Can You Get Pneumonia From Bronchitis

Can Acute Bronchitis Be Prevented Or Avoided

You can help prevent acute bronchitis by staying healthy and avoiding germs. Wash your hands with soap often to kill any contagious viruses.

If you smoke, the best defense against acute bronchitis is to quit. Smoking damages your bronchial tubes and puts you at risk for infection. Smoking also slows down the healing process.

Other steps you can take to avoid acute bronchitis include:

• Wear a mask over your nose and mouth when using lung irritants. These could include paint, paint remover, or varnish.
• Ask your doctor if you should get a pneumonia shot, especially if you are over age 60.

Is It Bronchitis A Cold Or Pneumonia

Although bronchitis shares symptoms similar to colds and pneumonia, there are subtle differences between the three.

First, pneumonia attacks the air sacs in your lungs, called the alveoli, and pneumonia symptoms are far more severe than bronchitis. Unlike bronchitis, pneumonia can be life-threatening if its severe. In some cases, bronchitis can lead to pneumonia.

On the other hand, a common cold is like a less severe form of bronchitis. You may have a sore throat and fever, but your symptoms usually go away after a few days.

Why Do I Have Bronchitis

The bronchi are the main airways in your lungs, which branch off on either side of your windpipe . They lead to smaller and smaller airways inside your lungs, known as bronchioles.

The walls of the bronchi produce mucus to trap dust and other particles that could otherwise cause irritation.

Most cases of acute bronchitis develop when an infection causes the bronchi to become irritated and inflamed, which causes them to produce more mucus than usual. Your body tries to shift this extra mucus through coughing.

Smoking is the most common cause of chronic bronchitis. Over time, tobacco smoke can cause permanent damage to the bronchi, causing them to become inflamed.

Read more about the causes of bronchitis.

Recommended Reading: Pneumonia Symptoms In Elderly Patients

Symptoms Of Chest Infections

Pneumonia is more common in winter and spring. It can strike suddenly or come on slowly over a few days. The symptoms will depend on your age, the cause and severity of the infection, and any other medical problems you may have. Symptoms include:

• Fast or difficult breathing
• Coughing with brown or green-coloured phlegm
• Fever
• Blue colour around the lips
• Stomach pain
• A child may vomit, have diarrhoea and be irritable or lethargic.

Symptoms Of Bronchitis Vs Pneumonia

Its important to be able to differentiate between the symptoms of bronchitis and pneumonia. This is because pneumonia is a much more serious condition and could be potentially life-threatening.

Bronchitis often develops following a cold and presents as a worsening of your symptoms. Symptoms of bronchitis may include:

• coughing up clear, yellow, green, or blood-streaked phlegm
• fever and chills
• tightness or some pain in your chest
• feeling lethargic

Chronic bronchitis usually lasts several weeks. Acute bronchitis doesnt last long, but your symptoms are more severe.

It can be difficult to determine when bronchitis has developed into pneumonia since they share many of the same symptoms. But symptoms of pneumonia are more severe.

If you have symptoms of bronchitis, its a good idea to see your doctor. Theyll use a stethoscope to listen to your chest and lungs to determine if the infection has moved onto your lungs. They may ask you to return within a certain time period if your symptoms havent cleared up or if your symptoms worsen.

There are certain symptoms of severe pneumonia that bronchitis doesnt have. If you have any of the following symptoms, seek urgent medical attention:

• significant difficulty breathing

Don’t Miss: Pneumonia Vaccine After 65 Years Old

Viral And Bacterial Infections

Bronchitis is usually caused by a virus. Less often, it’s caused by a bacteria.

In most cases, bronchitis is caused by the same viruses that cause the common cold or flu.

The virus is contained in the millions of tiny droplets that come out of the nose and mouth when someone coughs or sneezes.

These droplets typically spread about 1m. They hang suspended in the air for a while, then land on surfaces, where the virus can survive for up to 24 hours.

Anyone who touches these surfaces can spread the virus further by touching something else.

Chronic Bronchitis Vs Copd

A chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation is another issue entirely when compared to chronic bronchitis. A COPD exacerbation is simply an acute worsening of the symptoms of COPD, such as wheezing, shortness of breath, mucus production, or coughing.

Depending on the kind of COPD a person has , these symptoms may be slightly different.

Patients with chronic bronchitis generally have more mucus production and cough, whereas people with emphysema have more shortness of breath, although either type of COPD can cause any number of these symptoms.

A COPD exacerbation may be caused by an infection , but it may also be caused by non-infectious causes such as fumes, irritants, or smoke.

The treatment for an acute COPD exacerbation is often steroids, inhalers, and antibiotics .

If you have chronic bronchitis or COPD and experience worsening of your symptoms, contact your healthcare provider. They will be able to determine the correct treatment for you.

Recommended Reading: How To Know If I Have Pneumonia

What Are Bronchitis And Covid

Acute bronchitis and COVID-19 are both respiratory illnesses. They can have some of the same symptoms.

