Common Symptoms

  • Cough
  • Greenish, yellow or even bloody mucus is coughed up in some Pneumonia types
  • Mild or High Fever
  • Shaking chills
  • Shortness of breath, which may only occur when you climb stairs

Severe Symptoms

  • Sharp or stabbing chest pain that gets
  • worse when you breathe deeply or cough
  • Headaches
  • Excessive sweating and clammy skin
  • Loss of appetite, low energy, and fatigue
  • Confusion, especially in older people
In the beginning, viral pneumonia can be mistaken for Influenza as the symptoms are similar.

Risk factors

  • Smoking
  • Recent viral respiratory infection, cold, flu, etc.
  • Finding it difficult to swallow (due to stroke, dementia, or other neurological conditions)
  • Chronic lung diseases such as COPD, bronchiectasis, or cystic fibrosis
  • Serious illnesses, such as heart disease, liver cirrhosis, or diabetes
  • Hospitals, nursing homes, etc.
  • Impaired consciousness (loss of brain function due to dementia, stroke, or other neurologic conditions)
  • Recent surgery or trauma
  • Weakened immune system due to autoimmune disorders, etc.

Diagnosis

  • According to WHO (World Health Organization) pneumonia in children is diagnosed based on either a cough or difficulty breathing and a rapid respiratory rate, or a decreased level of consciousness.
  • In severe cases hospitalization is required where the following tests may be done:
    • Pulse oximetry
    • Chest radiography
    • Blood tests
    • Liver function tests

Treatment

  • Based on type of Pneumonia
    • Bacterial
    • Viral
  • Antibiotics are prescribed according to
    • Age
    • Symptoms and their severity
    • Whether you need to go to the hospital
    • Azithromycin, Doxycycline, and Ampicillin are prescribed according to type of Pneumonia.
  • Most symptoms improve within 2-3 days.
  • If symptoms don't improve, your healthcare provider will recommend further tests to determine treatment options.