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Pneumonia Symptoms |
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Fever
Chills
Cough
Rapid breathing
Wheezing
Chest or abdominal pain
Loss of appetite
Exhaustion
Vomiting
Bronchitis Symptoms
Thick white, yellow or greenish mucus
Headache
Chills
Fever
Shortness of breath
Soreness/tightness in the chest
Wheezing
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Causes
Pneumonia
Major causes of pneumonia include:
- Mycoplasmas: the smallest free-living organisms that cause disease
- Viruses
- Bacteria: Streptococcus, or strep throat, is the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia
Other causes:
- Pneumocystis carinii, a fungus that causes pneumonia in many people with AIDS
- Inhaled food, liquid, gases, dust or fungi
- Spirochete: causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Q fever and typhus, which may all affect the lungs
- Tuberculosis
Bronchitis
Usually acute bronchitis is caused by viruses, often the same virus that causes colds, and may happen after a cold or other respiratory infection.
Major causes of chronic bronchitis also include:
- Tobacco smoke
- Pollutants
- Dust
- Bacteria
More on Pneumonia and Bronchitis What Factors Can Increase My Risk of Getting Pneumonia and Bronchitis?
Tracking Respiratory Infections
In the Encyclopedia: Bronchitis
Cough
Emphysema
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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