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Can A Spirometry Test Find Out Whether One Has Got Bronchitis Or Not?
Question: Hi, I would like to know if a spirometry test can confirm if a patient has acute bronchitis or chronic bronchitis?
Brief Answer:
No spirometry cannot differentiate between acute and chronic bronchitis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Thanks for posting your query on HCM.
No spirometry cannot differentiate between acute and chronic bronchitis.
In fact acute bronchitis is a very vast general term. Any inflammation of airways of a short duration is fitted in the category of acute bronchitis.
There are no standard spirometry results for acute bronchitis and in fact spirometry test is better avoided in acute stage as the results may be lower than normal.
If there is anything more you would like to know, feel free to put it online.
No spirometry cannot differentiate between acute and chronic bronchitis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Thanks for posting your query on HCM.
No spirometry cannot differentiate between acute and chronic bronchitis.
In fact acute bronchitis is a very vast general term. Any inflammation of airways of a short duration is fitted in the category of acute bronchitis.
There are no standard spirometry results for acute bronchitis and in fact spirometry test is better avoided in acute stage as the results may be lower than normal.
If there is anything more you would like to know, feel free to put it online.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
Thank you for replying so soon. I had a virus that went to bronchitis. The X-ray said inflammation indicating acute bronchitis. I was given a lung function test right in the middle of the bronchitis infection which I didn't think would be the best time to check my breathing. My score was just under normal range and doctor said bronchitis but nothing else.
Since then my bronchitis has gone. I was a bit worried as I used to be a light smoker but never had any symptoms ie mucus cough etc
Then I wondered if bronchitis diag was chronic bronchitis even though I am ok now and prior.
So you are saying that the result I got would be completely normal in spirometry with acute bronchitis? And that the score would be the same if was chronic bronchitis so can't differentiate.
So the test wouldn't show any difference between either type of bronchitis and the doctor couldn't confirm which it was by spirometry result?
Since then my bronchitis has gone. I was a bit worried as I used to be a light smoker but never had any symptoms ie mucus cough etc
Then I wondered if bronchitis diag was chronic bronchitis even though I am ok now and prior.
So you are saying that the result I got would be completely normal in spirometry with acute bronchitis? And that the score would be the same if was chronic bronchitis so can't differentiate.
So the test wouldn't show any difference between either type of bronchitis and the doctor couldn't confirm which it was by spirometry result?
Brief Answer:
Spirometry cannot differentiate between acute and chronic bronchitis
Detailed Answer:
As I said acute bronchitis is a general term and any inflammation of airways of short duration is termed acute bronchitis. You had acute bronchitis and your spirometry results were lower than normal which now may become normal.
Chronic bronchitis is a definite entity and a doctor has to make the diagnosis. It`s not a loosely used general term. There is a pattern to the spirometry results in chronic bronchitis. It is definitely more common in smokers and incidence is higher heavy smokers of many years. But not all smokers develop it.
If you are very concerned, you may get your spirometry repeated. This may put your doubts to rest.
Take care.
Spirometry cannot differentiate between acute and chronic bronchitis
Detailed Answer:
As I said acute bronchitis is a general term and any inflammation of airways of short duration is termed acute bronchitis. You had acute bronchitis and your spirometry results were lower than normal which now may become normal.
Chronic bronchitis is a definite entity and a doctor has to make the diagnosis. It`s not a loosely used general term. There is a pattern to the spirometry results in chronic bronchitis. It is definitely more common in smokers and incidence is higher heavy smokers of many years. But not all smokers develop it.
If you are very concerned, you may get your spirometry repeated. This may put your doubts to rest.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
As I said I never had any symptoms before, never had smokers cough, wheeze etc till got bronchitis. I just wanted to confirm that a XXXXXXX diag of bronch can be same as to whether it is acute or chronic and therefore I assume the only way to differentiate is by whether it ends and how long had it for, correct?
So to clarify, by just looking at spirometry result that can not separate acute to chronic bronchitis?
And it is perfectly normal to have slightly lower Fev, Fvc result caused by acute bronch, correct?
So to clarify, by just looking at spirometry result that can not separate acute to chronic bronchitis?
And it is perfectly normal to have slightly lower Fev, Fvc result caused by acute bronch, correct?
Brief Answer:
It`s not possible to differentiate ac and chr bronchitis only on the basis
Detailed Answer:
Yes XXXXXXX various parameters in acute bronchitis are lower than normal and are temporary. Parameters generally return to normal once the attack subsides.
It`s not possible to differentiate between ac and chr bronchitis on the basis of spirometry. Infact spirometry is hardly of diagnostic significance in ac bronchitis and preferably avoided.
Sorry for the delay in replying. It was inadvertent.
Take care.
It`s not possible to differentiate ac and chr bronchitis only on the basis
Detailed Answer:
Yes XXXXXXX various parameters in acute bronchitis are lower than normal and are temporary. Parameters generally return to normal once the attack subsides.
It`s not possible to differentiate between ac and chr bronchitis on the basis of spirometry. Infact spirometry is hardly of diagnostic significance in ac bronchitis and preferably avoided.
Sorry for the delay in replying. It was inadvertent.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Great. Thanks for your advice. Greatly appreciated. Hi XXXXXXX just one other question please, since bronchitis finished I still have a tickly throat (extra sensitive to allergens which always had but worse) and get mucus in throat (do have post nasal drip from deviated septum) which is also a bit worse and the hypersensitivity and post nasal drip is occurring with a slight wheeze in throat and causes slight shortness in breath. Is that typical following bronchitis and the original upper Resp infection which started the bronchitis and fever. Please advise.
Brief Answer:
Airways become hypereactive after a bout of infection.
Detailed Answer:
The airways become hypereactive(sensitive) to allergens after a bout of any infection/inflammation. That`s the reason you are having the symptoms mentioned by you.
Do you have a history of allergy/asthma? In a person with allergy, any infection can trigger symptoms that you have mentioned. Post nasal drip is also a cause of triggering allergic symptoms. All these are made worst by cigarette smoking.
I hope this answers your query.
Airways become hypereactive after a bout of infection.
Detailed Answer:
The airways become hypereactive(sensitive) to allergens after a bout of any infection/inflammation. That`s the reason you are having the symptoms mentioned by you.
Do you have a history of allergy/asthma? In a person with allergy, any infection can trigger symptoms that you have mentioned. Post nasal drip is also a cause of triggering allergic symptoms. All these are made worst by cigarette smoking.
I hope this answers your query.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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