Bronchitis physical examination

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

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.