How can you tell if your bronchitis is acute or chronic?

It all started when my throat was scratchy on Friday, like a usual cold was coming on. I woke up that night with a rattling noise in my chest when I would breathe and I took a puff of my albuterol inhaler. Yesterday I went to a doctor who said I have bronchitis and he prescribed Zithromax. My chest is all blocked up with mucus but hardly any comes up when I cough. It has been causing asthma attacks ever since Friday night. I don't smoke but my brother does. I was wondering what the difference between chronic bronchitis and acute bronchitis was. I know chronic bronchitis is when the condition doesn't get better but I want to know if there is any way to tell if it is going to go away at this stage. Thanks.

First of all, make sure that you're not around people that smoke, this will only tend to exacerbate any symptoms that you have. Also that your inhaler contains medicine and that what you're taking isn't just propellant, if you're not getting any medication through it you won't be doing yourself any good. Make sure that you warm it (under your arm) and shake it really well, dispense a couple of puffs into the air to fill the chamber with medicine and then take a couple of puffs-placing the inhaler 1/2 inch outside of the lips to minimize spraying at the back of your throat.
Chronic bronchitis is a daily productive cough that occurs for 3 months or longer and I do not think that this is what you have. However, you are at a very high risk for developing pneumonia. Be sure that you're drinking lots of fluids (this will help to thin the mucus in your chest) and take long, slow deep breaths followed by a deep cough at least 10 times in a row. This builds up pressure behind the mucus blocking your tiny lower airways and removes the blockages.
If this isn't any better by Wednesday, go back to the doctor...treatment isn't working and you need to get him to reanalyze your medications.
Good luck, I hope you feel better soon.

First of all, You can get bronchitis even if your not around smokers, but they both can come from smokers. Acute bronchitis is caused by viruses or bacteria and may last several days even weeks. Acute bronchitis is characterized by cough and sputum (phlegm) production and symptoms related to the obstruction of the airways by the inflamed airways and the phlegm, such as shortness of breath and wheezing. Diagnosis is by clinical examination and sometimes microbiological examination of the phlegm. Treatment may be with antibiotics (if a bacterial infection is suspected), bronchodilators (to relieve breathlessness) and other treatments.

Chronic Bronchitis is not necessarily caused by infection and is generally part of a syndrome called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); it is defined clinically as a persistent cough that produces sputum (phlegm), for at least three months in two consecutive years. The remainder of this article deals with acute bronchitis only. This is caused by a viral infection, such as a cold, or a bacterial infection. It also can result from breathing irritating fumes, such as those of tobacco smoke or polluted air. Constant coughing is the main symptom. Either type(chronic or acute) may lead to asthma or pneumonia.

Go to your doctor, if you dont it will only get worse and either it will turn into asthma or pneumonia..

I had acute bronchitis a month ago..