What is the difference between chest infection and bronchitis

For example, all three can cause fatigue, but only pneumonia might include a high fever, chills or nausea. A cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract, primarily the nose and throat. Pneumonia stems from fluid in the lungs caused by a viral, bacterial or fungal infection. Pneumonia can be serious and requires treatment from your physician. Whether you have a cold, bronchitis or pneumonia, you should see your physician right away if you have difficulty breathing, experience chest pain, spike a fever of degrees or higher, or have a cough with discolored mucus or blood.

Medically reviewed by Elaine K. Luo, M. However, they each affect different parts of your lungs: Bronchitis affects the bronchial tubes that carry air to your lungs. Pneumonia affects the air sacs, called alveoli, where oxygen passes into your blood.

Pneumonia causes these air sacs to fill with fluid or pus. In addition, bronchitis comes in two forms: Acute bronchitis is an infection caused by viruses and sometimes bacteria. Chronic bronchitis is a long-term inflammation in your lungs. What are the symptoms?

What causes bronchitis and pneumonia? How bronchitis and pneumonia are diagnosed. How bronchitis and pneumonia are treated. When to see a doctor. The bottom line. Read this next. Bronchitis: Is it Contagious? Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D. Your doctor can diagnose bronchitis by assessing your symptoms as well as listening to your chest with a stethoscope for the rattling sound in your lungs which accompanies bronchitis.

Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs which can result from bacteria, viruses, or fungi. These can be acquired by airborne sources such as sneezing or coughing , or can occur when bacteria or viruses in the nose and sinuses spread to the lungs. Much like bronchitis, people with pneumonia will experience a cough which brings up mucus, as well as a shortness of breath.

Pneumonia may similarly be accompanied by a fever — although the fever may be high, unlike bronchitis. Pneumonia may also cause confusion, clammy or sweaty skin, headache, malaise, loss of appetite, sharp chest pain, or leukonychia white nail syndrome. Unlike bronchitis, pneumonia can be life-threatening. Most people with walking pneumonia can go about their daily activities as normal. Pneumonia affects how air is distributed to blood cells.

When cells do not get enough oxygen, they cannot function properly. As a result, the infection may spread and become deadly. Your doctor may also be able to identify pneumonia by the sounds of crackling, wheezing, or bubbling in your chest. Other lower respiratory tract infections include pneumonia, tuberculosis, and bronchiolitis.

Acute short-term bronchitis occurs when the bronchioles become inflamed and produce too much mucus. It is usually caused by a virus, although bacteria may also lead to bronchitis. Some of the most common symptoms of acute bronchitis include:. Symptoms of acute bronchitis typically last for 10 to 14 days, although some symptoms may linger for up to three weeks.

Treatment for acute bronchitis often involves plenty of rest, fluids, and over-the-counter medications to help control symptoms. Bacterial bronchitis may be treated with antibiotics. Individuals with symptoms that remain or worsen after three weeks should be evaluated by a medical professional. While acute bronchitis is a contagious short-term infection , chronic bronchitis is a long-term condition that falls under the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD umbrella.