Before beginning to explain how to know if you have pneumonia or bronchitis, briefing you about respiratory tract would be worthwhile. As we know, our airways can be divided into upper and lower respiratory tracts for the purpose of understanding.
To know if you have bronchitis or pneumonia, it is vital to know that both of these clinical entities are affections of the lower respiratory tract. Further details of this article will help you understand if you have pneumonia or bronchitis or if you have both at the same time and how to differentiate between the two.
Pneumonia is an acute infection of the lungs characterized by the presence of pus, blood or other fluids within the alveoli or the air sacs.
Collection of any sort of fluid inside the alveoli makes it difficult for the patient to breath. A cough occurs as a protective mechanism attempting to push infective material out of the lungs. Based upon the type of fluid collection and infective organism, color of sputum may vary.
The table below will help you understand different types of pneumonia and how they are caused. Each type of pneumonia has plenty of causative organisms or mechanisms.
Type of Pneumonia | Cause |
---|---|
Community acquired pneumonia | Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, H. influenza pneumoniae, Staph. Aureus pneumoniae, tuberculosis, legionella, klebsiella pneumoniae, Chlamydia, influenza, varicella zoster. |
Hospital acquired pneumonia | Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Legionella, Streptococcus pneumonia. |
Aspiration pneumonia | Neurological illness like Parkinson’s, use of alcohol, sedatives and abuse of drugs, esophageal disorders. |
Pneumonia in immune-compromised | Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, E.coli and Staph. Aureus. |
Recurrent pneumonia | Bronchial Obstruction – Narrowing of airways, adenomas, cancer Immune deficiency status, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, chronic bronchitis. |
Unusual pneumonia | Tuberculosis, salmonella typhi and paratyphi, SARS, H1N1, leptospirosis |
Streptococcus Pneumonia – responsible for maximum cases of pneumonia and often results in severe forms of pneumonia.
H. Influenza Pneumonia – occurs commonly in patients having chronic underlying lung affections. Legionella – air conditioners are the most common source.
1. Constitutional symptoms like body ache, fever with chills and rigours, night sweats, disorientation and confusion in elderly patients.
2. A cough with expectoration which is purulent or containing blood.
3. Difficulty in breathing.
4. Pain in the affected part of the lungs on breathing or coughing.
5. Occasionally nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite may be present.
Bronchitis may be acute or chronic. Chronic bronchitis is considered as a component of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD). Multiple environmental, dietary and genetic factors work in causation and progression of this disease. Acute bronchitis is acute infection and inflammation of the bronchial tubes.
1. Infection – Bacterial, viral and fungal infections of the nose, sinuses or lungs.
2. As a complication of other illnesses like measles, chicken pox or whooping cough.
3. Exposure to irritants like dust, toxins and chemicals.
4. Inhalation of allergens like dust, pollen, animal dander, hay and certain food substances.
1. Fever with chills, body ache, sweating and palpitations.
2. A cough with expectoration which is scanty initially and later becomes purulent.
3. Difficulty in breathing while coughing.
The most important differentiating factors between the two are:
Pneumonia | Bronchitis |
---|---|
Infection of alveoli | Infection of bronchi |
Most important symptom is shortness of breath | Most important symptom is a cough and wheezing |
Expectoration is purulent of blood-tinged | Expectoration is white or mucopurulent |
Low oxygen saturation | Low or normal oxygen saturation |
Rales (crackles) heard on auscultation | Rhonchi and wheeze heard on auscultation |
Can occur due to bacteria, viruses, fungi, tuberculosis and aspiration or radiation. | Maximum cases are viral. Bacterial, allergic and exposure to toxins and chemicals can cause bronchitis |
A chest x-ray is commonly done to differentiate between the two. Chest x-ray of a patient having pneumonia shows a white patchy area of consolidation of affected part of the lung. The above differentiating features between the two clinical conditions will help you understand if you have pneumonia or bronchitis.
Yes. Bronchitis can turn into pneumonia
Yes. It is possible to have pneumonia and bronchitis at the same time. But to say so, it is considered that a particular micro-organism can infect one lung completely, right from the bronchus to the alveoli. Such cases are often complicated and serious ones.
Medically Reviewed By
Dr. Himanshi is a Homoeopathic consultant and currently working as a lecturer in Post-graduate faculty of Homeopathy, Parul University, Vadodara. Completed BHMS and MD in Homeopathy in January 2018 and also has a clinical experience of about 6 years. Personal interests include reading, spending time with family and traveling.
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