The differentiation between symptoms of acute bronchitis and pneumonia can be discussed as a challenging task because the majority of symptoms or their signs are similar, especially in middle-aged and elderly persons. However, some differences should be discussed in detail. In a 55-year-old person who suffers from bronchitis, the most typical symptom includes a dry cough that becomes productive in several days. The produced mucus is usually clear or yellow, and the fever is usually mild or not observed (Albert, 2010, p. 1346). When a 55-year-old person suffers from pneumonia, the typical symptoms also include coughing, but it is usually productive. The mucus can be of a yellow or greenish color, the fever is usually present, and it is high (Bonten, Bolkenbaas, Huijts, Webber, & Gault, 2014). Even though these symptoms are similar to the signs of acute bronchitis, it is important to focus on the fast heart rate (more than 100 beats per minute) and the increased respiratory rate (more than 25 breaths per minute) (Bonten et al., 2014). These symptoms are characteristic of pneumonia.
However, the final diagnosis can be determined only with references to the chest X-ray testing because the results are usually normal for acute bronchitis, and there are changes typical of pneumonia (Albert, 2010). In addition, it is necessary to analyze the results of the blood test (Bonten et al., 2014, p. 96). In patients older than 50 years, the symptoms of acute bronchitis and acute pneumonia can be very similar, and it is almost impossible to diagnose the problem without the X-ray testing and analysis of the heart and respiratory rates with the focus on daily changes in the body temperature.
Both acute bronchitis and pneumonia are often caused by pathogens. The usual causes of community-acquired pneumonia are S. pneumonia, H. influenza, Klebsiella pneumonia, S. aureus, M. catarrhalis, among others (Bonten et al., 2014). Acute bronchitis can be caused by a variety of pathogens that include S. pneumonia, H. influenza, and M. catarrhalis similar to pneumonia, as well as Chlamydia pneumonia and Mycoplasma pneumonia (Albert, 2010). To treat these conditions in middle-aged and elderly persons, it is important to propose an effective treatment plan based on using appropriate antibiotics to which the determined pathogens are not resistant.
In addition to the effectiveness of the proposed treatment, the management of these diseases can be influenced by certain cultural factors. Representatives of different cultures can perceive the medical treatment differently (Suarez, Bunsow, Falsey, Walsh, & Mejias, 2015). For instance, if one of the discussed patients is Hispanic, he or she can view diseases according to the ‘hot-cold’ balance. Therefore, such ‘cold’ diseases as acute bronchitis and pneumonia can be treated with the help of ‘hot’ medications, including antibiotics and vitamins. However, if the other patient is representative of the Asian culture, he or she can insist on using herbal or natural alternatives to chemicals.
In addition, the process of diagnosing can be challenging because persons can resist using X-rays to determine the final diagnosis. One more issue is the language barrier. Therefore, while planning the treatment, the healthcare provider and nurse should guarantee that the patient understands how to take certain medications and follow the treatment plan. Any cultural differences and impacts should be taken into account while managing the disease.
References
Albert, R. (2010). Diagnosis and treatment of acute bronchitis. American Family Physician, 82(1), 1345-1350.
Bonten, M., Bolkenbaas, M., Huijts, S., Webber, C., & Gault, S. (2014). Community acquired pneumonia immunisation trial in adults. Pneumonia, 3(13), 95-99.
Suarez, N. M., Bunsow, E., Falsey, A. R., Walsh, E. E., & Mejias, A. (2015). Transcriptional profiling is superior to procalcitonin to discriminate bacterial vs. viral lower respiratory tract infections in hospitalized adults. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 1(2), 47-56.