can you get bronchitis without a cold

Everyday Wellness

What's the Deviation Between a Common cold, Bronchitis and Pneumonia?

Originally published December 18, 2022

Concluding reviewed January 7, 2022

Reading Fourth dimension: 2 minutes

Sniffling. Cough. Perchance a fever. Any it is, yous experience miserable. But is information technology but a cold — or something more than?

Colds are among the well-nigh common health problems, collectively accounting for 40% of all lost work time in the U.S. The boilerplate U.S. adult catches two or three colds every year, most frequently between September and April.

While almost colds are minor and go abroad on their own with residual and fluids, symptoms overlap with more than serious ailments, such as bronchitis and pneumonia. For example, all 3 can cause fatigue, merely only pneumonia might include a high fever, chills or nausea.

How do yous know if yous should see your physician?

Colds

A cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract, primarily the nose and pharynx. Colds can't be cured by antibiotics – typically they'll go away in a few days with extra rest and plenty of fluids. Over-the-counter medicine tin can help reduce your symptoms, just information technology won't cure the cold.

Symptoms may include:

Runny olfactory organ
Sneezing
Sore pharynx
Low-course fever
Cough (without fungus)
Fatigue

Bronchitis

Bronchitis is ordinarily a viral infection of the bronchial tubes, so y'all'll experience it less in your olfactory organ and more than in your lungs. Just like colds, near cases of bronchitis can't be treated by antibiotics, and information technology volition usually go abroad in seven to 10 days with extra residual and fluids.

Bronchitis is marked by:

Depression-grade fever
Coughing (with or without fungus)
Fatigue
Wheezing
Trouble breathing
Chest hurting

Pneumonia

Pneumonia stems from fluid in the lungs caused by a viral, bacterial or fungal infection. Pneumonia can exist serious and requires handling from your md.

Symptoms include:

Cough (with or without mucus)
Fatigue
Wheezing
Trouble breathing
Chest pain
High-grade fever
Shaking or chills
Nausea, airsickness or diarrhea

Whether y'all have a cold, bronchitis or pneumonia, you should run across your physician right away if you take difficulty breathing, experience breast pain, fasten a fever of 102 degrees or college, or accept a coughing with discolored mucus or blood.

Prevention
The best style to avert missing piece of work for these respiratory illnesses is to prevent communicable one in the first place. Make sure to launder your hands and avoid close contact with anyone who has symptoms.

Strengthen your immune system by getting plenty of sleep and do, eating a balanced diet and managing stress. If you smoke, quitting also will help you significantly strengthen your immune system.