It’s important to know the difference between these two illnesses.

Acute bronchitis is sometimes referred to as a chest cold. It can develop after an upper respiratory infection , which is usually called the common cold.

Bronchitis happens when the bronchial tubes that carry oxygen to your lungs become inflamed and irritated. These irritated airways then produce excess mucus and cause you to cough. Acute bronchitis typically will get better on its own. It can develop into pneumonia when not properly cared for.

COVID-19 is a new type of virus that has caused a global pandemic.

There are many different types of coronaviruses. Some cause mild illnesses such as colds. Some cause more severe diseases such as severe acute respiratory syndrome and Middle East respiratory syndrome .

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that is spread from person to person. Symptoms usually appear within two weeks of exposure. You can spread COVID-19 to others even if you don’t have any symptoms yourself.

How Is Acute Bronchitis Diagnosed

Healthcare providers can often diagnose acute bronchitis by taking a medical history and doing physical exam. Tests may be done to rule out other diseases, such as pneumonia or asthma. Any of these tests may be used to help confirm a diagnosis:

• Chest X-rays. A test that uses invisible radiation beams to make images of internal tissues, bones, and organs, including the lungs.
• Arterial blood gas. This blood test is used to analyze the amount of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the blood.
• Pulse oximetry. An oximeter is a small machine that measures the amount of oxygen in the blood. To get this measurement, a small sensor is taped or clipped on a finger or toe. When the machine is on, a small red light can be seen in the sensor. The sensor is painless and the red light does not get hot.
• Cultures of nasal discharge and sputum. Testing the sputum you cough up or swab from your nose may be done to find and identify the microorganism causing the infection.
• Pulmonary function tests. These are tests that help to measure the ability of the lungs to move air in and out of the lungs. The tests are usually done with special machines that you breathe into.

You May Like: Can Pneumonia Cause Arm Pain

How Can You Prevent Pneumonia

If you have bronchitis, the best way to prevent pneumonia is to treat the condition early. Recognizing the symptoms of bronchitis can help you get treatment sooner. Early symptoms of bronchitis are similar to those of a cold or the flu. They may include:

• runny nose
• fever of 100°F to 100.4°F
• feeling tired
• back and muscle aches

Youll then develop a dry cough which will become productive after a few days. A productive cough is one that produces mucus. The mucus may be yellow or green.

Bacterial bronchitis more commonly leads to pneumonia than viral bronchitis. Thats because the bacteria multiply and spread.

In some cases, its still possible to contract pneumonia even if youre taking antibiotics to treat bronchitis. This is because antibiotics are very specifically selected for the bacteria theyre targeting. If youre taking antibiotics for one type of bacteria, its still possible for pneumonia to be caused by another type.

Your doctor will only prescribe antibiotics if you have bacterial bronchitis. Antibiotics cant treat viral bronchitis or any other virus.

Its possible for anyone to develop pneumonia following bronchitis, but certain groups of people are at greater risk. These groups typically have weakened immune systems. You may be at an increased risk for pneumonia following bronchitis if you:

• are under the age of 2 or over the age of 65
• have had a stroke

Acute Bronchitis Symptoms May Be Annoying But Theyll Help You Heal

Symptoms of acute bronchitis coughing, a sore throat, and excess mucus and phlegm may be irritating, but theres a reason for them. Coughing is the bodys way of clearing irritants out of your airways to prevent infection, Holguin explains. Though annoying, it will help stop the infection from getting worse, as well as get rid of irritants that are attacking your body in the first place.

What about mucus and phlegm? When were healthy, mucus normally functions by trapping and preventing dust, bacteria, and other foreign invaders from entering the body. So, when we have an infection such as a cold , the sinuses, mouth, throat, and lungs make extra mucus in an effort to expel more germs out of the body.

You May Like: Child Chest X Ray Pneumonia

How Are Bronchial Coughs Treated

Cough is the main symptom of viral and bacterial bronchitis. There are two types of cough: dry and productive .

For a dry, bothersome cough, consider a cough suppressant. They are available in syrups and also in tablets. If it is not strong enough to relieve your cough, codeine-containing cough products can be used, but most are not available without a prescription. Codeine-containing products should be used with caution since they can cause drowsiness.

For a productive cough, consider an expectorant. Don’t stop a productive cough, unless it is disturbing your sleep and keeping you from getting better. Instead, use an expectorant to help liquefy the secretions, making them easier to expel. Guaifenesin is the only expectorant recognized as effective. It is found in many cough products. To obtain the desired effect, guaifenesin-containing products should be used at least 4 times a day.

Be careful when choosing a cough product. Make sure that the product you selected contains only the ingredient you need. Several products contain a cocktail of ingredients that you might not need or contain ingredients that have conflicting effects such as suppressing the cough and liquefying the secretions in the same product.

