Most people have heard the term upper respiratory infection. It is often used interchangeably when describing a respiratory virus or the common cold. But do you know what a lower respiratory infection is?
Lower respiratory infections are illnesses that affect the respiratory system below the throat. Any infection that affects the lungs and lower airways is considered a lower respiratory infection.
The most common and well-known lower respiratory infections are pneumonia and bronchitis, as well as bronchiolitis in children.
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Pneumonia
Most of the time, people with pneumonia aretreated with antibiotics. Other medications may be necessary to help with the symptoms. If your illness is severe or you are at high risk, you may be hospitalized when you have pneumonia. To help reduce your risk of serious illness, get yourflu vaccineeach year. Older adults should get apneumonia vaccineas well.
Bronchitis
If you have bronchitis but start to feel worse and run a fever, contact your healthcare provider or seek medical attention.
Sometimes secondary bacterial infections develop in people with bronchitis. If this happens, your treatment will be different and antibiotics may be necessary.
Bronchiolitis
Bronchiolitis is inflammation or swelling of the small airways in the lungs. It is an illness that occurs primarily in children younger than 2 years old. It most commonly occurs in babies between 3 and 6 months old, withrespiratory syncytial virus (RSV)being theprimary cause.
Wheezing and coughing are the primary symptoms of bronchiolitis. It can be a serious and sometimes fatal illness for young infants. If you notice any ofthese signs that your child is having difficulty breathing, seek medical attention right away, even if you don’t suspect bronchiolitis. It’s not always obvious when a child is having trouble breathing. Knowing what to watch for could save a child’s life.
Bronchiolitis vs. Bronchitis: How to Differentiate and Treat Symptoms
Medical Prevention
Preventative medication is recommended for children under 19 months old and adults aged 60 years or older with underlying health conditions.
For infants, there are two main ways to prevent RSV: Pregnant people can receive an RSV vaccine late in pregnancy to protect their infants after birth. Or infants under 8 months old—or up to 19 months old with certain risk factors—can be immunized with a protective antibody before RSV season.
Older adults can receive a one-time RSV vaccine to prevent severe disease. The shot is recommended for all adults over age 75, or those over age 60 with certain risk factors, including chronic heart or lung disease or a weakened immune system.
A Word From Verywell
Lower respiratory infections can be dangerous and generally are more serious than upper respiratory infections. Know what to watch for so you can seek medical attention if it’s needed.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Lung Association.Pneumonia symptoms and diagnosis.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Bronchitis.Nemours KidsHealth.Bronchiolitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.RSV in Infants and Young Children.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vaccines for Adults Ages 60 and Over.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.ACIP Evidence to Recommendations for Use of Moderna RSV Vaccine (mResvia) in All Adults Aged ≥75 years and in Adults Aged 60–74 at Increased Risk of Severe RSV Disease.Additional ReadingMedlinePlus.Bronchiolitis.MedlinePlus.Parainfluenza.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Lung Association.Pneumonia symptoms and diagnosis.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Bronchitis.Nemours KidsHealth.Bronchiolitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.RSV in Infants and Young Children.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vaccines for Adults Ages 60 and Over.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.ACIP Evidence to Recommendations for Use of Moderna RSV Vaccine (mResvia) in All Adults Aged ≥75 years and in Adults Aged 60–74 at Increased Risk of Severe RSV Disease.Additional ReadingMedlinePlus.Bronchiolitis.MedlinePlus.Parainfluenza.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Lung Association.Pneumonia symptoms and diagnosis.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Bronchitis.Nemours KidsHealth.Bronchiolitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.RSV in Infants and Young Children.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vaccines for Adults Ages 60 and Over.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.ACIP Evidence to Recommendations for Use of Moderna RSV Vaccine (mResvia) in All Adults Aged ≥75 years and in Adults Aged 60–74 at Increased Risk of Severe RSV Disease.
American Lung Association.Pneumonia symptoms and diagnosis.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Bronchitis.
Nemours KidsHealth.Bronchiolitis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.RSV in Infants and Young Children.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vaccines for Adults Ages 60 and Over.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.ACIP Evidence to Recommendations for Use of Moderna RSV Vaccine (mResvia) in All Adults Aged ≥75 years and in Adults Aged 60–74 at Increased Risk of Severe RSV Disease.
MedlinePlus.Bronchiolitis.MedlinePlus.Parainfluenza.
MedlinePlus.Bronchiolitis.
MedlinePlus.Parainfluenza.
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