Conditions
Acute bronchitis: symptoms, treatment and relief by video in Puerto Rico
Acute bronchitis, or a chest cold, is inflammation of the airways that is almost always caused by a virus. It brings a cough with or without mucus that lasts less than three weeks and gets better on its own. By video, the doctor evaluates your cough, diagnoses and treats you: she recommends relief and, if appropriate, prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy.
Is it an emergency? Call 911.
Is this an emergency?
This is not an emergency service. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you have:
- Severe trouble breathing or shortness of breath at rest
- Chest pain
- Blue lips or face
- Coughing up blood
- Fever of 104 °F (40 °C) or higher, or confusion
- In children: fast breathing, skin pulling in between the ribs or noisy breathing
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At a glance
Acute bronchitis
Common symptoms
- Cough with or without mucus
- Tiredness
- Congestion
- Sore throat
- Mild body aches
- Other names
- Chest cold · Bronchitis
- Usual test
- A chest X-ray only if the doctor suspects pneumonia
- Treatment
- Symptom relief; antibiotics do not help acute bronchitis
- Possible complication
- Pneumonia
On this page(9)
What is acute bronchitis?
Acute bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchial tubes, the airways that carry air to your lungs. A virus causes it almost every time, and it often starts after a cold, the flu or COVID-19.
Symptoms last less than three weeks, and the cough is often the last thing to go. If your cough lasts longer than three weeks, or you keep getting bronchitis, the doctor looks for another cause such as asthma, allergies or acid reflux.
How we treat bronchitis by video
You see Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD, a general practice physician licensed in Puerto Rico (check her license), with several years of emergency-department experience. We evaluate, diagnose and treat; if needed, we give you a lab order for a lab near you. We see adults and children of all ages, in English or Spanish.
In the visit, the doctor listens to your cough, watches your breathing on camera, asks about fever and mucus, and tells bronchitis apart from pneumonia or asthma. Then she gives you a relief plan. If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy. A doctor's note for work or school is included if you need one.
It is part of our urgent care by video. The service is run by The Health Initiative, a nonprofit, with clear prices and no membership.
Your doctor
Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD
General practice physician
Several years of emergency-department experience.
Founding Executive Director of The Health Initiative.
How to book your visit in 3 steps
Booking is simple:
Request your visit.
Request a visit online 24/7 — we confirm your time by email or text. Choose Doctor visit and pay by card at secure checkout. Book your visit.
Get your link.
We send you a secure video link. It works on your phone, tablet or computer. You need to be in Puerto Rico during the visit (visitors are welcome). Patients under 21 need a parent or legal guardian on camera with photo ID.
See the doctor.
The doctor evaluates, diagnoses and treats you. If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy. If you need a test, we give you a lab order for a lab near you.
Price: a US$79 doctor visit, no membership
A doctor visit costs US$79, the same price for every age, with no membership and no insurance needed. You are charged when you request the visit, with a full refund if the visit can't happen. A doctor's note after your visit is included at no extra charge. See all prices.
Video visit
Doctor visit
US$79
For a new problem, urgent care (non-emergencies), primary care, children, birth control, STIs, skin and acne, and visitors. Includes a doctor's note if you need one.
- You’re charged when you request the visit.
- Full refund if the visit can’t take place
Acute bronchitis symptoms
The most common symptoms of acute bronchitis are:
- Cough with or without mucus
- Tiredness
- Congestion
- Sore throat
- Mild body aches
Bronchitis treatment, and when a test is ordered
Antibiotics? Almost never needed. Acute bronchitis is usually caused by a virus, and the CDC says antibiotics will not help you feel better, even when bacteria are involved. Taking them when they are not needed can cause side effects and adds to antibiotic resistance. If the doctor finds another condition that does need treatment, she explains it and treats it. More in antibiotics by telehealth.
Relief at home. The CDC recommends rest and plenty of fluids; a humidifier or steam, for example from a hot shower; saline nasal products; throat lozenges for adults and older children; and honey, only for anyone 1 year or older. Some over-the-counter medicines ease symptoms for a while; the doctor tells you which are safe for you.
Tests. Bronchitis is diagnosed from your symptoms. Pneumonia is a lung infection that tends to cause higher fever, feeling much sicker and trouble breathing; if the doctor suspects it, she gives you an order for a chest X-ray or lab tests near you. Asthma causes wheezing, shortness of breath and coughing that keep coming back. For other kinds of cough, see cough.
The CDC recommends getting care if a fever lasts more than 5 days, you cough up bloody mucus, you are short of breath, symptoms last more than 3 weeks, or you keep getting bronchitis.
Bronchitis in children
We see children of all ages, with a parent or legal guardian on camera for the whole visit. The doctor evaluates your child's cough by video and explains how to ease it. For their safety, do not give over-the-counter cough and cold medicines to children under 4, or honey to babies under 1.
See also cough and cold in children.
When to go to the ER
For your safety, call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have any of these signs. More in when to go to the ER.
- Severe trouble breathing or shortness of breath at rest
- Chest pain
- Blue lips or face
- Coughing up blood, or a fever of 104 °F (40 °C) or higher
- In children: fast breathing, skin pulling in between the ribs, flaring nostrils or noisy breathing
How we care for you
We evaluate, diagnose and treat; if needed, we give you a lab order for a lab near you.
We see adults and children of all ages. Patients under 21: a parent with patria potestad (parental authority) or a legal guardian is on camera for the whole visit and shows photo ID.
Real-time video visit. We send you a secure video link. It works on your phone, tablet or computer.
If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy. We do not prescribe controlled substances.
You must be physically in Puerto Rico during the visit (visitors, tourists and cruise passengers are welcome).
In an emergency, call 911.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a bronchitis cough last?
Is bronchitis contagious?
Can I get antibiotics for bronchitis online?
How do I know if it is bronchitis or pneumonia?
Can I get a doctor's note for bronchitis?
About this page
Author: The Health Initiative
Medical care provided by Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD (PR license 24027)
Disclosure: Founding Executive Director of The Health Initiative
Published: 2026-10-02 · Updated: 2026-10-02
Sources (2)
- CDC: Chest cold (acute bronchitis) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-09-30)
- American Academy of Pediatrics, Choosing Wisely: cough and cold medicines for children under four (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-09-30)