Symptoms of Pneumonia

June 10, 2008 - 7:30am

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Symptoms of Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a serious infection that should be treated promptly. Contact your doctor if you or your child have pneumonia symptoms.

Effects of Pneumonia on the Lungs

The symptoms of pneumonia include the following:

Fever or below normal temperature (hypothermia)
Chills
Sweating
Rapid heart rate
Rapid breathing
Cough, may be dry or may produce sputum
Sputum, may appear clear, greenish-yellow, or rusty
Chest or abdominal pain
Shortness of breath
Pain through to the back
Pain with deep breathing
Rattle sound in the chest
Loss of energy, fatigue
Weakness
Nausea and vomiting
Headache
General muscle aches and pains
Lack of appetite

Severe symptoms that are common in adults, especially the elderly, include:

Bluish color of the nails or lips due to diminished oxygen in the blood
Mental confusion (This is common in the elderly.)

Severe symptoms that are more common in babies and young children:

Flaring nostrils with each breath
Chest or ribs may suck in with each breath
Grunting sound with breathing

References

American Lung Association website. Available at: http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=22542 . Accessed July 17, 2008.

Beovic B, Bonac B, Kese D, et al. Aetiology and clinical presentation of mild community-acquired bacterial pneumonia. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2003;22:584-591

DynaMed. Available at: http://dynaweb.ebscohost.com . Accessed July 17, 2008.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/ . Accessed July 17, 2008.

Primary Care Medicine . 4th ed. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2000.

Last reviewed July 2008 by ]]>Marcin Chwistek, MD]]>

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.