what is the difference between pneumonia and bronchitis?

Answer 1

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PNEUMONIA AND BRONCHITIS?

Pneumonia and bronchitis are "lower respiratory diseases" since they affect your lungs or the airways leading into the lungs. "Upper respiratory diseases" affect your nose, throat, and sinuses.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a serious infection of the lungs. The air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs fill with pus or other liquid. This blocks the normal exchange of oxygen in the lungs, resulting in less oxygen getting into the blood. Without oxygen, the cells in your body do not work properly. Without proper treatment, this lack of oxygen, combined with the spread of infection throughout your body, can cause death.

Until 1936, pneumonia was the leading cause of death in the United States. Since then, the use of antibiotic drugs has brought the disease under control. Between 1979 and 1996, pneumonia and influenza (flu) together were the fifth leading cause of death.

Bronchitis

Bronchitis affects the air passages (bronchi) that carry air to the lungs from the main airway (the trachea). Inflammation from infection or irritation damages the cells that line the airways. These cells normally contain tiny hairs (cilia) that trap and remove foreign particles you breathe in every day. When the cilia stop working, the air passages become clogged with debris, which increase the irritation even more. As a response, the airways start to produce a thick substance (mucus) which causes a characteristic type of cough. As the irritation continues, the airways become more vulnerable to further infection and tissue damage.

Bronchitis may be acute or chronic. Brief bouts of acute bronchitis (lasting about 10 days) often occur following a severe cold or flu. However, bronchitis may start on its own as well, without any prior infection. Chronic bronchitis lasts 3 months or more, and symptoms can return year after year. Chronic bronchitis can be life-threatening. The condition may result from a series of acute bronchitis attacks, or it may develop gradually because of heavy smoking or inhaling polluted air.

Nearly three quarters of all cases of acute bronchitis are caused by viruses while many cases of chronic bronchitis are due to repeated exposures of irritants such as smoke. This makes antibiotic therapy unlikely to be of help since these drugs can only affect bacterial illnesses and cannot eradicate viral illnesses or irritants. Additionally, a type of asthma which produces little wheezing, but considerable amounts of cough, is often misdiagnosed as acute bronchitis.

Avoiding irritants, maintaining good nutrition, and being patient are the most effective therapies for most cases of bronchitis. Some cases or viral bronchitis can take 8 to 12 weeks to resolve. In prolonged cases of bronchitis, a trial of antibiotic therapy or even asthma inhalers may be helpful. Severe chronic bronchitis may cause dilation of the bronchi (called bronchiectasis) which makes them more susceptible to severe and, sometimes, drug-resistant bacterial infections. Avoidance of irritants such as cigarette smoke becomes even more important in these cases.

Causes

Major causes of pneumonia and bronchitis include:

Viruses
Chemical pollutants or dust
Bacteria
Other major causes of pneumonia include:

Mycoplasmas: the smallest free-living organisms that cause disease.
Other causes:


Pneumocystis carinii: a fungus which causes pneumonia in perhaps 4 of 5 people with AIDS
Inhaled food, liquid, gases, dust, or fungi
Spirochete: causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Q fever, typhus, all of which affect the lungs.
Tuberculosis pneumonia: a very serious and extremely dangerous disease, if it is not treated early.

Sources:
American Lung Association. On-line patient information, 1999.
Pneumonia and Bronchitis Resources


Want to know more about pneumonia and bronchitis? Then check out the other articles in our Condition Forum:
What Factors Can Increase My Risk of Getting Pneumonia or Bronchitis?
How Do I Know If I Have Pneumonia or Bronchitis?
How are Pneumonia and Bronchitis Treated?

Answer 2

Q. How Do I Know If I Have Pneumonia or Bronchitis? What is the Difference?


Pneumonia and bronchitis are "lower respiratory diseases" because they affect your lungs or the airways leading into the lungs.

However, there are many differences.
A. Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a serious infection of the lungs. The alveoli in the lungs fill with pus or other liquid. This blocks the normal exchange of oxygen in the lungs, resulting in less oxygen getting into the blood. Without oxygen, the cells in your body do not work properly. Without proper treatment, this lack of oxygen, combined with the spread of infection throughout your body, can cause death.

Bronchitis
In contrast to Pneumonia, Bronchitis affects the bronchi that carry air to the lungs from the trachea.


Inflammation from infection or irritation damages the cells that line the bronchi. These cells normally contain cilia that trap and remove foreign particles you breathe in every day. When the cilia are restricted, the air passages become obstructed with debris, which increases the irritation even more.

In response to the obstruction, the airways start to produce a mucus, which causes a characteristic type of cough. The airways become more vulnerable to further infection and tissue damage as the irritation continues.


Bronchitis can be acute or chronic. Brief bouts of acute bronchitis, which typically last about 10 days, often occur following a severe cold or flu. However, bronchitis may start on its own as well, without any prior infection.

Bronchitis is considered "chronic" when it lasts three months or more, and symptoms return year after year. Chronic bronchitis can be life-threatening. The condition may result from a series of acute bronchitis attacks, or it may develop gradually because of heavy smoking or inhaling polluted

Answer 3

You should see a doctor. Chest pain accompanied with shortness of breath could signify pneumonia. Could have a walking type of pneumonia. Also experiencing sweats and chills are not a good sign. Bronchitis typically affects the bronchial tubes. Pneumonia is much more serious and affects the lungs. Pneumonia also is accompanied by major fatigue and malaise, being you are not feeling well and do not feel like doing anything. Go to the doctor. Those who diagnose themselves and play doctor have a fool for a doctor. Hope you feel better! I have had both and remember bronchitis can precipitate pneumonia. You probably need fluids, antibiotics, and possibly a medication which dilates the air passages. I feel for you. It sucks! Again, seek a doctors advice now. You may be sorry later!

Answer 4

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Answer 5

I once suffered from Chronic Bronchitis. I would suffer sometimes 3 to 4 times per year! Usually when there was a major change in the pressure outside (I live in the north, and the temperature spikes and dips do wonders to chronic sufferers of bronchitis!). Each time I would get horrible hacking coughs, hoarking up green phlegm..it was so frustrating!

The key to getting rid of your bronchitis is to find a way to completely eliminate the germs that are causing all the phlegm and irritation leading to your hoarking cough and heavy breathing. Keep reading to learn how to do kill these germs!!

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Answer 6

One kills you and the other just makes you feel like you wished it did. :)

I've had both, fortunately, not this year. For me, bronchitis sometimes leads to pnemonia. Most everyone is exposed to bronchitis virus, but only us lucky ones get to actually get the disease. If you can keep your immune system working well, the problem doesn't typically happen.