Monitoring
Though routine follow-up is not usually necessary, as most patients recover without complications, patients should be educated on features that should prompt follow-up (eg new-onset fever, difficulty breathing, symptoms that last for >3-4 weeks or recur >3x/year, bloody sputum. Routine follow up provides an opportunity to check on the patient’s response to therapy and compliance with lifestyle modification. An alternate diagnosis should be considered if symptoms worsen.