Can I have the flu and bronchitis?
Most often, the same viruses that give you a cold or the flu also cause bronchitis. Sometimes though, bacteria are to blame. In both cases, as your body fights off the germs, your bronchial tubes swell and produce more mucus.
Is bronchitis a side effect of the flu?
Some flu-related complications aren’t as severe and may include a sinus or an ear infection. More serious complications can include bronchitis and pneumonia, which affect the lungs.
How does flu turn into pneumonia?
Although the body would usually be able to fight the buildup away, influenza changes that. With a weakened immune system, your body may not be able to get over the foreign bacteria and viruses. This is how those with influenza can easily turn their flu into something much worse — pneumonia.
How do I make sure the flu doesn’t turn into pneumonia?
Stay on top of flu season by getting a flu vaccination and you can also get the pneumococcal vaccine to cover the bases of attracting bacterial pneumonia. Other basic immune boosting habits can also help prevent respiratory infections. Maintain healthy sleep habits and constantly wash your hands.
What’s the difference between the flu and bronchitis?
Complications related to the flu are bronchitis, pneumonia, aggravation of other conditions, sinus infection, and ear infections. Bronchitis and pneumonia share many symptoms, but there are also notable differences.
Can you have bronchitis and pneumonia at the same time?
“And you can have both bronchitis and pneumonia at the same time,” Dr. Holguin says. That said, in some cases bronchitis does turn into (thereby causing) pneumonia.
How long does it take for bronchitis to get better?
Acute bronchitis is a condition in which the lining of your bronchial tubes (the passages that carry air to and from your lungs) become inflamed. This condition usually develops as a result of a viral infection like a cold or the flu, and it typically gets better in about one to two weeks.
What to do if you have bronchitis and influenza?
Treatment options for bronchitis and influenza. Your doctor will analyze your sputum to determine if the cause is bacterial or viral. A chest X-ray will also be done, especially if pneumonia is suspected. Your doctor may also run blood work to check your white blood cell count, which can reveal severity of the illness.
Is it possible to have bronchitis and pneumonia at the same time?
Possible to have acute bronchitis with pneumonia as well as chronic bronchitis with pneumonia. Bronchitis is the inflammation of the airways which fill up your lungs with air as you breath in. It most often occurs during the winter season due to viral infection mostly.
Complications related to the flu are bronchitis, pneumonia, aggravation of other conditions, sinus infection, and ear infections. Bronchitis and pneumonia share many symptoms, but there are also notable differences.
How can you catch acute bronchitis from someone else?
You can catch infectious acute bronchitis by touching a germ harboring object, such as a door knob or a subway pole, and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Many cases of acute bronchitis start as the flu, so you may be able prevent it by getting an annual flu shot.
Can a cold be mistaken for bronchitis without treatment?
Pneumonia usually causes a wet cough, fever, and trouble breathing. These symptoms can be severe and dangerous without treatment. It can be easy to mistake symptoms of a cold, the flu, or bronchitis for COVID-19.