International Journal of Homoeopathic Sciences

Acute bronchitis is an inflammatory disorder of the bronchial mucosa, most commonly resulting from viral infections such as adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and influenza. It typically presents with a dry or productive cough lasting less than three weeks and occurs more frequently during winter. Predisposing factors such as exposure to cold, smoking, alcohol intake, chemical irritants, and preceding upper respiratory infections increase susceptibility. Clinically, patients may present with cough, fever, wheezing, dyspnoea, or general respiratory discomfort, though physical examinations may occasionally appear normal. A clear understanding of both etiological and exciting causes is therefore essential for accurate diagnosis and effective management. A single-arm prospective study was conducted on five patients diagnosed with acute bronchitis, with particular emphasis on identifying the exciting cause of illness. Individualized homeopathic remedies were selected based on the totality of symptoms, supported by the identified exciting cause. Clinical assessment was performed before and after treatment using the Bronchitis Severity Scale (BSS), an objective tool for grading symptom intensity. The study demonstrated noticeable clinical improvement in all participants following individualized homeopathic treatment. Each patient exhibited reductions in symptom severity, as reflected in decreased BSS scores. The average BSS score decreased from 8.4/20 before treatment to 3.2/20 after treatment, indicating approximately 62% overall symptomatic improvement. This reduction reflects meaningful relief in core indicators such as cough intensity, sputum production, dyspnoea, chest discomfort, and abnormal auscultatory findings. The consistent pattern of improvement across all cases suggests that recognition and management of the exciting cause contribute significantly to symptom resolution. This pilot study indicates that integrating exciting-cause assessment into clinical evaluation may support more precise remedy selection and enhance therapeutic outcomes in acute bronchitis. Although the results are encouraging, larger controlled studies are required to validate these preliminary observations and establish broader applicability.