Bronchitis vs. Pneumonia: What Are the Differences?
If you’ve experienced a lingering cough that seems to come from deep in your chest, you may have wondered whether you have bronchitis or pneumonia.
A cough is a common symptom of a respiratory infection, like a cold or the flu. Coughing is your body’s way of naturally clearing irritants out of your air passages to help prevent infection.
If the cough won’t go away, and is accompanied by wheezing or shortness of breath, fever, and fatigue, it may indicate that you’re dealing with something more serious, like bronchitis or pneumonia.
Given how many symptoms the two respiratory conditions have in common, it’s not surprising that bronchitis is often mistaken for pneumonia, and vice versa, explains Ralph Gonzales, MD, the associate dean of clinical innovation and chief innovation officer at the University of San Francisco Health and an internal medicine specialist. “What we call bronchitis may sometimes be pneumonia,” he says.
Read on to learn more about the similarities and differences between bronchitis and pneumonia, including the treatment methods, and what you can do to stop bronchitis from turning into pneumonia.
Bronchitis vs. Pneumonia: What Are the Differences and Similarities?
Acute bronchitis is a condition in which the lining of your bronchial tubes becomes inflamed. These are the passages that carry air to and from your lungs. This condition usually develops as a result of a viral infection like a cold or the flu, and it typically gets better in about one to two weeks. It is different than chronic bronchitis, which is a condition that does not go away and is marked by a recurring cough and other symptoms that can be managed but not cured. Chronic bronchitis is less likely to be mistaken for pneumonia than acute bronchitis.
Pneumonia is an infection in one or both lungs. The cause can be bacterial, viral, or fungal. When you have pneumonia, the air sacs of the lungs (alveoli) fill up with fluid or pus. While anyone can get pneumonia, some people — such as children, the elderly, people with asthma, and individuals with chronic diseases — have an increased risk of developing it.
Your risk of getting pneumonia is higher if you spend a lot of time in a crowded environment such as military barracks or nursing homes, or around infected animals. Cigarette smoking and using drugs or alcohol also put you at higher risk. Conditions that weaken your immune system may also increase your pneumonia risk, as can lung diseases such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, or COPD.
Both bronchitis and pneumonia involve inflammation in the chest. The key difference is that the inflammation occurs in different parts of the chest. That said, both conditions share some common symptoms:
Cough (often accompanied by the production of mucus)
Fatigue
Shortness of breath that can get worse when you’re active
Fever and chills
Bronchitis can also cause chest discomfort and wheezing.
Pneumonia, meanwhile, can bring on these symptoms not usually linked to bronchitis:
Excessive sweating and clammy skin
Sharp pain in the chest, especially when breathing deeply or coughing
Headache
Loss of appetite
Lack of energy
Confusion
Nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting
While the symptoms of bronchitis or pneumonia can range from mild to serious enough to require hospitalization, symptoms such as fever, breathing problems, and chest pain tend to be more severe with pneumonia.
In people with pneumonia, the alveoli fill with pus and other fluids and prevent oxygen from reaching the bloodstream. When there’s too little oxygen in the blood, the body cannot function properly, increasing the risk of death.
Can Bronchitis Turn Into Pneumonia?
While bronchitis and pneumonia both involve chest inflammation, they are separate and different conditions that happen independently of each other. This means one doesn’t necessarily cause the other, explains Fernando Holguin, MD, a professor of medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the director of the asthma clinical research program at the Center for Lungs and Breathing at the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora. “And you can have both bronchitis and pneumonia at the same time,” Dr. Holguin says.
That said, in some cases bronchitis does turn into pneumonia. This occurs when the infection spreads from the bronchial tubes to the lungs — or if a secondary infection occurs. While either scenario is rare, it tends to happen more often in people who have a weakened immune system or another condition that makes them more susceptible to infection.
