I have asthma and I think I have symptoms of bronchitis. Should I consult a doctor?

Hello,

Certainly, having asthma puts you at greater risk of a simple airway infection becoming complicated. However, depending on the symptoms you are currently describing, a medical consultation is not immediately necessary.What you need to know is that the vast majority of respiratory tract infections, including bronchitis, are viral in origin; you are infected by a virus. When you go to the doctor, you often expect to receive a prescription for an antibiotic, but in your case, an antibiotic (against bacteria) will not help you if you are infected by a virus.Viral bonchitis lasts about 7 to 14 days. Symptoms are at their worst between days 3 and 5 and tend to diminish after that. If, however, your symptoms persist over time beyond 10 to 14 days, without having diminished, you start to develop a fever, or your symptoms tend to increase in intensity rather than diminish, then it is wise to consult a physician for an investigation.

Hopefully this answers your question well, don't hesitate if there is anything else!

Catherine Dallaire, pharmacist