve different purposes, such as relieving symptoms or reducing inflammation in chronic conditions rather than targeting bacterial infections directly.