What is the difference between bronchitis and bronchiolitis

The bronchi are the two main airways that branch off your windpipe into your lungs. They are responsible for producing mucus that traps dust and dirt to prevent it from going further in. Some respiratory conditions and infections can cause the bronchi to become inflamed and to increase their mucus production.

The excess mucus will cause you to cough. This persistent, wet cough is what your respiratory consultant means by bronchitis. It can happen in both adults and children, and it can have various causes, including exposure to smoke and bacterial or viral infections.

Bronchiolitis is a kind of lung infection that affects the smaller airways that branch off the bronchi. When these narrow airways, known as bronchioles, become inflamed due to an infection, it can become much harder for air to get into your lungs. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights.

Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Bronchiolitis and bronchitis are both infections that affect the lungs and can have overlapping symptoms such as a cough, wheezing, and low-grade fever.

However, there are some very important differences in symptoms, causes, treatment, and ultimately, how they may affect future lung function. Bronchiolitis is an inflammation of the small airways bronchioles and most often affects infants less than 2 years of age.

Bronchitis causes inflammation of the bronchi and bronchioles to a degree and can affect people of any age. Symptoms common to both bronchiolitis and bronchitis include:. With both conditions, the cough and wheezing may last for several weeks. Both are often caused by viral infections, but the particular viruses responsible frequently differ. The symptoms of bronchiolitis can differ from bronchitis both in how the infection affects the respiratory system and based on the age groups in which the infections are found.

Symptoms specific to bronchiolitis include:. A hallmark of bronchiolitis that is not seen with bronchitis is the minute-to-minute variation in symptoms. One moment a child may be sleeping comfortably, the next they may be agitated and appear quite ill, and then they may appear comfortable again after coughing and clearing mucus from their airways. Altogether, symptoms last around two weeks, although coughing and wheezing sometimes last longer.

Other symptoms may include:. An elevated respiratory rate is an important sign and has been coined the neglected vital sign. Respiratory rates run higher in children than adults, with normal respiratory rates in children being:. Less commonly, bronchiolitis may also be caused by cold viruses such as rhinovirus, adenovirus, or coronaviruses , metapneumovirus, human bocavirus, influenza A or B, and parainfluenza.

Symptoms of acute bronchitis that are less likely to be seen with bronchiolitis include:. Most cases of bronchitis are due to a viral infection, with the most common being:.

Less commonly, atypical bacteria such as mycoplasma, chlamydia, and Bordatella pertussis the cause of whooping cough are involved. Non-infectious bronchitis may also occur due to exposure to irritants such as smoke or dust. Difficulty breathing may appear as chest retractions, nasal flaring, grunting, use of accessory muscles. Some people are more likely to develop bronchiolitis or bronchitis than others. In general, young children, especially those less than 2 years of age, are more likely to develop bronchiolitis, whereas bronchitis may occur in any age group although it is uncommon before the age of 2.

A number of circumstances and conditions increase the chance that a child will develop bronchiolitis, and for those who develop the disease, separate factors increase the risk that it will be serious.

The risk of developing the disease primarily relates to the chance of being exposed to the causative viruses, whereas the chance that a child will become seriously ill is linked more with underlying medical conditions. Risk factors for developing bronchiolitis include:. Factors that increase the chance that bronchiolitis will be serious include:.

Like bronchiolitis, there are factors that increase the chance a person will develop the condition, as well as factors that may make developing the disease more serious. Risk factors for developing bronchitis include:. Among those who develop bronchitis, some people are more likely to become seriously ill—for example, developing secondary complications such as pneumonia.

This includes:. There are no formal treatments available for either uncomplicated bronchiolitis or bronchitis except in uncommon cases when bronchitis is bacterial. If the infection is due to influenza A and diagnosed shortly after the onset of symptoms, some healthcare providers may recommend Tamiflu oseltamivir. That said, measures can be taken to manage the symptoms and in some cases may reduce the chance that the infection will become more serious.

Bronchiolitis and bronchitis are both infections of the lungs. The names may sound similar, but they are two distinct conditions. It causes inflammation and swelling in the trachea and upper bronchial tubes. Bronchitis can be both acute and chronic.

Bronchiolitis almost only affects younger children, many under the age of 2. It occurs when there is swelling in the smallest airways in the lungs, called bronchioles, obstructing them and making it more difficult to breathe.

Bronchiolitis in some toddlers and children is no more severe than a common cold. In some cases it can be dangerous and require hospitalization. Bronchitis and bronchiolitis share common symptoms like coughing, wheezing, and slight fever.

There are other symptoms unique to each. You should make an appointment to see your doctor if your cough lasts more than three weeks or prevents you from sleeping.

You should also call your doctor if your cough is accompanied by:. If your infant, toddler, or young child displays any of the following symptoms, call your pediatrician for next steps:. Acute bronchitis is often caused by viruses, especially the flu and the common cold. The most common cause of chronic bronchitis is smoking cigarettes or being around lung irritants. Bronchiolitis is typically caused by a viral infection. The respiratory syncytial virus causes more than half of all cases of bronchiolitis.

The common cold or the flu can cause also the condition. Bronchitis can also be bacterial. When your doctor suspects bronchitis, they will listen to your lungs with a stethoscope and ask about other symptoms.

If your doctor suspects pneumonia, they may order a chest X-ray. Chest X-rays can also rule out other conditions, like lung cancer.