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Chest infections - adult - Management
Features of acute bronchitis and community-acquired pneumonia
- The differentiating clinical features of acute bronchitis and community-acquired pneumonia are shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Symptoms and signs of acute bronchitis and community-acquired pneumonia.
Factor | Acute bronchitis | Community acquired pneumonia |
|---|
History | Cough | Cough |
May or may not have sputum, wheeze, or dyspnoea | At least one other symptom of sputum, wheeze, dyspnoea, or pleuritic pain |
Examination | Wheeze often present, but no other focal chest signs | Focal chest signs present Includes dullness to percussion, course crepitations, vocal fremitus |
May have systemic features with or without a raised temperature Features include sweats, fevers, myalgia | At least one systemic feature present with or without a temperature above 38°C Features include sweats, fevers, myalgia |
Investigations (not usually considered necessary in general practice) | Chest X–ray clear | Chest X–ray diagnostic |
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