What is the difference between Bronchitis and Bronchiolitis?

People usually get confused at bronchitis and bronchiolitis as they almost sound and spell the same. They are both connected to the structures of the lungs but they have different meanings and condition. Bronchitis is a symptom that affects the bronchi, a part of the lungs that is responsible for mucus production. Though bronchitis and bronchiolitis are caused by viruses, only infants to young children are infected by bronchiolitis while bronchitis can be caught by any age.

Based on their names, bronchitis is an inflammation in the bronchi while bronchiolitis is swelling in the bronchioles. Bronchitis is often accompanied by coughing, shortness of breath, and chest discomfort bronchiolitis, on the other hand, display the symptoms of developing of bluish color to the face, have a breathing rate of 50-60 per minute or showing difficulty in breathing.