How To Treat Bronchitis And Pneumonia

Can Pneumonia Go Away On Its Own

Viral pneumonia usually disappears by itself. Therefore, treatment concentrates on easing a few of the signs and symptoms. You arent viral pneumonia is deserving of sufficient rest and remain hydrated by consuming lots of fluids. A physician may prescribe cough-relieving medication to help relieve coughing.

How Is Acute Bronchitis Spread

If bronchitis is caused by a viral or bacterial infection, it is spread the same ways that colds are spreadby germs traveling through the air when someone coughs or sneezes. You can breathe the germs in if you are close enough. You could also touch something that has germs on it, like a door, and then transfer the germs by touching your nose, mouth or eyes. That is why good hand washing practices are important for adults and children.

What Is The Difference Between Acute Bronchitis And Chronic Bronchitis

Most of the time, acute bronchitis is caused by the same viruses that are involved in colds or the flu.

They are spread over the air, especially when people with the disease cough or by casual contact.

Exposure to tobacco smoke, pollution, dust, fumes, or smoke can also trigger acute bronchitis.

Chronic bronchitis is also known as a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a disease resulting in constant inflammation of the airways.

The patient perceives a permanent and progressive obstruction of the bronchi.

Symptoms are increasingly frequent cough, profuse bronchial secretions, constant difficulty in breathing.

Also Check: What Are The Risk Factors Of Pneumonia

When To See A Doctor

If you feel like you have either bronchitis or pneumonia, its always a good idea to check in with your doctor. If the underlying cause is bacterial, you should start feeling much better within a day or two of starting antibiotics.

Otherwise, call your doctor if your cough or wheezing doesnt improve after two weeks.

You should also seek immediate medical care if you notice:

• blood in your phlegm
• a fever over 100.4°F that lasts for more than a week
• shortness of breath

Bronchitis: Symptoms Causes And Treatment

Bronchitis is a condition that mostly affects the upper airway. Caused by infection or irritation, acute bronchitis can usually resolve on its own over the course of a few weeks.

Both bronchitis and pneumonia cause a cough that sometimes produces phlegm, a thick type of mucus thats made in your chest. You can tell the difference between bronchitis and pneumonia by checking for other symptoms.

Also Check: When Should I Get The Pneumonia Vaccine

Bronchitis Vs Pneumonia: How To Tell The Difference

Can You Catch Bronchitis or Pneumonia from Someone Else …

So your friend has bronchitis. Should you be worried about catching it? How about pneumonia? Is it contagious? The answers can be a little confusing. Let’s explain each condition to help clarify. The U.S. National Library of Medicine explains that there are two types of bronchitis: Acute bronchitis is …

What Is The Best Antibiotic For Bronchitis

Doxycycline and amoxicillin really are a couple types of antibiotics accustomed to treat bronchitis. Macrolide antibiotics for example azithromycin can be used for less frequent installments of bronchitis brought on by pertussis . Negative effects of antibiotics can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or mild skin rash.

Don’t Miss: Why Does Pneumonia Cause Diarrhea

When To Seek Help

If you think youre experiencing the symptoms of pneumonia, seek immediate medical attention. Like most illnesses, treatment of pneumonia is more successful the earlier its caught.

Untreated pneumonia can escalate quickly, so dont delay. Even if you think your symptoms are relatively mild and might only be bronchitis, still get it checked out. Bronchitis might also require antibiotics if its caused by a bacterial infection.

The treatment for pneumonia depends upon the cause. Antibiotic, antiviral, and antifungal drugs are all used to treat the different types of pneumonia. Your doctor may also prescribe pain medication.

Many cases of pneumonia can be treated at home with oral medications. But if your symptoms are severe or you have other health concerns, your doctor may recommend hospitalization. Your treatments in the hospital might include intravenous antibiotics, respiratory therapy, or oxygen therapy.

The Differences Between Bronchitis And Pneumonia

31 August, 2021

Both bronchitis and pneumonia are respiratory conditions, so theyre rather similar. However, they have different causes and you can neither prevent nor treat them with the same methods.

OK, so, how can you tell them apart then? What are their individual symptoms? Resolving these questions is important to identify whether you have one of these diseases. Continue reading to find out what their main differences are.

Also Check: What Is The Best Antibiotic To Treat Pneumonia

How Pneumonia Is Treated

Pneumonia is treated by addressing the source of the infection. Antibiotics may be used to treat a bacterial cause, while antivirals may be used for viral infections like influenza. If the cause of your pneumonia is fungal, a combination of antifungals and antibiotics may be used.

In severe cases, you may require hospitalization, supplemental oxygen, or more invasive treatments like mechanical ventilation to help your alveoli function while your pneumonia resolves.

Your doctor can use the same techniques to diagnose both bronchitis and pneumonia.

To start, theyll ask about your symptoms, including when they started and how severe they are.

Next, theyll likely use a stethoscope to listen to your lungs as you breathe. Crackling, bubbling, whistling, or rattling sounds could be signs that you have either bronchitis or pneumonia.

