Symptoms of pneumonia you need to know

Pneumonia is an infection that makes the air sacs of the lungs (alveoli) inflamed. In these conditions, the air sacs can fill with fluid or pus and cause a variety of symptoms. That is why, people sometimes refer to it as wet lungs. Although similar, pneumonia is different from bronchitis which attacks the respiratory tract (bronchi). Knowing the symptoms of pneumonia is important for determining the right treatment for pneumonia. Check out the full explanation below.

What are the symptoms of pneumonia?

Symptoms of pneumonia or pneumonia can vary from being very mild and requiring only home remedies, to being very severe to requiring hospitalization. The types of germs that have infected you, your age, and your general health condition can also affect the symptoms you feel.

Quoted from the American Lung Association, general signs and symptoms of pneumonia are:

• Cough, which may have a greenish, yellow, or even bloody discharge
• Fever, sweating, and chills
• Difficulty breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain that is like being stabbed and feels more painful when taking deep breaths or coughing
• Loss of appetite, lack of energy, and fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting, especially in children
• Dazed, especially in the elderly

Symptoms may vary in different groups of people. Symptoms of pneumonia in newborns and toddlers may not be visible. Even so, it is possible for them to show signs, such as vomiting, fever, and cough. They may also appear weak, sick, and lack energy.

The elderly and people with serious illnesses or a weakened immune system may show fewer and less symptoms. They may show a body temperature that is lower than normal.

Elderly with pneumonia sometimes experience sudden mental changes. The features of pneumonia may worsen if they already have chronic lung disease.

Symptoms of bacterial pneumonia

Bacterial pneumonia is the most common and serious type compared to others. This type of pneumonia usually causes symptoms that require medical attention because bacterial pneumonia can be deadly. The features of bacterial pneumonia can develop gradually or suddenly.

Some of the symptoms of bacterial pneumonia include:

• Fever up to 40.5 ° C accompanied by sweating
• Increased respiratory rate and pulse
• Lips and nails can turn bluish, a sign of a lack of oxygen in the blood
• Maybe feel dazed, confused, delirious

Symptoms of viral pneumonia

Pneumonia is also caused by a virus. Symptoms of viral pneumonia usually appear after a few days of infection. The initial symptoms of viral pneumonia are similar to flu symptoms, such as fever, dry cough, headache, muscle aches, and weakness.

Within a day or two, signs and symptoms of viral pneumonia usually get worse. Your cough may get worse. You may also experience shortness of breath and muscle aches. High fever and blue lips and nails may also occur.

How is pneumonia diagnosed?

Pneumonia is sometimes difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are so diverse and similar to those of a cold or flu. You may not be aware of your condition until symptoms last longer. In fact, the common cold can cause pneumonia.

To diagnose pneumonia and determine its cause, your doctor will ask you about your medical history, perform a physical exam, and have you take a number of tests.

Your doctor may diagnose your condition with a certain type of pneumonia based on how you got the infection and what kind of germs caused your infection.

The following are things your doctor may check to diagnose pneumonia:

1. Medical history

The doctor will ask questions about the signs and symptoms of pneumonia that you feel, how and when they appear. To find out whether the cause of pneumonia is bacterial, viral, or fungal, you may be asked questions, such as:

• The last trip
• Your work
• Contact with animals
• Contact with sick people at home, work, or school
• Other health problems

2. Physical examination

The doctor will listen to the sounds of your lungs using a stethoscope. If you have pneumonia, the sound will sound like crackling and rumbling, especially when you inhale.

3. Diagnostic tests

If you suspect you have pneumonia, your doctor will recommend several tests to make a diagnosis and learn more about the type of infection that is occurring. These examinations include:

Blood test

This examination is done to confirm infection and find germs that cause pneumonia.

Chest / chest x-ray

A chest x-ray is done to see the location and spread or extent of inflammation in your lungs.

Oximetry

Oximetry is done to measure the oxygen level in the blood. Pneumonia can block your lungs from moving sufficient oxygen into your bloodstream.

In this test, a small sensor is attached to your finger or ear. The sensor uses light to estimate how much oxygen is in your blood.

Sputum test

The sputum test is done by taking a sample of mucus (sputum) that is taken after coughing. The point is to find the source of infection.

If you are a patient at high risk because of your age and health, or if you have been hospitalized, your doctor may order additional tests. The following tests your doctor may order:

Chest CT scan

This procedure is done to see a clearer view of the lungs and to look for abscesses and other complications from pneumonia. A CT scan can show clearer results and find abnormalities that are much smaller in size than a chest X-ray.

Arterial blood gas test

This test measures the amount of oxygen and changes in the body's acid-base levels in a blood sample taken from an artery, usually at the wrist. This test is more accurate than simple pulse oximetry.

Pleural fluid culture

Pleural fluid culture is a procedure of removing a small amount of fluid from around the tissue that surrounds the lungs. The bacteria present in the fluid sample are then allowed to grow and analyzed, before finally deciding which bacteria are most likely to cause pneumonia.

Pleural fluid culture can also be used to see what antibiotics are still effective in killing the bacteria that are found.

In this examination, a fluid sample is taken from the pleural space (the thin space between the two layers of tissue that line the lungs and chest cavity). Doctors use a procedure called thoracentesis to collect fluid samples.

Bronchoscopy

Bronchoscopy is a procedure used to view the airways of the lungs. If you are hospitalized and treatments are not working well, your doctor may see if anything else is invading your airways, such as a blockage.

The doctor will insert a thin, flexible tube through the nose or mouth, down the throat, and into the airways. This tube has a small, lightweight camera that allows doctors to see the respiratory tract and airways, and take pictures.

Doctors can use this procedure to collect a fluid sample from pneumonia (called bronchoalveolar lavage or BAL) or take a small tissue (biopsy) in the lungs to help find the cause of pneumonia.

When should you see a doctor?

If you or your child has signs and symptoms of pneumonia, don't wait until the disease is severe to see a doctor. Before experiencing it, you can take various steps to prevent pneumonia.

Regardless, you need to see a doctor or your child if you have difficulty breathing, blue lips and nails, chest pain, high fever, or a cough with mucus that is severe or gets worse.

It is important to seek help when pneumonia is experienced by people at high risk, such as elderly people over 65 years old, children under two years old, people with other health problems or weak immune systems.

After contacting your healthcare provider, you may see a general practitioner or emergency room doctor, or you may be referred to a specialist in infections or a pulmonary specialist.

You may need to prepare the following before going to the doctor:

• Keep track of your symptoms, including your temperature.
• Record key information about your health, including when you were last hospitalized and any medical conditions you have.
• Record personal information, including contact with chemical or toxic substances, or your recent trips.
• Make a list of the medications, vitamins, and supplements you are taking, especially the antibiotics that treat previous infections.
• Ask a family member or friend, if possible, to remind you of important things to tell the doctor.
• Write down any questions you want to ask the doctor.

Here are questions you can ask your doctor:

• What's causing my symptoms?
• What examinations do I need to undergo?
• What treatments do you recommend?
• Do I need to be hospitalized?
• I have other health problems, what if I have pneumonia?
• Are there any restrictions that I must follow?