What Are the Signs of Pneumonia?

February 15, 2023

Many infections tend to be more widespread in the winter months. In addition to common illnesses like colds and influenza, upper respiratory infections like bronchitis and pneumonia are also possible. If you wake up one morning with a new cough or are feeling pressure in your chest, keep an eye on your symptoms!

While the majority of bronchitis and pneumonia cases stay mild to moderate and never require prompt medical attention, they can sometimes become severe. If you are wondering if your latest illness is either bronchitis or pneumonia, our AFC Urgent Care Mooresville team explains the symptoms to watch for below.

Do Bronchitis and Pneumonia Start the Same Way?

Most commonly, both infections are caused by either bacteria or a virus. If you are exposed and your immune system cannot fight it off right away, you can expect to start experiencing symptoms like a cough, fever and chest discomfort. Bronchitis infections are limited to your bronchial tubes, which carry air to your lungs.

Pneumonia infections occur in your alveoli, tiny air sacs in the lungs, and can work their way deeper into your lung tissues if you have trouble overcoming the illness. Since your alveoli are in charge of exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide into your blood, pneumonia can impact your ability to breathe normally. It is also more common to experience more severe symptoms with a pneumonia infection and you tend to feel worse throughout your entire body.

Common Symptoms for Both Infections

Deep cough
Fatigue
Chest pressure
Headache
Difficulty breathing

Will Bronchitis Turn Into Pneumonia if Not Treated?

It can! If you have a more severe bronchitis infection, it can eventually spread and lead to pneumonia. While it is important to remember that not every case of bronchitis will do this, the possibility is always there. For most cases, your infection will go away in a few weeks, though your cough could linger for a while longer.

If you aren’t feeling well, come see us! We can help determine what you are suffering from so we can offer some treatment options and keep an eye on your symptoms. If you do end up with pneumonia, it is important to be seen by a medical provider right away if you are having trouble breathing or develop a high fever that will not go away.