Depending on your symptoms, they may do some additional testing, such as:

Bronchitis Vs Pneumonia: The Difference Between Them

The primary difference between bronchitis. Both are respiratory disorders which affect the effective functioning of the lungs, which make it difficult for the afflicted person …

Bronchitis vs pneumonia differences | Telehealther

Many people can fight flu symptoms with lots of rest and fluids, but certain high-risk groups may experience dangerous complications as a result of the flu.

Read Also: What To Do If I Think I Have Pneumonia

Indications For Chest Radiography

In patients with symptoms of acute bronchitis, imaging is primarily used to rule out pneumonia. Evidence-based guidelines from the American College of Chest Physicians state that imaging is not needed in patients with acute bronchitis symptoms who have normal vital signs and normal lung examination findings.22 Patients with pneumonia typically have tachypnea, tachycardia, or dyspnea.12 An exception to this rule is patients older than 75 years, who may present with more subtle signs of pneumonia and are less likely to have fever or tachycardia.19

Table 1 includes indications for chest radiography in patients with symptoms of acute bronchitis.22

• References

Supportive care and symptom management are the mainstay of treatment for acute bronchitis. The role of antibiotics is limited. Since 2005, the National Committee for Quality Assurance has recommended avoidance of antibiotic prescribing for acute bronchitis as a Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set Measure.27 All major guidelines on bronchitis, including those from the American College of Chest Physicians, recommend against using antibiotics for acute bronchitis unless the patient has a known pertussis infection.2,22 The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that antibiotics not be used for apparent viral respiratory illnesses, including sinusitis, pharyngitis, and bronchitis.28 Despite these recommendations, antibiotics are often prescribed for acute bronchitis.29

Herbal And Other Preparations

Alternative medications are commonly used in the treatment of acute bronchitis. Pelargonium sidoides has some reported modest effectiveness in the treatment of acute bronchitis, but the quality of evidence is considered low, and the studies were all done by the manufacturer in Ukraine and Russia.36 There are insufficient data to recommend for or against the use of Chinese medicinal herbs for the treatment of acute bronchitis, and there are safety concerns.37

A Cochrane review of honey for acute cough in children included two small trials comparing honey with dextromethorphan, diphenhydramine , and no treatment.38 Honey was found to be better than no treatment in decreasing the frequency and severity of cough, decreasing bothersome cough, and improving quality of sleep. Given the warnings against the use of antitussives in young children, honey is a reasonable alternative for the relief of acute cough in children older than one year.38

You May Like: Symptoms Of Pneumonia In Adults With Asthma

Use Steam To Loosen Mucus

Inhaled steam is widely recommended for loosening mucus and relieving wheezing. You can use a warm-air humidifier or vaporizer , but you dont need fancy equipment. Leaning over a sink of hot water with a towel over your head while breathing in the warm moisture can help. Repeat this several times a day.

Adding a drop or two of an essential oil, like eucalyptus, to the mix can also help open up a clogged airway.

A note of caution: Children can sustain scalding injuries from hot water spills or steam burns from vapor-producing devices. Instead, sit with your child while running a steamy shower in a closed the bathroom. Or consider using other treatment methods.

Living With Acute Bronchitis

Most cases of acute bronchitis go away on their own in 7 to 10 days. You should call your doctor if:

• You continue to wheeze and cough for more than 2 weeks, especially at night when you lie down or when you are active.
• You continue to cough for more than 2 weeks and have a bad-tasting fluid come up into your mouth. This may mean you have GERD. This is a condition in which stomach acid gets into your esophagus.
• Your cough produces blood, you feel weak, you have an ongoing high fever, and you are short of breath. These symptoms may mean you have pneumonia.

The risk of developing complications from acute bronchitis, such as pneumonia, is greater in some people. These include:

• Young children

Read Also: Side Effects Of Pneumococcal Pneumonia Vaccine

Doctor Explains Differences Between A Cold Bronchitis And

pneumonia can be treated at home. It often clears …

Walking Pneumonia Versus Bronchitis – News Medical

How can you tell if you’ve got bronchitis. The symptoms are similar but there are some important differences you need to know.

Bronchitis vs. Pneumonia: How to Tell the Difference – Verywell

bronchitis is even more prevalent (affects around 7% of the total …

Breathing In Irritant Substances

Bronchitis can also be triggered by breathing in irritant substances, such as smog, chemicals in household products or tobacco smoke.

Smoking is the main cause of chronic bronchitis. It can affect people who inhale secondhand smoke, as well as those who smoke themselves.

People with chronic bronchitis often develop another smoking-related lung disease called emphysema, where the air sacs inside the lungs become damaged, causing shortness of breath.

If you smoke, try to stop straight away as smoking aggravates bronchitis and increases your risk of developing emphysema.

Stopping smoking while you have bronchitis can also be the perfect opportunity to quit altogether.

