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Bronchitis vs. pneumonia causes | Prevalence | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatments | Risk factors | Prevention | When to see a doctor | FAQs | Resources
It can be challenging to know the difference between bronchitis and pneumonia because they both cause similar symptoms, but understanding how these respiratory infections are different is key to getting proper treatment. Bronchitis is a condition where the airways in the lungs (bronchial tubes) become inflamed and produce mucus. Pneumonia is an infection of the air sacs in one or both of the lungs. Let’s take a more in-depth look at bronchitis and pneumonia to better understand their differences.
Causes
Bronchitis
Bronchitis has two different forms: acute bronchitis and chronic bronchitis. A viral infection like the common cold or flu usually causes acute bronchitis, but bacteria can also be a culprit. Smoking tobacco, exposure to secondhand smoke, air pollution, dust, or toxic gases typically causes chronic bronchitis.
Pneumonia
Bacterial infections most commonly cause pneumonia, but it’s also possible to get pneumonia from a virus or fungus.
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Prevalence
Bronchitis
Bronchitis is a fairly common condition. About 5% of adults will self-report an episode of acute bronchitis over the course of a year, and acute bronchitis is the fifth most common reason that adults go to see a primary care physician. Researchers estimate that viruses cause between 85% to 95% of acute bronchitis cases every year. Ninety percent of adults who contract acute bronchitis will seek medical help.
Chronic bronchitis is more serious than acute bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema, a condition in which the air sacs become damaged, are together referred to as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). More than 16.4 million Americans have been diagnosed with COPD, but there are likely many more people who don’t know they have it, according to the American Lung Association.
Pneumonia
About 1 million adults in the U.S. seek hospital care for pneumonia every year, and pneumonia is the world’s leading cause of death for children younger than 5 years of age. Pneumonia is also the number one reason for children in the U.S. to be hospitalized, and viral pneumonia is the leading cause of infant hospitalizations. The good news is that successful pneumonia treatment often leads to full recovery.
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Symptoms
Bronchitis
Bronchitis is mainly characterized by coughing with or without mucus production, wheezing, shortness of breath, low fever, chest tightness, and mild fatigue. The symptoms of acute and chronic bronchitis are essentially the same, but chronic bronchitis lasts much longer than acute bronchitis.
Pneumonia
Symptoms of pneumonia typically include a cough with or without phlegm production, high fevers, chills, severe fatigue, trouble breathing, and overall weakness. Some people may develop other flu-like symptoms when they have pneumonia, like a runny nose, stuffy nose, or body aches.
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Diagnosis
Bronchitis
To diagnose bronchitis, a healthcare provider will need to do a physical exam, ask the patient about their medical history, and look for common symptoms of bronchitis. During the physical exam, the provider will listen to the lungs with a stethoscope to check for any abnormal sounds that may indicate clogged airways. Sometimes doctors will order chest X-rays and blood or sputum tests to determine the severity of bronchitis and what’s causing it.
Pneumonia
To diagnose pneumonia, healthcare providers will look for telltale symptoms of pneumonia, ask about the patient’s medical history, and do a physical exam. They’ll listen to the patient’s lungs with a stethoscope to check for abnormal sounds, and they may order a chest X-ray to look for signs of pneumonia. Sometimes physicians will order blood tests to determine if bacteria, a virus, or fungus is the cause of pneumonia. They may also request a sample of the patient’s sputum to be sent for culture if a bacterial cause is thought to be a possible cause.
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Treatments
Bronchitis
There are several treatment options for bronchitis, but it’s important to remember that what works for one person might not work for another. Treatment is also dependent upon a diagnosis of acute versus chronic bronchitis. The best way to make sure you’re getting the right treatment for bronchitis is to talk with your doctor. Here are some of the most common bronchitis treatments:
Medications
- Over-the-counter medications, including cough suppressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and bronchodilators (inhalers)
- Corticosteroids
- Antibiotics
Lifestyle changes
- Staying hydrated
- Quitting smoking
- Avoiding secondhand smoke
Therapies
- Oxygen therapy (chronic bronchitis)
- Pulmonary rehabilitation (chronic bronchitis)
Surgery
- In rare cases, some people with chronic bronchitis may need lung volume reduction surgery to remove damaged lung tissue.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is most commonly treated with medications, though the type of medication will vary based on the underlying cause. As always, it’s best to talk with your healthcare provider before stopping or starting any new medication. Here are some of the most common pneumonia treatments you could speak with your doctor about:
Medications
- Over-the-counter medications, including fever reducers and pain relievers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen as well as cough suppressants
- Antibiotics
- Antivirals
- Antifungals
Lifestyle changes
- Getting adequate rest
- Drinking plenty of fluids
Therapies
- Supplemental oxygen
Hospitalization
- People with more severe cases of pneumonia may require hospitalized care where they can receive intravenous fluids and antibiotics.
