A variety of different illnesses can cause symptoms like a cough, chest discomfort and fatigue. You may not suspect an infection like pneumonia or bronchitis right away, but these types of upper respiratory infections are always a possibility at this time of year!

Receiving an accurate diagnosis when you are sick can help prevent more serious issues or a more severe infection from occurring. Certain bacterial cases of pneumonia and bronchitis need treatment to prevent the infection from spreading and becoming a dangerous situation.

Want to learn more? Check out our latest blog brought to you by our AFC Urgent Care Tyvola Road team below.

What Does Pneumonia Do to the Body?

When you have pneumonia, an infection has settled into the alveoli in your lungs and irritated them enough to fill with fluid. Your alveoli are the little sacs in your lungs that help exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide in your blood. This is an important process, so if they can’t do their job properly, it can make you feel really sick and can actually be dangerous to you.

Oftentimes, pneumonia will cause symptoms all over your body. Common symptoms include a fever, body aches and a deep cough that produces mucus. While the majority of pneumonia infections stay mild to moderate, it is important to keep an eye on your symptoms and seek medical attention if you are having trouble breathing.

Warning Signs of Pneumonia

• High fever that lasts for days
• Chest pain
• Blood in your mucus
• Confusion
• Difficulty breathing

What Does Bronchitis Do to the Body?

Bronchitis also affects your respiratory system, but instead of irritating the alveoli, it irritates the bronchial tubes. These tubes help air pass in and out of your lungs. When your bronchial tubes swell up and become inflamed, a barking cough is a common symptom of bronchitis.

It can also cause chest discomfort and a fever, but bronchitis symptoms tend to be less severe than pneumonia and stay more central in your chest area. If your symptoms fail to improve on their own or get worse, come see us right away! We can do a full evaluation and determine the best course of treatment for you.

Signs of a Mild Bronchitis Infection

• Deep cough
• Production of mucus
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Chest tightness or discomfort

Are you feeling unwell? Stop by AFC Urgent Care Tyvola Road for a quick visit today.