Pneumonia vs. Tuberculosis — What's the Difference?

Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs, which may fill with fluid or pus, leading to symptoms such as cough with phlegm, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. The condition can be caused by a variety of organisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and can range from mild to life-threatening. The most common bacterial cause is Streptococcus pneumoniae. In contrast, Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and typically presents a more chronic form of lung infection. It can spread to other parts of the body and requires a longer period of treatment. Unlike pneumonia, TB is characterized by a slow progression of symptoms such as a chronic cough with blood-containing sputum, night sweats, fever, and weight loss over weeks to months.

While pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics, rest, and fluids over a course of a few weeks, TB treatment involves a long-term regimen of antibiotics for at least six months due to the bacterium's resistance to most antibiotics. This difference highlights the importance of early detection and the complexities involved in TB treatment, including the need for multiple antibiotics to prevent resistance.

Pneumonia often results from a secondary infection, especially in individuals with weakened immune systems or following viral infections like influenza. On the other hand, TB is primarily spread from person to person through the air, when people with active TB in their lungs cough, speak, or spit. Both diseases are significant public health concerns, but TB has a higher prevalence in developing countries and among populations with high rates of HIV/AIDS.

Vaccinations are available for both diseases. The pneumococcal vaccine provides protection against many types of pneumococcal bacteria, the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia. The Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine offers some protection against TB, particularly severe forms in children, but its effectiveness in variable and less protective against lung TB, the most common form in elders.

In terms of diagnostics, pneumonia can often be diagnosed based on clinical signs and confirmed with chest X-rays, which show the fluid or pus-filled areas. TB diagnosis requires a more detailed evaluation, including a skin test or blood test to detect exposure to TB bacteria, followed by a chest X-ray and sputum test if the initial tests are positive to confirm active infection.