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Bronchitis Phneumonia

by

Mercy Maranga

The same infectious (viral or bacterial) organisms usually cause bronchitis or pneumonia, and the severity of the illness often relates to the overall health of the patient. Bacterial pneumonia differs from bronchitis in that it is an invasive infection of the lower respiratory system. The infection has broken through the wall of the bronchi and entered into the tissues of the lung. The infected lung tissue has blood vessels that may transport the infectious bacteria to other parts of the body, causing bodily symptoms.

In both pneumonia and bronchitis, lung inflammatory symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, and sputum (lung mucus) production are present. Moreover, fever, sweating, and chills may be common with either bacterial or viral infections. Because there is much overlap, it is impossible to distinguish a severe case of viral bronchitis from pneumonia without a physical exam or a chest X-ray.Some indicators that pneumonia is present are * chest pain or back pain with respiration or cough (a sign of tissue invasion) * large amounts of greenish or brownish sputum * a heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute * severe and persistent symptoms that may include: fever, chills, fatigue, perspiration, cough, and shortness of breathBronchitis is considered acute and is more easily managed when it occurs in people without a long history of smoking. Long-term smokers with chronic bronchitis or emphysema who develop a flare in symptoms are considered and treated differently than nonsmokers. The very elderly and those with chronic illnesses such as diabetes or heart disease are also approached with extra caution.If you have these symptoms, always seek medical attention. Finally, the elderly and those with more severe, chronic health problems should always consult a physician.Mercy Maranga Reports on Health and Fitness issues. Visit Her Site here for more information on bronchitis and its management Causes of Bronchitis

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Bronchitis Phneumonia

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