Necessity

Just as it was necessary to reinflate my lungs to overcome pneumonia, I needed the breath of God to help me overcome the depression of my spirit.” (Don Piper)

Bronchitis and pneumonia share many of the same symptoms as cold and flu. By determining the difference between bronchitis and pneumonia, you can seek the proper treatment and be back on the road to recovery much more quickly. You can reduce your chances of getting bronchitis by practicing good hygiene.

That means hand washing around kids with colds frequently and to sneeze and cough into your elbows not your hands. This simple measure is important. You introduce infection-causing germs through your nose, your mouth, and your eyes so don't touch your face before you wash your hands. With that said, here’s what you need to know to tell the difference between bronchitis and pneumonia:

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, which are the airways that carry air to your lungs. Bronchitis can occur from environmental, viral, or bacterial causes. The same viruses which cause cold and flu can also cause bronchitis.

Bronchitis is marked by a persistent cough which brings up mucus, and may be accompanied by chest tightness, a low fever, and shortness of breath. There are two types of bronchitis: acute and chronic.

Acute bronchitis usually goes away within a few days to a few weeks. Chronic bronchitis is one form of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and can occur for several months at a time. Treatment can improve symptoms, but not cure them. Acute bronchitis symptoms usually get better within a few days, but the cough can stick around for a few weeks.

Industrial (chronic) bronchitis refers to a condition which can affect certain people who are regularly exposed to fumes, dust, or smoke. The airways become irritated and result in coughing and mucus production. Symptoms may leave on their own, medication or air filters (face masks) may be required to improve symptoms.

Chronic bronchitis causes a persistent cough that often lasts for at least three months. You might also feel that your cough goes through cycles of getting better and worse. When it gets worse, it’s known as a flare-up. Chronic bronchitis is part of a group of conditions known as COPD. COPD also includes chronic emphysema and asthma.

Viral infections cannot be treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics will kill many of the healthy, protective bacteria in your body. That leaves you more susceptible to disease-causing bacteria. The most common symptoms of bronchitis include:

·         Coughing with clear, yellow or green sputum (the gunk you cough up)

·         Fatigue

·         Wheezing

·         Runny, stuffy nose occurring before chest congestion begins

·         Shortness of breath, usually following a coughing fit

·         Discomfort in the center of the chest due to cough

·         Mild fever

Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs which can result from bacteria, viruses, or fungi. These can be acquired by airborne sources (such as sneezing or coughing), or can occur when bacteria or viruses in the nose and sinuses spread to the lungs.

Much like bronchitis, people with pneumonia will experience a cough which brings up mucus, as well as a shortness of breath. Pneumonia may similarly be accompanied by a fever although the fever may be high unlike bronchitis. Pneumonia may also cause confusion, clammy or sweaty skin, and headache, and depression, loss of appetite, sharp chest pain, or leukonychia (white nail syndrome). Unlike bronchitis, pneumonia can be life-threatening.

You may have heard the term “Walking Pneumonia”. This is an informal term for pneumonia which isn’t severe enough to require hospitalization or bed rest. Most people with walking pneumonia can go about their daily activities as normal. Pneumonia affects how air is distributed to blood cells. When cells do not get enough oxygen, they cannot function properly. As a result, the infection may spread and become deadly.

Pneumonia is diagnosed with a chest x-ray and/or blood tests. Your doctor may also be able to identify pneumonia by the sounds of crackling, wheezing, or bubbling in your chest. An inflammation of the lungs, pneumonia has many of the same symptoms as bronchitis. Pneumonia affects the air sacs, called alveoli, where oxygen passes into your blood. Pneumonia causes these air sacs to fill with fluid or pus. The most common symptoms of pneumonia (similar to bronchitis) include:

·         fatigue

·         fever, which may be as high as 105°F

·         shaking chills

·         chest pain, especially when you breathe deeply or cough

·         sweating

·         nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

·         shortness of breath

·         confusion, especially in older adults

·         blue lips from lack of oxygen

 “It's a mystery of parenthood that your son can give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to a stray, worm-riddled dog, share a piece of re-chewed gum from a kid with bronchitis and pick his nose and eat it on a regular basis, yet won't sit next to his sister because of 'Girl Germs' “(Kathy Lette) [i]

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[i] Sources used:

·        “Bronchitis or Pneumonia?” by Matt McMillen 

·        “Prevalence of chronic bronchitis in an industrial population in North India” by R C Joshi, R N Madan and A A Brash

·       
“What is the Difference between Bronchitis and Pneumonia?” by Florida Medical Clinic

·        “What’s the Difference between Bronchitis and Pneumonia?” by Stephanie Watson