What are the Symptoms of Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection that is mainly caused by bacteria, however, to a lesser extent it can also be caused by a virus or some microorganism. The symptoms will vary depending on the type of pneumonia you have.

The symptoms of pneumonia can go from mild to severe, depending on many factors such as age, the type of pneumonia you have and your overall health previous to the pneumonia.

Some of the most common symptoms of pneumonia are these:

• High fever
• Coughing - in some pneumonias you might cough a greener or yellowish mucus
• Cold sweats and chills
• Difficulty breathing
• Headache
• Muscular pain

Pneumonias can also affect in other ways and produce other less common symptoms:

• Chest pain because of the coughing
• Sweating and clammy skin
• Loss of apetite
• Fatigue
• Confusion, especially in the elderly
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea

The symptoms also vary depending on whether you're suffering from a bacterial or viral pneumonia.

• Bacterial pneumonias rise temperatures and they cause extreme sweating and rapid breathing and pulse rate. The blood will have less oxygen and the lips and nailbeds of the patient might turn into a blueish colour. Also, a patient suffering from bacterial pneumonia might feel confused or delirious.
• Viral pneumonias start just as influenza, fever, cough, headache and muscle pain. However, in a couple of days breathing becomes harder and the cough becomes worse with a lot of mucus.

A patient should always undergo a medical examination to determine whether they have pneumonia or not. As well as a physical examination, chest x-rays may also be performed to determine a patient's pulmonary status.

Pneumonias can often be confused with other conditions, so it is crucial to visit a doctor for a complete examination if you're feeling unwell.

Likewise, treatment of pneumonia will vary depending on which agent caused the infection, as well as the medical history of each patient. A pulmonologist or respiratory specialist will be responsible for treating pneumonia and complications arising from it.

You should immediately visit a doctor if you have trouble breathing, fever or experience persistent cough and chest pain. It is even more important to visit a doctor if you are inside the high-risk groups:

• Children younger than 2
• Adults older than 65
• People with weak immune system
• People receiving chemotherapy or other medication that supresses the immune system

This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.

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