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Pneumonia and bronchitis are both diseases that attack the respiratory tract. Many people often misunderstand and assume the two diseases are the same because the symptoms that appear are similar. In fact, pneumonia and bronchitis have differences. Anything?

What is the difference between bronchitis and pneumonia?

The difference between bronchitis and pneumonia can be determined from a variety of things, from the location of the inflammation, symptoms, to treatment.

The difference between bronchitis and pneumonia is based on the location of the inflammation

The location of inflammation is the most basic difference between pneumonia and bronchitis.

Bronchitis is an inflammation that occurs in the airways into and out of the large and moderate lungs (bronchi). Bronchi are the branches of the airways to the left and right lungs.

Bronchitis can be acute or chronic (chronic). Quoted from the Cleveland Clinic, bronchitis makes the airways swell and filled with mucus. Finally, it is difficult for air to enter and exit. The causes include viral infections, bacterial infections, or exposure to cigarette smoke or pollution.

Meanwhile, pneumonia does not affect the airways like bronchitis. Pneumonia occurs due to inflammation of the tiny air sacs called alveoli in the lungs. As a result, the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen is inhibited.

The difference between bronchitis and pneumonia is based on symptoms

Basically, the two diseases that attack the respiratory tract are both caused by infection and accompanied by a cough that lasts quite a long time. However, there are a number of differences in the symptoms of the two.

The typical symptom of bronchitis is a persistent cough over a period of time. Coughing helps you to flush mucus from the narrowed airways. In more detail, here are the symptoms of bronchitis that usually arise:

• The chest feels tight as if it is blocked
• Coughing, which produces clear, white, yellow, green, and bloody mucus
• Mild fever
• Limp body
• Cold heat (feverish)
• Wheezing or soft breath sounds (such as a whistle or giggle)
• Sore throat

The difference between bronchitis and other pneumonia, pneumonia symptoms can be classified as mild or severe depending on the cause, age, and the overall health condition of the body. The most common symptoms are:

• Cough, which can produce yellow, green, or even bloody phlegm
• High fever
• Hard to breathe
• Shivering
• Chest pain, especially when coughing and taking deep breaths
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Limp
• Excessive sweating

The difference between bronchitis and pneumonia is based on their treatment

Treatment of bronchitis and pneumonia is also one of the differences between the two. Acute bronchitis will usually resolve on its own, without any medication. The most common cause of acute bronchitis is a virus. Antibiotics cannot be used to cure viral diseases. Meanwhile, pneumonia is usually caused by bacteria so it requires antibiotics for treatment.

If bronchitis causes asthma, allergies, or wheezing at breath sounds, your doctor will recommend using it more inhaler . We recommend that you avoid giving cough medicines to children under the age of 4 years, while for adults you can consult a doctor first.

Chronic bronchitis treatment is carried out to manage the symptoms, prevent bronchitis complications, and control the progression of the disease.

Treatment of pneumonia depends on the cause, some of which are antibiotics, antiviral, or antifungal drugs. Treatment of this condition can be done at home, but there are situations where you will need to seek medical care.

There are several simple ways or home remedies that can help you reduce the symptoms of bronchitis which are not much different from pneumonia, namely:

• Drink lots of water. At least 8 glasses a day to help thin mucus.
• Get enough rest.
• Take pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin. However, do not give aspirin to children, instead give acetaminophen (paracetamol) to help reduce fever and pain.
• Taking a hot shower can help calm your body and reduce mucus production.

If you have tried to do these things, but nothing changes, you can immediately contact your doctor. Especially if worse symptoms have appeared, such as:

• The mucus thickens until it becomes dark
• Keeps you up every night (can't sleep)
• Body condition does not improve after 3 weeks
• Repeated wheezing and shortness of breath

In essence, although they are similar, bronchitis and pneumonia have fundamental differences that must be considered as they affect their treatment. If you are confused about the symptoms you are experiencing pneumonia or bronchitis, check with your doctor. Getting the right diagnosis is very important to determine your treatment plan and prevent the disease from getting worse.