Don’t Miss: Are Pneumonia Vaccines Covered By Medicare

Which Dietary Factors Are Important In Bronchitis

Optimal immune function requires a healthy diet that is rich in whole, natural foods, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, seeds and nuts is low in fats and refined sugars and contains adequate, but not excessive, amounts of protein. On top of this, drink five or six 8-ounce glasses of water per day . These dietary recommendations go a long way in helping the immune system function at an optimum level. Please see low immune function for more recommendations.

Diagnosing And Treatment Of Bronchitis And Pneumonia

Because bronchitis and pneumonia can present similarly to one another, an examination by a ConvenientMD treating provider is recommended for those who are experiencing symptoms. Certain tests, such as a chest x-ray may be ordered to confirm a diagnosis, after which a treatment plan will be devised. In most cases, pneumonia can be successfully treated with antibiotics , and/or steroids and cough medications. Bronchitis is often viral and therefore will not require antibiotics, except in certain circumstances in patients with chronic lung disease.

Recommended Reading: Where Do You Hurt With Pneumonia

How Do I Know If The Recommendations Are Working

A lessening in the severity of symptoms such as coughing should be apparent within the first 48 hours. If not, please check with your physician.

Welcome

Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed form of cancer in American men. Each year there are roughly 200,000 men that are diagnosed with PC and over 30,000 will die from it. In many respects, PC is the mirror of breast cancer in women. It is a hormone-sensitive cancer that will affect at least one out of every six men now living in the United States.

Most PCs are slow growing however, there are cases of aggressive PCs. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly the bones and lymph nodes. Next to lung cancer, in men PC is the second leading cause of death due to cancer.

The big push conventional medical circles will make this month is encouraging men over the age of 50 years to see a physician for two tests:

For more information, please see the completely revised and updated 3rd edition of The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine.

On the Dr Oz show

On the show I discussed the failure of conventional medicine to address the underlying issues in many health conditions offering little more than drugs as biochemical band aids.

Sign-up for my Weekly Newsletter

Do You Have Bronchitis Or Pneumoniavisit A Convenientmd Location In Nh Me Or Ma Today

Infections of the lung and/or airway are not to be taken lightly and can result in serious complicationsincluding deathif left untreated. ConvenientMD has the knowledgeable staff and diagnostic equipment necessary for differentiating between bronchitis and pneumonia, and well do everything in our power to get you feeling back to normal as soon as possible.

Dont mess around with bronchitis or pneumoniavisit any ConvenientMD location today. Were open seven days a week, so just stop into one of our clinics in Maine, New Hampshire or Massachusetts without ever needing an appointment.

Don’t Miss: How Do You Get Double Pneumonia

Try Gargling Salt Water

Swishing warm saline water in your mouth and throat several times a day when you have bronchitis may help wash away excess mucus.

Its not an antimicrobial it wont help treat the virus, or the bacteria if your have a bacterial infection, Dr. Carroll explains. But it will help improve your symptoms.

Gargling may also help stave off future upper respiratory infections, like colds, which can progress to bronchitis. Japanese researchers randomly assigned nearly 400 healthy volunteers to gargle plain water or diluted antiseptic solution, or to maintain their usual habits, and found plain water gargling three times daily reduced upper respiratory tract infections by 36%. Even when people did get an infection, water gargling eased symptoms.

Can Bronchitis Turn Into Pneumonia

While bronchitis and pneumonia both have to do with chest inflammation, they are separate and different conditions that happen independent of each other meaning one doesnt 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, both 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 either the infection spreads from the bronchial tubes to the lungs or 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 at risk for bronchitis turning into pneumonia:

• Those with a weakened immune system
• Smokers
• Young children
• Pregnant women

While doctors arent 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.

Read Also: Flu Vaccine And Pneumonia Vaccine Together

Bronchitis Vs Pneumonia: What Are The Differences And Similarities

Acute bronchitis is a condition in which the lining of your bronchial tubes become inflamed. 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.

Pneumonia is an infection in one or both of the lungs that can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. When you have pneumonia, the air sacs of the lungs 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 disease are at an increased risk of developing this lung condition.

Both bronchitis and pneumonia involve inflammation in the chest . And both conditions share some common symptoms:

• Cough
• Fatigue

• Confusion
• Nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting

While symptoms for either bronchitis or pneumonia can range from being 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 theres too little oxygen in the blood, the body cannot function properly, increasing the risk of death.

How To Cure Bronchitis Quickly

Bronchitis can be very exhausting.

Of course, it generates fatigue linked to the infectious state, but its cough is painful.

If we know its not that bad most of the time, its still a good idea to try to relieve it by reducing its symptoms.

Certain natural remedies can give you real support while reducing the duration of the infection.

A load of vitamins leads to a more efficient immune system at killing bacteria and viruses as well.

This article contains affiliate links echoing my recommendations.I use Amazons Partner Program, an affiliate program designed to pay commissions through amazon.com linksThis process does not affect my opinions in any way but each purchase helps this blog to live Marie

This blog is copyright ©2021 by gomedica.org. All rights reserved

Recommended Reading: Do You Have Upper Back Pain With Pneumonia