Bronchitis physical examination

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Bronchitis Main page

Patient Information

Overview

Causes

Classification

Acute bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis

Differential Diagnosis

Overview

Diagnosis

A physical examination will often reveal decreased intensity of breath sounds, wheeze (rhonchi) and prolonged expiration. Most doctors rely on the presence of a persistent dry or wet cough as evidence of bronchitis.


The physical examination findings in acute bronchitis can be:

General physical examination

  • Clubbing on the digits
  • Peripheral cyanosis
  • Conjunctivitis
  • Bullous myringitis

Oropharyngeal examination

  • Pharyngeal erythema
  • Rhinorrhea
  • Lymphadenopathy

Pulmonary system

  • Use of accessory muscles suggesting labored breathing.
  • Rhonchi, and wheezes that change in location and intensity after a deep and productive cough.
  • Presence of inspiratory stridor indicate obstruction of a major bronchi or the trachea.

Cardiovascular examination

  • Sustained heave felt along the left sternal border, suggests right ventricular hypertrophy secondary to chronic bronchitis.

References