Bronchitis vs. Pneumonia: What’s the Difference?
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Bronchitis vs. Pneumonia: What Are the Differences?

Bronchitis vs. Pneumonia: What Are the Differences?
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Updated on January 21, 2025
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If you’ve experienced a lingering cough that seems to come from deep in your chest, you may have wondered whether you have bronchitis or pneumonia.

A cough is a common symptom of a respiratory infection, like a cold or the flu. Coughing is your body’s way of naturally clearing irritants out of your air passages to help prevent infection.

If the cough won’t go away, and is accompanied by wheezing or shortness of breath, fever, and fatigue, it may indicate that you’re dealing with something more serious, like bronchitis or pneumonia.

Given how many symptoms the two respiratory conditions have in common, it’s not surprising that bronchitis is often mistaken for pneumonia, and vice versa, explains Ralph Gonzales, MD, the associate dean of clinical innovation and chief innovation officer at the University of San Francisco Health and an internal medicine specialist. “What we call bronchitis may sometimes be pneumonia,” he says.

Read on to learn more about the similarities and differences between bronchitis and pneumonia, including the treatment methods, and what you can do to stop bronchitis from turning into pneumonia.

Illustrative graphic titled How to Identify Lung Conditions: Branchitis: caused by infection, affects bronchial tube, wheezing, chest tightness. Pneumonia: viral, affects air sacs, headache/confusion, chest pain.
Both bronchitis and pneumonia can cause a lingering cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath, but they are separate conditions.Everyday Health

Bronchitis vs. Pneumonia: What Are the Differences and Similarities?

Acute bronchitis is a condition in which the lining of your bronchial tubes becomes inflamed. These are the passages that carry air to and from your lungs. This condition usually develops as a result of a viral infection like a cold or the flu, and it typically gets better in about one to two weeks.

 It is different than chronic bronchitis, which is a condition that does not go away and is marked by a recurring cough and other symptoms that can be managed but not cured.

 Chronic bronchitis is less likely to be mistaken for pneumonia than acute bronchitis.
Pneumonia is an infection in one or both lungs. The cause can be bacterial, viral, or fungal. When you have pneumonia, the air sacs of the lungs (alveoli) fill up with fluid or pus.

 While anyone can get pneumonia, some people — such as children, the elderly, people with asthma, and individuals with chronic diseases — have an increased risk of developing it.

Your risk of getting pneumonia is higher if you spend a lot of time in a crowded environment such as military barracks or nursing homes, or around infected animals. Cigarette smoking and using drugs or alcohol also put you at higher risk. Conditions that weaken your immune system may also increase your pneumonia risk, as can lung diseases such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, or COPD.

Both bronchitis and pneumonia involve inflammation in the chest. The key difference is that the inflammation occurs in different parts of the chest.

 That said, both conditions share some common symptoms:

  • Cough (often accompanied by the production of mucus)
  • Fatigue
  • Shortness of breath that can get worse when you’re active
  • Fever and chills

Bronchitis can also cause chest discomfort and wheezing.

Pneumonia, meanwhile, can bring on these symptoms not usually linked to bronchitis:

  • Excessive sweating and clammy skin
  • Sharp pain in the chest, especially when breathing deeply or coughing
  • Headache
  • Loss of appetite
  • Lack of energy
  • Confusion
  • Nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting

While the symptoms of bronchitis or pneumonia can range from mild to serious enough to require hospitalization, symptoms such as fever, breathing problems, and chest pain tend to be more severe with pneumonia.

In people with pneumonia, the alveoli fill with pus and other fluids and prevent oxygen from reaching the bloodstream. When there’s too little oxygen in the blood, the body cannot function properly, increasing the risk of death.

Can Bronchitis Turn Into Pneumonia?

While bronchitis and pneumonia both involve chest inflammation, they are separate and different conditions that happen independently of each other. This means one doesn’t necessarily cause the other, explains Fernando Holguin, MD, a professor of medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the director of the asthma clinical research program at the Center for Lungs and Breathing at the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora. “And you can have both bronchitis and pneumonia at the same time,” Dr. Holguin says.

That said, in some cases bronchitis does turn into pneumonia. This occurs when the infection spreads from the bronchial tubes to the lungs — or if a secondary infection occurs. While either scenario is rare, it tends to happen more often in people who have a weakened immune system or another condition that makes them more susceptible to infection.

Some people are particularly at risk of bronchitis turning into pneumonia:

  • Those with a weakened immune system
  • Smokers
  • Individuals who have a chronic health condition, such as heart, kidney, or liver disease
  • People with an underlying lung disease
  • Older adults
  • Young children
  • Pregnant women

While doctors aren’t sure exactly how having a viral infection may make someone more prone to developing pneumonia or another secondary infection, studies have pointed to some theories.

“Animal models have shown that when you have an infection, it weakens your body’s ability to protect against bacterial infection,” Dr. Gonzales explains. Research also suggests that the epithelial tissue of the airways, which serves as a barrier against viruses and bacteria, can become compromised following a viral infection. This makes it easier for bacteria to invade.

When to Seek Help

Call your doctor or healthcare provider if you have a persistent cough, fever, or shortness of breath, especially if you have a preexisting health condition.

Seek medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms, as they may indicate that your bronchitis has turned into pneumonia:

  • High fever (higher than 100.4 degrees F) that lasts at least a couple of days
  • Chest pain (especially if it develops suddenly and is on one side — a common sign of pneumonia)
  • Bloody mucus
  • Cough that lasts more than three weeks
  • Shortness of breath, even with only mild or moderate activities
  • Shaking chills
  • Rapid breathing (breathing faster to try to get air)
  • Drowsiness or confusion

In addition to reviewing your symptoms, your doctor may use a simple chest X-ray to diagnose pneumonia.

