Patient review and duration of therapy for protracted bacterial bronchitis in children

The duration of antibiotic therapy for protracted bacterial bronchitis in children is 2 weeks. If the chronic, productive (wet or moist) cough resolves after 2 weeks of antibiotic therapy, this confirms the diagnosis of protracted bacterial bronchitis. Symptoms often return if the duration of antibiotic therapy is shortenedChang, 2017Chang, 2008Kantar, 2017Lung Foundation Australia, 2022.

If the cough does not resolve after 2 weeks, consider consulting a paediatrician or paediatric respiratory specialist, and extend antibiotic therapy for a further 2 weeks (4 weeks total duration)Chang, Oppenheimer, , 2016Chang, 2017Chang, Upham, , 2016Ruffles, 2021.

If the cough does not resolve after 4 weeks of antibiotic therapy, or if the child has 3 or more episodes of protracted bacterial bronchitis per year, refer the child to a paediatrician or paediatric respiratory specialist to exclude other causes of chronic cough, such as bronchiectasisChang, Oppenheimer, , 2016Goyal, 2014Lung Foundation Australia, 2022.