Some people are particularly at risk of bronchitis turning into pneumonia:
Those with a weakened immune system
Smokers
Individuals who have a chronic health condition, such as heart, kidney, or liver disease
People with an underlying lung disease
Older adults
Young children
Pregnant women
While doctors aren’t sure exactly how having a viral infection may make someone more prone to developing pneumonia or another secondary infection, studies have pointed to some theories.
“Animal models have shown that when you have an infection, it weakens your body’s ability to protect against bacterial infection,” Dr. Gonzales explains. Research also suggests that the epithelial tissue of the airways, which serves as a barrier against viruses and bacteria, can become compromised following a viral infection. This makes it easier for bacteria to invade.
Call your doctor or healthcare provider if you have a persistent cough, fever, or shortness of breath, especially if you have a preexisting health condition.
Seek medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms, as they may indicate that your bronchitis has turned into pneumonia:
High fever (higher than 100.4 degrees F) that lasts at least a couple of days
Chest pain (especially if it develops suddenly and is on one side — a common sign of pneumonia)
Bloody mucus
Cough that lasts more than three weeks
Shortness of breath, even with only mild or moderate activities
Shaking chills
Rapid breathing (breathing faster to try to get air)
Drowsiness or confusion
In addition to reviewing your symptoms, your doctor may use a simple chest X-ray to diagnose pneumonia.
What Can I Do to Stop Bronchitis From Turning Into Pneumonia?
Most cases of respiratory infection like a cold or the flu — and related bronchitis — do not lead to pneumonia. In healthy people, pneumonia can usually be treated effectively. But for those who have an increased risk of developing pneumonia after bronchitis (such as the elderly, people with chronic health conditions, and pregnant women), pneumonia can be very dangerous.
The best way to prevent a secondary infection is to reduce your risk of getting a viral or bacterial infection in the first place. Wash your hands regularly, avoid touching your face, and if a family member is sick, don’t share utensils and make sure to clean common areas and frequently touched surfaces (doorknobs, countertops) regularly.
Doctors also stress the importance of getting a flu vaccine and pneumococcal vaccine to prevent an infection that can lead to pneumonia.
You can also try to prevent getting a secondary infection by taking care of yourself and treating your bronchitis symptoms.
Avoiding cold air, which, like certain chemicals, can be irritating to your airway passages
Using a humidifier
Taking cough drops or throat lozenges to soothe your throat
Treatment of pneumonia that has developed after bronchitis can vary depending on factors like age, severity of symptoms, and medical history. “If your symptoms are severe, your doctor may recommend hospitalization,” says Holguin.
If you are not experiencing severe breathing difficulties or other serious symptoms, home treatment is usually enough. However, if your pneumonia is determined to be bacterial, you may be prescribed an oral antibiotic.
Your doctor may also test you for other infections, such as the flu. Depending on your symptoms and test results, they may recommend an antiviral medication, says Holguin.
If your doctor determines that your pneumonia can be treated at home, they may suggest the following:
Drinking plenty of fluids, which can help loosen phlegm and clear it out of your body
Getting lots of rest (not going to work and enlisting someone to help with household chores)
Taking ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) for fever or chest pain
Follow your oxygen level with a pulse oximeter and let your doctor know if it falls below 93 percent
If you are hospitalized for pneumonia, you may be given these treatments:
Oxygen therapy and other breathing treatments
Fluids (possibly intravenously as well as by mouth)
Antimicrobial agents (either antibiotics or antiviral medications)
Bronchitis and pneumonia are both conditions that cause chest inflammation and share similar symptoms. These include coughing, wheezing, and a shortness of breath.
The main difference is that they impact different areas of the respiratory system.
Bronchitis can also lead to pneumonia. If your bronchitis symptoms worsen or last a long time, you should consult a doctor. They can help you with a diagnosis to determine whether you have pneumonia. To tell the difference between the two, your doctor usually needs to do a chest X-ray.
To reduce your risk of infection, wash your hands regularly and get age-appropriate vaccinations.
