You can't definitively test for pneumonia at home, but you can monitor symptoms like persistent cough (with or without mucus), fever, chills, fatigue, and shortness of breath, noting if they worsen after a cold or flu, and checking for rapid breathing in children, as these signs warrant an immediate doctor visit for proper diagnosis with a physical exam, X-ray, or blood tests.
Symptoms of pneumonia
Although chest CT is not contraindicated in pregnancy and remains the gold-standard technique for pulmonary pathologies,7 lung ultrasound (LUS) examination has been found to be an accurate imaging method to detect peripheral pulmonary and pleural conditions including pneumonia, with high accuracy (sensitivity >90% and ...
The most common symptoms are cough that may be dry or produce phlegm, fever, chills and fatigue. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and pain in the chest. and shortness of breath. Signs that indicate a more severe infection are shortness of breath, confusion, decreased urination and lightheadedness.
Your doctor will listen to your lungs with a stethoscope. If you have pneumonia, your lungs may make crackling, bubbling, and rumbling sounds when you inhale.
Symptoms and Causes
A pneumonia cough often sounds deep, wet, and productive (bringing up mucus/phlegm), sometimes with gurgling or rattling sounds (rhonchi), but can also be dry and hacking, especially with walking pneumonia; other signs include wheezing, chest pain, shortness of breath, and fever, requiring prompt medical attention.
The pain typically arises due to the inflammation of lung tissue, pleura (the lining around the lungs), and the airways. Chest pain emergency related to pneumonia can vary in intensity and often worsens when a person takes a deep breath, coughs, or moves their upper body.
Symptoms of bacterial pneumonia
High fever (up to 105 F or 40.55 C). Cough with yellow, green or bloody mucus. Tiredness (fatigue). Rapid breathing.
The following steps can help your body recover from pneumonia.
Bacterial pneumonia can occur on its own or develop after you've had a virus like the cold, flu, COVID-19 or RSV. Bacterial pneumonia often affects just one part, or lobe, of a lung. When this happens, the condition is called lobar pneumonia.
A chest X-ray is often used to diagnose pneumonia. Blood tests, such as a complete blood count (CBC) see whether your immune system is fighting an infection. Pulse oximetry measures how much oxygen is in your blood.
Pneumonia causes inflammation in the lungs, making it hard for oxygen to reach your bloodstream. If you're experiencing shortness of breath or rapid breathing, don't hesitate to visit the emergency room. Immediate evaluation is crucial to prevent complications and ensure you receive urgent medical care.
Pneumonia symptoms often mimic bronchitis symptoms and may include fever, shortness of breath, chest pain, and chills. Distinguishing symptoms are a productive cough and sharp chest pain when coughing or breathing deeply. Many people also have difficulty breathing and feel like their lungs are full or clogged.
Babies and children, 2 years old or younger, are at higher risk because their immune systems are still developing. This risk is higher for premature babies. Older adults, age 65 or older, are also at higher risk because their immune systems generally weaken as people age.
Often viral cases of pneumonia begin as congestion and cough with or without fever in the first few days. When a doctor listens to the lungs and finds breathing sounds are not clear on either side of the chest, a viral cause over bacterial is even more highly suspected.
If your pneumonia is serious, you may be treated in a hospital so you can get antibiotics and fluids through an intravenous (IV) line inserted into your vein. You may also get oxygen therapy to increase the amount of oxygen in your blood. If your pneumonia is very serious, you may need to be put on a ventilator.
There are several reasons why someone with pneumonia might not develop a fever, including: Weakened Immune System: Individuals with weakened immune systems, such as older adults, infants, or those with chronic illnesses, may not develop a strong fever response.
Signs and symptoms of pneumonia may include: Chest pain when you breathe or cough. Confusion or changes in mental awareness (in adults age 65 and older) Cough, which may produce phlegm.
Early signs of pneumonia often mimic cold or flu but worsen, including fever, chills, cough (with or without mucus), fatigue, and shortness of breath, sometimes with chest pain, rapid breathing, headache, and loss of appetite, notes Healthdirect, Better Health Channel, American Lung Association, and Mayo Clinic. In older adults, confusion or disorientation can be a key sign, while infants might show restlessness or feeding difficulties, say Healthdirect, Mayo Clinic, and WebMD.
Viral pneumonia cannot be treated with antibiotics.
Viral pneumonia often goes away on its own. Most people can manage their symptoms at home by following simple steps and advice from their healthcare provider.
Key Takeaway: Bronchitis Vs. Pneumonia
While many illnesses involve coughing, the cough associated with pneumonia is often different in duration and severity. Dry vs. wet cough: Pneumonia-related coughs can either be dry (non-productive) or wet (productive), depending on the type of infection.
Your GP may also take your temperature and listen to your chest and back with a stethoscope to check for any crackling or rattling sounds. They may also listen to your chest by tapping it. Lungs filled with fluid produce a different sound from normal healthy lungs.
You should see a doctor if your cough brings up yellowish-green phlegm or blood. A cough that doesn't produce mucus is called a dry or nonproductive cough. Acute cough is the least serious type of cough. It only lasts for three weeks or less and will most likely clear up on its own.