What is the difference between bronchitis and a cold?

Answer 1

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchi. Can effect adults and children. Caused by viruses (influenza) mostly, but can be super imposed by bacterial infection also.

Bronchiolitis is an inflammation of the bronchioles. It effects mainly children and caused by RSV (50% of the times) or other viruses. Most commonly during winter and spring months.

Bronchi branch in the lungs and give rise to bronchioles.

Answer 2

Bronchial asthma is a condition where the bronchial tubes are inflamed, causing breathing to be constricted and difficult. Most patients who suffer with bronchial Asthma have "symptom free" periods punctuated by attacks, with wheezing and shortness of breath.They are both basically the same.

Answer 3

Asthma is allergic whereas bronchitis is infection of bronchi. Signs of asthma are wheezing and tightening of the chest. It is a medical emergency. Signs of bronchitis are fever, dry hacking cough, non-productive cough especially at night that becomes productive in 2 or more days.

Answer 4

Bronchitis and the cold affect different parts of the respiratory system. Bronchitis is an infection in the lungs that causes the mucus membranes in the bronchial passages to become inflamed. The common cold is a viral infection that affects the upper respiratory tract.

Answer 5

Pneumonia is an infection or inflammation of the lungs, often caused by bacteria or viruses, but can also be caused by fluid or food aspiration, inhalation of smoke or other toxic gases. It is a temporary and acute condition.

On the other hand, asthma is an ongoing chronic condition that has acute flare ups and chronic pulmonary insufficiency due to airway reactions that cause the bronchial tubes to be partially obstructed. This results in shortness of breath, chronic cough, frequent chronic bronchitis, chronic pneumonia and wheezing. It is believed to be caused by a genetic predisposition of the airways to have inflammatory reactions involving swelling of the bronchial tree. The different triggers partially define the different types of asthma. There are several types of asthma:

• Allergic asthma: reaction to substances that are usually harmless to people such as: dust, dust mites, pollens, animal dander, etc.
• Exercise-induced asthma that is triggered by exercise after around 5 - 20 minutes.
• Cough-variant asthma is accompanied by severe cough and triggered usually by respiratory infections and exercise.
• Occupational asthma occurs in people while at their place of work and triggered by work-related chemicals, vapors, gasses, or particles in the air. Jobs that are commonly involved include animal breeders, farmers, hairdressers, nurses, painters, and woodworkers.
• Nighttime/nocturnal asthma: triggered only at night by allergens in the bedroom, lying sleeping position, GERD/heartburn, cooling of the airways, sinusitis and post nasal drip.

See the related link below for more on the types of asthma.

Answer 6

No, but they're similar.