Difference Between Pneumonia and Bronchitis
Both pneumonia and acute bronchitis exhibit many of the same symptoms, such as dry and hacking cough followed by high levels of mucus production and mild fever. Therefore, the patients or their attendants often find it hard to differentiate between the two conditions. At times the patient even fails to detect the disease and keeps on believing it is nothing more than a common cold attack. However, it is very important to obtain a proper diagnosis, since pneumonia can be fatal if ignored or left untreated, particularly for infants and elderly people.
Bronchitis is mostly caused by a viral infection in the inner walls of the bronchi and often develops after cold. However, external factors that irritate the bronchial tubes, like dust, pollutants, allergens and smoke, can also cause bronchitis.
Pneumonia is caused by a virus, bacteria or a microorganism inhaled by the individual with air. The lungs have an inbuilt filtration system that filters the external agents out of the air that you breath in, preventing infection. However, when the immune system of an individual is weak, these organisms reach the lung, causing inflammation in the person’s air sacs.
Acute bronchitis starts up with dry cough, which brings up mucus after a few days, while in case of pneumonia the cough brings up mucus from the lungs from the very first day. Bronchitis patients suffer from no or mild fever, while fever is very high in cases of pneumonia, and often exceeds 101 degrees Fahrenheit. Chest X-rays appear normal in case of the former and clouded in case of the latter. Heart beat and breathing remains normal in acute bronchitis while in pneumonia the heart rate exceeds 100 bpm and breathing is faster than 24 breaths a minute.
Instructions
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1
Bronchitis
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes that carry air to and from your lungs. The inflammation of the airways to the lungs causes shortness of breath, chest tightness and wheezing due to which the patient experiences hacking cough, which is dry at first but brings up high levels of mucus later on. There are two types of bronchitis, acute and chronic. -
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Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection of lungs caused by viruses, bacteria or other microbes. Either one or both the lungs can get infected. An intense rattling sound can be noticed in the chest of the patient during respiration. Old people, aged over 65, are more prone to this condition. Young individuals and kids with weak immune systems are also susceptible to pneumonia.
