Pneumonia is one condition that’s commonly mistaken for bronchitis, as it can be particularly tricky to tell the difference between the two.
Both bronchitis and pneumonia are conditions that involve inflammation in the chest, and both can cause shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing that produces phlegm.
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But, unlike bronchitis, which involves inflammation of the bronchial tubes, pneumonia is caused by an infection of lung tissue, says Holguin. And while most cases of acute bronchitis are caused by a viral infection, pneumonia is often bacterial, and in such instances an antibiotic can be helpful.
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(Only about one-third of pneumonia cases are caused by a virus.)
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In most cases, pneumonia is characterized by chest pain and shortness of breath that’s more severe than that of bronchitis, says Holguin. Fatigue and weakness are more prominent with pneumonia too, particularly in older adults.
Your doctor will conduct a series of tests to determine whether you have bronchitis or pneumonia. They will likely listen to your lungs (with pneumonia, doctors hear bubbling, crackling, or rumbling sounds) and order X-rays to look for fluid or pus in the lungs.
