What is the difference between bronchitis and pneumonia?

bronchitis and pneumonia can be easily confused because both can show similar symptoms. Bronchitis and pneumonia are attacking the respiratory system, but they are different diseases that infect separate areas in the respiratory tract. Knowledge of the difference between these two diseases can help one identify different symptoms and seek medical treatment if necessary. This infection is usually caused by an exposure to a virus such as flu or a normal cold. Bronchitis will usually be cleaned in a few weeks without medical assistance; Because it is often a viral nature, antibiotics may be ineffective as treatment.

There is also a chronic form of bronchitis, which is a type of chronic obstructive lung disease. Chronic bronchitis tends to repeat regularly and is usually caused by long -term airway damage, such as scarring and inflammation. Symptoms of chronic bronchitis include coughing mucus, which is repeated for at least three days per month.

Pneumonia is a lung infection that can reduce the body's ability to circulate oxygen into organs. This may be caused by either virus or bacteria and can sometimes be treated with antibiotics. In general, pneumonia is considered to be a more dangerous condition than acute bronchitis because it inhibits the overall function of the body if the inflammation in the lung becomes serious.

Some symptoms combine bronchitis and pneumonia, causing understandable confusion about which condition is present. Bronchitis and pneumonia may result in a cough of producing mucus, with a mucous membrane that is yellow or green. Fever, fatigue and other symptoms of upper respiratory tract, such as a cold or filled nose, are common in both conditions.

One key symptom that can distinguish bronchitis apneumonia is growing shortness of breath. When inflammation attacks the pulmonary tissue, pneumonia can be difficult and harder to take oxygen and also allow oxygenated blood circulation. HighRečka is more common in pneumonia than bronchitis. People with pneumonia can also cough bloody or rusty colored mucus, which is very unusual with acute bronchitis.

doctors can use chest X -rays to determine whether there is a pulmonary infection, as conditions can be difficult to distinguish with simple descriptions of symptoms. In a patient with pneumonia, X -ray will usually show abnormality that indicates infection, while bronchitis cannot show any signs on the X -ray. Treatment of bronchitis is often a simple course of rest, fluids and over -the -counter drugs for symptoms. In pneumonia, patients are generally placed on the course of antibiotics, provided the infection is bacterial. If antibiotics do not work or impair symptoms, the patient may be admitted to hospital care for tests and careful monitoring.