Acute bronchitis: Is it contagious?

Is acute bronchitis contagious?

- Lindsey / Virginia

Mayo Clinic infectious disease specialist James Steckelberg, M.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.

Answer

Acute bronchitis in otherwise healthy people is typically caused by a viral infection, and viral infections can be spread from person to person through direct and indirect contact. You can reduce your risk of "catching" bronchitis through careful hand washing or the use of hand sanitizers.

Sometimes people with chronic bronchitis or asthma also develop acute bronchitis. Such episodes of acute bronchitis, which develop as a complication of a chronic disease, are less likely to be contagious.