Bronchitis: Is It Contagious?

Written by Camille Noe Pagán, Stephanie Langmaid
Medically Reviewed by Zilpah Sheikh, MD on June 29, 2025
4 min read

Bronchitis makes you cough — a lot. It happens when the lining of the airways in your lungs gets irritated and inflamed. It can cause breathing problems, wheezing, fever, tiredness, and chest pain.

It can be. There are two kinds of bronchitis:

Chronic. It isn't contagious, but it means your airways are inflamed for a long time with symptoms that last at least three months and come back over a period of two years. Chronic bronchitis is a serious lung disease and a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Acute. It can last one to three weeks. It's usually caused by cold or flu viruses. As these viruses are contagious, acute bronchitis also is.

The first few days you're sick, it will probably be hard to tell if you have a "regular" cold or bronchitis. But if you keep coughing for a week or longer, even after your other symptoms are gone, you might have bronchitis.

It depends on the type of virus that you have. In most cases, you'll be contagious for a few days, and possibly as long as a week. You may not know what kind of illness you have, and doctors don't test for individual viruses (as there are hundreds of them). So, it's best to assume you could spread the disease while you have cold symptoms.

You get acute bronchitis the same way you get cold and flu viruses — by getting a virus inside your body, usually by breathing it in or passing it from your hands to your mouth, nose, or eyes. Viruses get into the air and onto surfaces after someone who is sick coughs, blows their nose, sneezes, or sometimes even just breathes.

If you have bronchitis, cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze and cough, and wash your hands often to avoid spreading it to someone else. Follow the CDC's isolation recommendations if you have COVID-19.

The infections that cause acute bronchitis usually clear up in 7-10 days. But the cough can last several weeks. 

Chronic bronchitis is a lifelong condition. Treatments can improve your breathing and control other symptoms, but there is no cure.

Make an appointment if:

  • Your cough does not improve after 10 days.
  • You're really uncomfortable or are coughing so hard that you can't sleep.
  • You have chest pain with coughing or difficulty breathing.
  • Your cough comes with unexplained weight loss.
  • You have a fever over 100.4 F.
  • You're wheezing or feel like you can't breathe.
  • There's blood in the mucus you cough up, or you have other symptoms that seem unusual for a cold.
  • You get frequent bouts of bronchitis.

Call 911 for any chest pain or difficulty breathing.

To avoid bronchitis, stay away from things that irritate your lungs, and do your best not to catch a virus. For example:

  • Don't smoke or spend time in places where others smoke. 
  • Wear a mask when you're working with chemicals or paint.
  • Try not to be in close contact with people who have cold or flu-like symptoms. 
  • Wash your hands regularly.
  • Don't touch your eyes, mouth, or nose.
  • Stay up to date on your yearly COVID and flu shots.
  • Consider getting a pneumonia or RSV vaccine if you're eligible.

 

Can bronchitis turn into pneumonia?

Yes, but not usually. It's more likely if you smoke, are older, or have a weakened immune system. If your cough worsens or you get a fever, these may be signs of pneumonia. So, check with your doctor.

Is bronchitis contagious through kissing?

Yes. Close physical contact with someone who has acute bronchitis can expose you to their germs, and kissing counts. Viruses that lead to bronchitis are carried in mucus and saliva.

Is it OK to be around someone with bronchitis?

It depends on how much of a risk it poses to you. Acute bronchitis doesn't usually cause long-term health problems. But if you have a weakened immune system, asthma, or lung disease such as COPD, acute bronchitis can be dangerous for you. Chronic bronchitis isn't contagious.