Bronchitis vs Covid - How to Distinguish between Them?

Coughs get taken seriously these days, since one of the major symptoms of COVID-19 is cough along with other respiratory symptoms. So how can you tell the difference between a common illness like bronchitis and COVID?

Symptoms

The primary difference is the underlying cause — COVID-19 is a specific viral infection, while bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchial tubes that can stem from a cold, flu, allergy, or other cause. A COVID test is the only sure way to tell them apart, but some symptoms occur mainly with COVID and not typical bronchitis:

• Diarrhea
• Nausea or vomiting
• Loss of taste or smell

The cough itself also differs — bronchitis typically produces a wet, productive cough, while a COVID cough is more often dry.

Similarities

Because both affect the respiratory system, they share several symptoms:

• Cough
• Headache
• Fever in the initial days
• Muscle or body pain
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Nasal congestion

Is Bronchitis or Covid Contagious?

Acute bronchitis caused by a virus or bacteria is contagious, just like COVID-19, so covering coughs is important either way. Chronic bronchitis, which doesn't involve germs, is not considered easily spread.

Treatment

Bronchitis treatment focuses on clearing the underlying virus or bacteria while managing symptoms:

• Rest
• Lozenges
• A humidifier
• Honey
• Tea for sore throat
• Plenty of fluids
• Over-the-counter medications

For COVID-19, the only FDA-approved antiviral medication used, and only in severe cases, is remdesivir. Anyone with symptoms of either illness should isolate until they know more.

Final Outlook

Whether it's COVID or bronchitis, severe symptoms such as chest pain, breathing difficulty, or confusion warrant immediate medical attention. Mild symptoms can often be managed at home, but reach out to the team at Pulmonary Medical Consultants for guidance.