Acute bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi while pneumonia is an infection that causes the inflammation of one or both of the lung tissue. Both respiratory diseases have similar manifestations such as cough with sputum production, muscle aches and fatigue.
According to the FDA, 300,000 adults age 50 and above are hospitalized every year due to pneumococcal pneumonia (Sagon, 2012). A 55 year old suffering from pneumonia would have signs and symptoms such as cough which can be dry or productive (green or yellow sputum, occasionally rust colored), sudden onset of fever with temperature greater than 380C, chills or rigors, shortness of breath, fatigue, pleuritic chest pain (pdrhealth.com, 2016). Mental status such as confusion may occur (Thomas & Thomas, 2015). A variety of bacteria, viruses and fungi can cause pneumonia. The most common cause is the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. In at least 20 percent of adult community acquired pneumonia, viruses are the cause (Thomas &Thomas, 2015). The influenza A and B viruses are the most common in adults (Robinson, 2015). Acute bronchitis in a 55 year old will manifest signs and symptoms which include a persistent cough lasting a week to 3 weeks, productive cough with sputum that may be clear, yellow or green. In acute bronchitis, fever is not a common manifestation. It may be a sign of pneumonia or flu (Thomas, 2015). A viral infection such as the common cold or influenza causes bronchitis in most cases (Thomas, 2015). The most common cause of acute bronchitis is viruses such as rhinovirus, adenovirus, Influenza A & B, causing up to 85% to 95% of cases in healthy adults. (Worral,2008).
In the care of patients, social and cultural factors must be considered. As a health care provider, you have to focus on the individual’s beliefs and practices. Interventions offered should also include the empowered decisions of the patient. The individual experiences of patients must be considered for health teaching to be successful.
References
pdrhealth,. (2016). Pneumonia in Adults Symptoms - Diseases and Conditions - PDR Health. Retrieved 19 January 2016, from http://www.pdrhealth.com/diseases/pneumonia-in-adults/symptoms#BHG01ID07T02
Robinson, J. (2015). Viral Pneumonia. WebMD. Retrieved 19 January 2016, from http://www.webmd.com/lung/viral-pneumonia-lung-infection
Sagon, C. (2012). New Pneumonia Vaccine For Adults 50 and Older. AARP. Retrieved 19 January 2016, from http://blog.aarp.org/2012/01/02/new-pneumonia-vaccine-now-approved-for-adults-50-and-older/
Thomas, F. (2015). Acute bronchitis in adults. Uptodate.com. Retrieved 19 January 2016, from http://www.uptodate.com/contents/acute-bronchitis-in-adults-beyond-the-basics
Thomas, F., & Thomas, J. (2015). Pneumonia in adults. Uptodate.com. Retrieved 19 January 2016, from http://www.uptodate.com/contents/pneumonia-in-adults-beyond-the-basics
Worrall, G. (2008). Acute bronchitis. Canadian Family Physician, 54(2), 238. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2278319/