When Should I See A Doctor

Make an appointment if:

• Your cough does not improve after 10 days.
• Youâre really uncomfortable or are coughing so hard that you canât sleep.
• You have chest pain with coughing or difficulty breathing.
• Your cough is accompanied by unexplained weight loss.
• You have a fever over 100.4 F.
• Youâre wheezing or feel like you canât breathe.
• Thereâs blood in the mucus you cough up, or you have other symptoms that seem unusual for a cold.
• You get frequent bouts of bronchitis.

Show Sources

Don’t Miss: When Do You Get The Pneumonia Vaccine

What Causes Chronic Bronchitis

The cause of chronic bronchitis is usually long-term exposure to irritants that damage your lungs and airways. In the United States, cigarette smoke is the main cause. Pipe, cigar, and other types of tobacco smoke can also cause chronic bronchitis, especially if you inhale them.

Exposure to other inhaled irritants can contribute to chronic bronchitis. These include secondhand smoke, air pollution, and chemical fumes or dusts from the environment or workplace.

Rarely, a genetic condition called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency can play a role in causing chronic bronchitis.

Bronchitis Vs Pneumonia Prevalence

• There are nearly 9 million cases of chronic bronchitis a year
• 90% of adults with acute bronchitis seek medical treatment
• Elderly and immunocompromised people have a higher risk of getting bronchitis
• 5th most common reason adults go to see a primary care physician

• 1 million adults hospitalized per year
• Elderly and immunocompromised people have a higher risk of getting pneumonia
• 120 million episodes of pneumonia globally every year for children younger than 5
• #1 reason for U.S. children to be hospitalized

You May Like: How Do I Know If I Have Pneumonia

Diagnosis For Bronchitis And Covid

Only a licensed healthcare professional can diagnose whether you have COVID-19 or bronchitis.

To diagnose acute bronchitis, your doctor will listen to your symptoms and conduct a physical exam.

There are no specific tests for bronchitis, but your doctor may do blood tests to eliminate other possible causes of your symptoms. Your doctor may also order a chest x-ray if you have a fever. This is to rule out pneumonia.

COVID-19 is diagnosed with a viral test.

The COVID-19 test is completed with a swab that is placed deep inside your nose or throat. The swab is then tested to see if the virus that causes COVID-19 is present.

A viral test can’t tell you if you were previously infected. Even if you test negative, you can still get infected after the test.

If you start to feel sick after you are tested, you may need to be tested again.

When To See A Healthcare Provider

Certainly, it’s important to contact your healthcare provider if you have any concerns at all. Our bodies are fairly good at telling us when something is wrong, and if you just don’t feel right, by all means call. But it’s also important to contact your practitioner if:

• You have symptoms such as coughing or wheezing that persist beyond two to three weeks.
• Your symptoms start to get better, and then worsen again.
• You cough up mucus that smells foul or has a rusty or blood-tinged appearance.
• You develop a high fever .
• You feel short of breath, especially if you note any shortness of breath at rest.
• You have chest discomfort .
• You develop nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea after you have been dealing with bronchitis for more than a day or so.
• You cough up blood, even if it is just a trace.
• You note a bluish color to your fingers or lips.

It’s especially important to see your healthcare provider if you are feeling short of breath, have an elevated respiratory rate, or an elevated heart rate.

You May Like: Icd 10 Code For Pneumonia

What Are The Treatments For Chronic Bronchitis

There is no cure for chronic bronchitis. However, treatments can help with symptoms, slow the progress of the disease, and improve your ability to stay active. There are also treatments to prevent or treat complications of the disease. Treatments include:

• Lifestyle changes, such as
• Quitting smoking if you are a smoker. This is the most important step you can take to treat chronic bronchitis.
• Avoiding secondhand smoke and places where you might breathe in other lung irritants
• Ask your health care provider for an eating plan that will meet your nutritional needs. Also ask about how much physical activity you can do. Physical activity can strengthen the muscles that help you breathe and improve your overall wellness.

• An exercise program
• Nutritional counseling
• Psychological counseling

How Is Bronchitis Spread

You get acute bronchitis the same way you get cold and flu viruses: by getting a virus inside your body, usually by breathing it in or passing it from your hands to your mouth, nose, or eyes. Viruses get into the air and onto surfaces after someone who is sick coughs, blows their nose, sneezes, or sometimes even just breathes.

To keep from getting bronchitis, try not to be in close contact with people who have cold or flu-like symptoms. Wash your hands regularly, and donât touch your eyes, mouth, or nose.

The flu can cause bronchitis. Thatâs why itâs smart to get your flu shot every year.

If you have bronchitis, cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze and cough, and wash your hands often to avoid getting someone else sick.

Don’t Miss: What Antibiotics Treat Pneumonia In Adults

What Causes Bronchitis

Most often, the same viruses that give you a cold or the flu also cause bronchitis. Sometimes though, bacteria are to blame.

In both cases, as your body fights off the germs, your bronchial tubes swell and produce more mucus. That means you have smaller openings for air to flow, which can make it harder to breathe.