To start, they’ll ask about your symptoms, including when they started and how severe they are. Your doctor can use the same techniques to diagnose both bronchitis and pneumonia.

How bronchitis and pneumonia are diagnosed 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. If the cause of your pneumonia is fungal, a combination of antifungals and antibiotics may be used. Antibiotics may be used to treat a bacterial cause, while antivirals may be used for viral infections like influenza. Pneumonia is treated by addressing the source of the infection. people with certain medical conditions that can weaken the lungs or immune system.

Fungal pneumonia is caused by fungi, such as Pneumocystis jiroveci.Īnyone can develop pneumonia, but there are some people who are at a higher risk. Mycoplasma pneumonia is caused by tiny organisms called Mycoplasma that have characteristics of both viruses and bacteria. Viral pneumonia is caused by a virus, such as the influenza virus. The most common type of bacterial pneumonia is called pneumococcal pneumonia, which is caused by the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. There are several types of pneumonia, depending on the underlying cause: When these germs or irritants enter the alveoli in your lungs, you can develop pneumonia. Pneumonia usually results from a virus, bacteria, or fungi. Pneumonia symptoms can range from mild to severe. chest pain, especially when you breathe deeply or cough.fever, which may be as high as 105☏ (40.5☌).Pneumonia also usually comes with a cough that sometimes produces yellow or green phlegm. This can reduce how well they move oxygen into your blood and other waste materials out of it. When they are weighed down with fluid or mucus, these sacs can’t expand and contract well. These thin, delicate sacs transfer oxygen from the air you breathe into your blood. There are tiny air sacs in your lungs called alveoli. Think of pneumonia as a clog in your lungs’ plumbing. Pneumonia: Symptoms, causes, and treatment As chronic bronchitis progresses over time, treatments may include things like: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)Įven with no prescription treatment, acute bronchitis should resolve in a few weeks.Ĭhronic bronchitis treatment can require lifestyle changes like quitting smoking and possibly making changes to your workplace or home environments.How bronchitis is treated depends on whether it’s acute bronchitis or chronic bronchitis. people with lung or respiratory diseases.

people who work with harmful fumes or chemicals.

Sometimes, a cold or other respiratory infection turns into bronchitis.Ĭhronic bronchitis is caused by frequent exposure to things that irritate your lungs, such as:Īs with many types of respiratory infections, some people are at a higher risk of developing bronchitis than others. In both viral and bacterial bronchitis, germs enter the bronchial tubes of your lungs and cause irritation. In less than 10 percent of cases, it’s caused by bacteria. COPD also includes chronic emphysema and asthma.Īdditional symptoms of COPD, including chronic bronchitis, are:Īcute bronchitis is usually caused by a virus. When it gets worse, it’s known as a flare-up.Ĭhronic bronchitis is part of a group of conditions called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). You might also feel that your cough goes through cycles of getting better and worse. Chronic bronchitisĬhronic bronchitis, on the other hand, causes a persistent cough that often lasts for at least 3 months. When you cough, you might also notice that your phlegm looks green or yellow.Īcute bronchitis symptoms usually get better within a few days, but the cough can stick around for a few weeks. Symptoms of acute bronchitis are very similar to those of an upper respiratory infection, such as: Chronic bronchitis, on the other hand, is a long-term condition caused by repeated exposure to chemicals or irritants like cigarette smoke. Simply stated, acute bronchitis will go away over several weeks and is usually caused by an infection. The symptoms of bronchitis depend on whether it’s acute or chronic. You can tell the difference between bronchitis and pneumonia by checking for other symptoms. Caused by infection or irritation, acute bronchitis can usually resolve on its own over the course of a few weeks.īoth bronchitis and pneumonia cause a cough that sometimes produces phlegm, a thick type of mucus that’s made in your chest. Bronchitis: Symptoms, causes, and treatmentīronchitis is a condition that mostly affects the upper airway.

Bronchitis lung sounds