Tips to Prevent the Flu and Pneumonia

Nobody wants to get the flu or pneumonia, especially if you have diabetes. Here are a few ways to protect yourself!
Tips to Prevent the Flu and Pneumonia

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What Can I Do to Stop Bronchitis From Turning Into Pneumonia?

Most cases of respiratory infection like a cold or the flu — and related bronchitis — do not lead to pneumonia. In healthy people, pneumonia can usually be treated effectively. But for those who have an increased risk of developing pneumonia after bronchitis (such as the elderly, people with chronic health conditions, and pregnant women), pneumonia can be very dangerous.

The best way to prevent a secondary infection is to reduce your risk of getting a viral or bacterial infection in the first place. Wash your hands regularly, avoid touching your face, and if a family member is sick, don’t share utensils and make sure to clean common areas and frequently touched surfaces (doorknobs, countertops) regularly.

Doctors also stress the importance of getting a flu vaccine and pneumococcal vaccine to prevent an infection that can lead to pneumonia.

You can also try to prevent getting a secondary infection by taking care of yourself and treating your bronchitis symptoms.

Treating Bronchitis and Pneumonia

Treating acute bronchitis includes these actions:

  • Getting enough sleep and staying rested
  • Consuming fluids and staying hydrated
  • Not smoking, and minimizing your exposure to secondhand smoke
  • Avoiding using house cleaning products until you recover
  • Avoiding strenuous exercise for a few days
  • Avoiding cold air, which, like certain chemicals, can be irritating to your airway passages
  • Using a humidifier
  • Taking cough drops or throat lozenges to soothe your throat

Treatment of pneumonia that has developed after bronchitis can vary depending on factors like age, severity of symptoms, and medical history. “If your symptoms are severe, your doctor may recommend hospitalization,” says Holguin.

If you are not experiencing severe breathing difficulties or other serious symptoms, home treatment is usually enough. However, if your pneumonia is determined to be bacterial, you may be prescribed an oral antibiotic.

Your doctor may also test you for other infections, such as the flu.

 Depending on your symptoms and test results, they may recommend an antiviral medication, says Holguin.

If your doctor determines that your pneumonia can be treated at home, they may suggest the following:

  • Drinking plenty of fluids, which can help loosen phlegm and clear it out of your body
  • Getting lots of rest (not going to work and enlisting someone to help with household chores)
  • Taking ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) for fever or chest pain
  • Follow your oxygen level with a pulse oximeter and let your doctor know if it falls below 93 percent
If you are hospitalized for pneumonia, you may be given these treatments:

  • Oxygen therapy and other breathing treatments
  • Fluids (possibly intravenously as well as by mouth)
  • Antimicrobial agents (either antibiotics or antiviral medications)

The Takeaway

  • Bronchitis and pneumonia are both conditions that cause chest inflammation and share similar symptoms. These include coughing, wheezing, and a shortness of breath.
  • The main difference is that they impact different areas of the respiratory system.
  • Bronchitis can also lead to pneumonia. If your bronchitis symptoms worsen or last a long time, you should consult a doctor. They can help you with a diagnosis to determine whether you have pneumonia. To tell the difference between the two, your doctor usually needs to do a chest X-ray.
  • To reduce your risk of infection, wash your hands regularly and get age-appropriate vaccinations.

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Michael S. Niederman, MD

Medical Reviewer
From NewYork-Presbyterian, Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Michael S. Niederman, MD, is the lead academic and patient quality officer in the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City; a professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College; and Lauder Family Professor in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. He was previously the clinical director and associate chief in the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Weill Cornell Medical Center. 

His focus is on respiratory infections, especially in critically ill patients, with a particular interest in disease pathogenisis, therapy, and ways to improve patient outcomes. His work related to respiratory tract infections includes mechanisms of airway colonization, the management of community- and hospital-acquired pneumonia, the role of guidelines for pneumonia, and the impact of antibiotic resistance on the management and outcomes of respiratory tract infections.

He obtained his medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine, then completed his training in internal medicine at Northwestern University School of Medicine, before undertaking a pulmonary and critical care fellowship at Yale University School of Medicine. Prior to joining Weill Cornell Medicine, he was a professor in the department of medicine at the State University of New York in Stony Brook and the chair of the department of medicine at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola, New York, for 16 years.

Dr. Niederman served as co-chair of the committees that created the American Thoracic Society's 1993 and 2001 guidelines for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia and the 1996 and 2005 committees that wrote guidelines for the treatment of nosocomial pneumonia. He was a member of the American Thoracic Society/Infectious Diseases Society of America committee that published guidelines for community-acquired pneumonia in 2007. He was also the co-lead author of the 2017 guidelines on nosocomial pneumonia, written on behalf of the European Respiratory Society and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine.

He has published over 400 peer-reviewed or review articles, and has lectured widely, both nationally and internationally. He was editor-in-chief of Clinical Pulmonary Medicine, is an associate editor of Critical Care and the European Respiratory Review, and serves on the editorial boards of Critical Care Medicine and Intensive Care Medicine. He has previously served on the editorial boards of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine and Chest. For six years, he was a member of the Board of Regents of the American College of Chest Physicians, and in 2013, he was elected as a master of the American College of Physicians.

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Katherine Lee

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Katherine Lee is a writer and editor who specializes in health, science, and parenting content. She has written for Verywell, where she covered school-age parenting, and worked as an editor at Parenting and Working Mother magazines. She has written and edited numerous articles and essays on science, parenting, and children's health and development for What to Expect, the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences, the American Psychological Association, and Newsweek, among others

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