Bronchitis vs. pneumonia: How to tell the difference

Bronchitis affects the airways, while pneumonia infects the lung tissue itself and is usually more serious. Knowing the difference matters as cold and flu season gets going and World Pneumonia Day arrives on Nov. 12, 2026. Doctronic shares how to distinguish between the two. kAmq@E9 2C6 EJA6D @7 496DE :?764E:@?] %96J @7E6? DE2CE 27E6C 2 4@=5 @C E96 7=F[ 2?5 3@E9 42FD6 2 4@F89[ D@ E96J 2C6 62DJ E@ >:I FA] %96 D:56\3J\D:56 E23=6 2?5 H2C?:?8 D:8?D 36=@H 42? 96=A D@CE @FE H9:49 :D >@C6 =:<6=J 2?5 H96? E@ 86E 42C6]k^Am kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^?49D^72DE2ED^A?6F>@?:2]9E>Qm!?6F>@?:2 42FD65 c`[eaf 562E9Dk^2m :? E96 &]$] :? a_ac[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 rsrVD }2E:@?2= r6?E6C 7@C w62=E9 $E2E:DE:4D] %96 rsr ?@E6D E92E A?6F>@?:2 C:D< C:D6D :? E96 72== 2?5 H:?E6C]k^Am k9bmz6J E2<62H2JDk^9bm kF=mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ65bgbd446dgcd72e`244fa`d3h7ea76acQmqC@?49:E:D :?7=2>6D E96 2:CH2JD 2?5 42FD6D 2 4@F89[ H9:=6 A?6F>@?:2 3C:?8D 2 9:896C 76G6C[ 49:==D[ 72DE @C 92C5 3C62E9:?8 2?5 496DE A2:? 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