Surgery
- In rare cases, surgery may be necessary to remove infected or damaged parts of the lungs.
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RELATED: The best cough medicine
Risk factors
Bronchitis
Some people have a higher risk of getting bronchitis than others. Risk factors for bronchitis include:
- Smoking
- Long-term exposure to secondhand smoke
- Exposure to lung irritants like gases or chemicals
- People older than 65 years of age
- Asthma
- Allergies
- Family history of lung disease or respiratory disease
- Having gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Having an alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
Pneumonia
Here are the top risk factors for pneumonia:
- Having a health condition that affects the lungs or heart
- Smoking
- Long-term exposure to secondhand smoke, toxic gases, or chemicals
- Being pregnant
- People with compromised immune systems
- People older than 65 years of age
- Infants younger than 2 years old
- Premature babies
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Prevention
Bronchitis
Doctors and researchers have come up with proven ways to prevent and lessen the spread of bronchitis. These include washing hands frequently with soap and water, not smoking, avoiding irritants like secondhand smoke whenever possible, and staying up to date with vaccinations.
Pneumonia
The same precautions that prevent bronchitis can help prevent pneumonia too. Washing your hands frequently with soap and water, not smoking, avoiding secondhand smoke and other irritants, and staying up to date on vaccinations are all very important. There are two types of pneumococcal vaccines and several other vaccines that can prevent bacterial and viral infections that might lead to pneumonia.
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When to see a doctor
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends seeing a doctor for bronchitis if:
- You have a fever that’s higher than 100.4 F
- You’re coughing up bloody mucus
- Breathing becomes difficult or painful
- You have sharp chest pain
- Your symptoms last longer than three weeks
If you have pneumonia and start to have trouble breathing, chest pain, bluish fingers or lips, or a high fever that won’t go away, it’s best to see a doctor or visit an urgent care center as soon as possible. People with weakened immune systems, underlying health conditions, older adults, and young children should see a doctor if they have pneumonia because pneumonia can quickly become a life-threatening condition.
Frequently asked questions about bronchitis and pneumonia
Is bronchitis contagious?
Bronchitis itself isn’t contagious, but if it’s caused by a cold or flu virus, then it’s possible to catch the virus and come down with bronchitis because of the virus.
Is pneumonia contagious?
Some bacteria and viruses that cause pneumonia, like the cold and flu viruses, can be contagious. If caught, they could potentially lead to pneumonia.
RELATED: Is pneumonia contagious?
How long does bronchitis last?
Symptoms of acute bronchitis can last anywhere from one to two weeks, though some people may still have symptoms for up to three weeks. Chronic bronchitis lasts for at least three months and can persist for several years on and off. For some people, chronic bronchitis will never completely go away.
How long does pneumonia last?
Mild cases of pneumonia typically last a week or two, but more severe cases can result in symptoms that last six weeks or more.
How do you know if you have bronchitis or pneumonia?
Pneumonia symptoms are usually more severe than bronchitis symptoms. If you have a cough that’s accompanied by a high fever, sharp chest pain, and chills, it’s more likely that you have pneumonia vs. bronchitis.
How does bronchitis turn into pneumonia?
Bronchitis can turn into pneumonia if it’s left untreated. Because bronchitis is an infection of the airways that lead to the lungs, if someone’s sick with bronchitis due to a bacteria or virus and doesn’t seek treatment, the infection can reach the lungs and cause pneumonia.
Can you have bronchitis with pneumonia?
Although it’s rare, it’s possible to have bronchitis and pneumonia at the same time. More often than not, this happens when an infectious cause for bronchitis turns into pneumonia, but that’s not always the case.
Is treatment for bronchitis and pneumonia the same?
Treatment for bronchitis and pneumonia is not the same, though they can be similar depending on the type of bronchitis or pneumonia someone has. Acute bronchitis and bacterial pneumonia, for example, will be treated with antibiotics. A doctor will prescribe a unique treatment plan for every individual based on their symptoms and medical history.
