Walking Pneumonia or Bronchitis

Winters are the time when people are most affected with illnesses like, pneumonia, bronchitis, flu, etc. People with asthma suffer the most due to these conditions. Most people with visible symptoms wonder if they are suffering from walking pneumonia or bronchitis. Though walking pneumonia and bronchitis are not synonymous, the common thread between them is that both of them affect the lower respiratory system. To be more precise, they both affect the airways that go towards the lungs.

Walking Pneumonia
A severe infection of the lungs is called pneumonia. There are many factors that can cause a pneumonia infection, however bacteria is usually the main cause. In a pneumonia infection, the airways (also called the alveoli) get filled with liquid, making it difficult for the normal flow of oxygen to pass. Due to less supply of oxygen, the cells in the body fail to work to their optimum. Less supply of oxygen along with the infection, can even lead to death. The symptoms of pneumonia are

• Fatigue
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Excessive sweating
• Clammy skin

There are several types of pneumonia, one of which is walking pneumonia. Now let's learn about what is walking pneumonia. Walking pneumonia is caused by mycoplasma pneumoniae bacteria and it falls under the category of atypical pneumonia. Though it is a mild form of pneumonia, it can be bothersome, as it can linger for a month or may be even more. The most apparent of the signs and symptoms of walking pneumonia, is dry cough. Hospitalization is not required to treat walking pneumonia. In very rare cases, walking pneumonia can become life threatening. It gets the name ‘walking pneumonia’, as the person is diagnosed with pneumonia, but apart from cough, no other symptoms of pneumonia exist and the person is not even hospitalized. The patient is effectively 'walking with pneumonia'. Read more on - Is walking pneumonia contagious?

Bronchitis
Bronchitis is a disease which affects the bronchi. Air is carried from the trachea into the lungs with the help of the bronchi. Infection and inflammation due to irritation, damage the cells present in the bronchi. The cilia present on the cells are responsible for trapping and removing the inhaled foreign bodies. A blocking of the cilia results in an obstruction in the airways and debris can no longer flow easily. Mucus, which resembles cough is then produced. There are two main types of bronchitis, namely acute and chronic. Acute bronchitis lasts for about ten days, whereas chronic bronchitis may last for three months or more. Find more information on the bronchitis symptoms.

Walking Pneumonia or Bronchitis
Now lets turn towards the arguments, in the walking pneumonia vs bronchitis debate. Your health care professional will be in a position to diagnose whether you are suffering from walking pneumonia or bronchitis. The symptoms of walking pneumonia are similar to common cold and flu, namely consisting of fever, sore throat and headaches. The other symptoms of walking pneumonia include, enlarged lymph glands, muscle aches, trouble in breathing, skin rashes, etc. On the other hand, the symptoms of bronchitis are cough with white, yellow or greenish mucus, headaches, chills, fever, wheezing, sore throat and soreness in the chest. Read more on bronchitis vs pneumonia.

Along with the symptoms, an X-Ray of the chest might be required to diagnose walking pneumonia. The X-Ray may also be helpful in finding and diffusing infiltrates. The best way to treat walking pneumonia is by taking plenty of rest and fluids. Antibiotics may be required to treat walking pneumonia. It is important to note that walking pneumonia may be contagious, although it might be treated by antibiotics. To treat bronchitis, cough suppressants are prescribed. Inhalers may also be used to open the airways and decrease wheezing. Vitamin C supplements are also used to treat bronchitis. It helps in improving the symptoms of bronchitis in a few days time. In very rare cases, antibiotics are prescribed, especially if the bronchitis is caused by bacteria.

It is difficult to correctly diagnose whether a person is suffering from walking pneumonia or bronchitis, at home. You should always consult your health care professional to get the right diagnosis and the treatment for the same.