Dear Dr Ombeva, My three-year old son has been having frequent cough and sometimes flu. The diagnosis we usually get is either pneumonia or bacterial infection. Recently, he got very sick, and the doctor said he could be developing asthma. What’s the difference between pneumonia and asthma? Joy,
Dear Joy,
Thank you so much for your question. Asthma and pneumonia are two diseases that affect the lungs, or the respiratory system (of a child.) The two are distinct, and neither one can lead to the other. While asthma is a chronic allergic disease, pneumonia is often an acute lung infection. When your child has pneumonia, the alveoli (small sacs in the lungs) are filled with pus and fluid from the bacterial or viral infection, which makes breathing painful and limits oxygen intake. Pneumonia is the single largest cause of death in children worldwide, more than malaria and tuberculosis combined. Asthma, on the other hand, is a leading cause of school absenteeism in the world, and the most common chronic disease among children of both high and low income countries.
There is an overlap in the symptoms of asthma and those of pneumonia.
Both diseases often present with cough, difficulty in breathing, restlessness, malaise, failure to breastfeed and sometimes vomiting. However, pneumonia is additionally more likely to be accompanied with rapid breathing, fever, chills, lower chest wall in drawing and convulsions. Asthmatics frequently have shortness of breath, feeling out of breath, gasping for air, having trouble breathing out, chest tightness and wheezing.
Similar risk factors for pneumonia and asthma include poor nutrition, indoor air pollution, and low birth weight, parental smoking and living in crowded homes.
Additional risk factors for asthma include genetic predisposition and environmental exposure to inhaled substances and particles that may provoke allergic reactions or irritate the airways, such as indoor allergens (for example, house dust mites in bedding, carpets and stuffed furniture, pollution and pet dander); extreme emotional arousal such as anger or fear, and physical exercise. Asthma cannot be cured, but can be controlled.
Short-term medications relieve symptoms. Children with persistent symptoms must take long-term medication daily. With medical support, each child can learn the triggers and how to prevent an attack.
Pneumonia can be cured effectively by use of antibiotics. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent pneumonia.