The difference between a cold and acute bronchitis

Many people are interested in knowing the difference between cold and acute bronchitis, especially in the winter, and many of these people have been exposed to such viruses or infections, and the difference between them is as follows:

• cold

It is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract, throat, and nose caused by infection with a virus.

• acute catarrh

It is an inflammation or infection of the airways that connect the lungs and the trachea, some of the first proves that the nose, throat, and pharynx is caused by a virus.

Key Differences Between Cold and Flu

The common cold is definitively different from influenza or any other infection such as acute bronchitis, where the common cold is a viral infection that anyone in the nose or throat area, it is limited to the upper respiratory tract and is usually not harmful, but some people feel the common cold Severe because of the common cold, but it may cause many other types of viruses that infect the throat, and cause some pain, and an adult may expect to catch two or three colds at most every year.

Young children or infants also suffer from frequent colds, and most of these people may recover from colds in about a week or 10 days at most, and symptoms may last for a long time in some cases, including smokers in general, also colds do not need medical care Unless symptoms do not improve or increase. [1]

Cold symptoms

Symptoms of the common cold are among the most famous symptoms that can be easily recognized, as they appear on the infected person two or three days after exposure to the virus that causes the common cold, and these symptoms include some visible signs, and their severity may vary from one person to another as follows: : 

• stuffy or runny nose;
• cough.
• Pain and sore throat.
• Feeling of pain in all parts of the body.
• Fatigue and general weakness.
• Feeling a slight headache.
• sneezing;
• Feeling generally tired and low fever.
• A clear discharge from the nose may appear yellow or green and persist with a cold.

Symptoms of severe cold

After the symptoms of colds appear, the appropriate treatment method must be known, as most cases of colds do not need to go to the doctor and may need home care. However, a visit to the doctor is obligatory in some cases where the symptoms are severe, through the following: 

• If symptoms increase or do not improve within a week or 10 days.
• You should visit the attending physician in the presence of a high temperature or fever, and when the temperature reaches 38 degrees Celsius and continues for more than three days.
• The return of the fever again after a continuous period free of fever and high temperature.
• Feeling short of breath and chest pain.
• Severe sore throat that prevents food or drink.
• Feeling of pain in the sinuses.

Cold symptoms for children

Some severe symptoms are resulting from the common cold for children that should not be neglected and go to the doctor immediately if the child suffers from the following symptoms: 

• The temperature rises to 38 degrees Celsius, especially in newborns up to 12 weeks of age.
• High fever and persistence for two days for children of any age.
• Feeling of remorse in the throat, severe headache or cough.
• Ear or nose pain.
• Difficulty breathing or chest pain.
• Feeling sleepy and sleeping abnormally.
• lack of appetite [2]

Complications of acute bronchitis

Concerning cases of asthma and acute bronchitis, some complications occur that increase the symptoms that appear on people, and in this case, one must go to the treating doctor, and these symptoms include the following: 

Inflammation of the middle ear

• Otitis media is caused by acute infection when bacteria or viruses enter the eardrum.
• Symptoms of acute ear infection appear most strongly after the common cold.
• A severe ear infection or severe otitis media causes a high temperature, especially with colds.

Respiratory crisis

• There are some cases in which a psychological crisis occurs due to the common cold, severe colds, or acute bronchitis.
• If the patient has asthma, it gets worse because of the cold caused by acute bronchitis or the common cold. 

sinusitis _

• Acute sinusitis in adults and children may be caused by cold or acute bronchitis.
• A severe cold causes swelling in the nose area, which causes severe inflammation.

infections

• Cold or acute bronchitis can lead to some other infections.
• Pneumonia or sore throat.
• Bronchiolitis in children may need a doctor's intervention. [3]

How to prevent colds

For a person not to be exposed to cold or acute bronchitis, precautionary measures must be taken to prevent this infection so that the virus does not spread, through the following: 

cleaning hands

• If soap and water are not available, a hand sanitiser can be used, which contains an alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
• Alert children to the importance of washing hands well with soap and water, while avoiding touching the nose, mouth or eyes with an unclean hand.

All things fly

• The way to clean and disinfect all the personal things of the person so that he is not exposed to a cold or an acute common cold.
• Do not touch doors, switches, or unclean surfaces.
• Children's toys must be cleaned well on an ongoing basis so that they are clean and disinfected.

Use paper towels

• Use tissues regularly in case of coughing and dispose of them immediately.
•  Wash hands thoroughly after asking and use tissues.

Not sharing

• Keep away from infected people and do not share cups or utensils with family members.
• It is best to use cups for each person.
• Use one-time cups in case the person is sick from a family member.

Stay away from the injured

• Stay away from people infected with colds, acute bronchitis, or any virus.
• If a person has a cold, he should stay away from others so as not to transmit the virus to them.
• Avoid touching the eyes, nose or mouth if there is a sick person nearby. [4]

Knowing the difference between cold and acute bronchitis, can be identified through the symptoms that appear on infected people, and dealing with these symptoms correctly. Some symptoms improve automatically and other symptoms that require a visit to the treating doctor, as was previously explained and may increase It's bad, especially in the winter.