Former President George H.W. Bush remains hospitalized due to effects of chronic bronchitis

HOUSTON – Former President George H.W. Bush will remain hospitalized for a few more days of observation, according to the family's spokesman.

The 41st president, who is 92, was admitted last Tuesday to Houston Methodist Hospital after experiencing a persistent cough. Doctors diagnosed him with pneumonia and successfully treated the illness.

Family spokesman Jim McGrath said Monday that Bush is in good spirits and resting comfortably.

"His medical team hopes to discharge him by the end of the week," McGrath said.

McGrath said Friday that the Bush family will soon depart for Maine, and doctors want to ensure the former president has a clean bill of health before the trip.

The doctor who has been attending to Bush said the former president has recovered from pneumonia, but continues to deal with chronic bronchitis, which the doctor says is more prevalent with age.

The doctor said Bush is expected to be discharged by the end of the week.

Dr. Clint Doerr, a pulmonologist at Houston Methodist Hospital who has been attending to President George H. W. Bush (41) released the following statement:

“While President Bush has recovered from pneumonia, he continues to deal with the effects of chronic bronchitis, which is a condition more prevalent with age. This means his airway has a constant, low-level of inflammation that can aggravate the symptoms of pneumonia. We continue to monitor his cough and breathing, and expect to discharge him by the end of the week. Once President Bush is home, we will continue aggressive respiratory treatments to help minimize the effects of the chronic bronchitis.”

Former President George W. Bush, the 43rd president, visited his father Thursday. A picture of a smiling father and son was posted on Twitter.

McGrath said last week the elder Bush has received regular visits from his family and phone calls from friends such as former Vice President Dan Quayle.

This is not the first time Bush has been treated for pneumonia. He was hospitalized in January because of the illness. He was placed in the intensive care unit and briefly intubated before his recovery and release.

Bush appeared in public a couple of times after his January hospitalization, including tossing the coin at Super Bowl LI.