The cells within the human body depend on oxygen for their survival. Oxygen travels via the nose and within the lungs through bronchi which are pipe like canals. In pneumonia swelling or infection of lungs causes pus and fluid to form in its sections. Alternatively patches are formed in the lungs which interfere with the transmission of oxygen and this is called bronchial pneumonia.

Bronchial pneumonia is a pneumonia infection that affects many patches within one or both the lungs. This condition is mostly prevalent among young children along with aged adults. This condition is caused by different bacteria and these include streptococcus pneumonia. In this condition the inflammation or infection may not be limited to only one anatomic location. In this the alveoli which are contiguous to larger bronchioles in the bronchial tree are involved.

The symptoms associated with bronchial pneumonia include shortness of breath, shallow or rapid breathing and chest pains. Patients may also experience difficulty in breathing and they may cough up mucus. The fingernails of those suffering from this condition have a blue tint and the phlegm may be yellow green.

The bronchial pneumonia cases begin rather slowly and many patients tend to suffer from this condition after having an infection of the upper respiratory tract. The patient may spit out sputum which is greenish or yellowish in color and the patients may feel tightness in the chest. In spite of this tightness the percussion examination of the patient may seem normal.

In some cases of bronchial pneumonia the patients may experience general pain along with fever that would also bring in other symptoms like sweats and headaches. The symptoms and the severity of these symptoms may vary depending on certain factors like general health of the concerned person along with his/her physical condition. The respiration, temperature and pulse of the patient may be above normal.

In most cases bronchial pneumonia is triggered if the immune system of the patient becomes weak. A case of influenza or infection of the upper respiratory tract can lead to bronchial pneumonia. Bronchial pneumonia cause by flu or cold is also called walking pneumonia. The diagnosis of this condition can be done through a number of tests along with physical examination.

Physical examination includes checking for rash on the skin or cyanosis (blue lips). Heart, blood pressure and respiration rate is also checked. The patient may have fever and the chest may not expand properly. The physician may note abnormal sounds like wheezing, crackles or decreased breath sounds and this could be due to narrowing of the airways or fluid and pus presence.

Some tests that may be conducted for diagnosis of bronchial pneumonia include microscopic analysis of sputum samples. Viral culture may be done and blood may be collected for bacterial culture. The blood may also be screen so as to detect antibodies. A chest X-ray can show the infection affecting the lobes.

Likewise bronchoscopy may also be conducted and in this a flexible tube is passes through the patient’s mouth into the lungs so as to take a sample of the secretions for testing or culture. In bronchial pneumonia the physician may prescribe general antibiotics like erythromycin and once the infection has been identified the relevant antibiotics may be prescribed.