Air moves from the trachea to the lungs through the bronchi. When the bronchi are inflamed, they swell and it is more difficult for air to move in and out of the lungs. Bronchitis is accompanied by a number of symptoms, Healthline reports.
A distinction is made between chronic and acute bronchitis, the latter generally healing in a few weeks. The symptoms of acute and chronic bronchitis are similar, but with the chronic form, a person may not experience cold symptoms such as fever and chills.
Symptoms of bronchitis
The most characteristic symptom of bronchitis is a persistent cough. Because bronchitis makes it harder for air to pass into the lungs, lung tissue is often irritated and more mucus than usual may leak. Bronchitis can begin with a dry, nagging cough, which soon turns into a spectacular coughing marathon, accompanied by clear, white, yellowish, or even green sputum. Other symptoms of bronchitis may include sore throat, fatigue, shortness of breath, discomfort or tightness in the chest, whistling when breathing. Patients with acute bronchitis may also have fever, chills, headache, and muscle aches. Young children may start vomiting when they cough.
Difference between pneumonia and bronchitis
Both bronchitis and pneumonia affect the lungs, but they are different diseases. While bronchitis affects the bronchi, pneumonia causes inflammatory processes in the lung tissue, resulting in the small air sacs filling with fluid.
Pneumonia is usually more dangerous than bronchitis and is generally caused by bacteria and viruses. In addition to the symptoms of bronchitis, people with pneumonia experience great difficulty breathing, chest pain, sweating, chills, nausea, vomiting, and older patients may also experience confusion about their surroundings.
If you have symptoms of pneumonia, you should definitely see a doctor immediately. Bronchitis usually goes away on its own, but if the symptoms do not want to go away or are very severe, also contact your specialist doctor.
2023-12-30 14:00:00
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