Diagnosis of Bronchitis

Bronchitis is diagnosed by physical examination and going through the patient’s medical history. The health care provider may want to examine the patient’s respiratory airways and look for signs of nose, ear or throat infection. He may check for redness of lymphatic membranes, post nasal drip, and runny nose. Swelling and redness of tonsils helps in distinguishing it from tonsillitis and common cold. The doctor may examine the neck for swollen lymph nodes and listen to the lungs for signs of wheezing and decreased air entry. A chest x-ray may be recommended if the doctor is concerned about lung infection or pneumonia.