Symptoms of Pneumonia
Because pneumonia is similar to the flu in symptoms, it can be difficult to notice, at first, that pneumonia is the ailment rather than the flu or common cold. Another aspect is the fact that the symptoms are different in each person, especially considering that there are underlying conditions and different types of organisms (virus, bacteria, etc.) that could be causing it. Therefore, it is important to pay close attention to the symptoms to see if it all adds up to pneumonia.
While the symptoms vary from person to person, some of the most common symptoms of pneumonia are:
- Cough
- Fever
- Shortness of breath
- Shaking chills
- Sweating
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Muscle Pain
- Chest pain that occurs when breathing
As pneumonia appears when there are complications as a result of some other medical condition, it is important for the doctor to note what is causing the pneumonia rather than just treating the pneumonia.
Seeing a Doctor
When the flu is the only problem, it comes along and, after a few miserable days, it gets better. However, when the flu suddenly becomes worse, it is important to take note of it. If cough continues on persistently, or if there is continuous shortness of breath, chest pain, and a lasting fever of 102F, coupled with chills and sweating, it is important to go to the doctor and make sure that pneumonia isn’t the problem.
Pneumonia is especially dangerous in people that are over 65 years of age or those that are undergoing chemotherapy. Chemo weakens the body so a bacterium can come along and cause even more damage to it than if the immune system was stronger. Other times that prompt medical care is required is when the patient smokes, drinks in excess, has an injury, or is taking an immuno-suppressant such as prednisone.
Finally, if an older adult has either heart failure or lung ailments, adding pneumonia into the mix can become a life-threatening condition. It is because of this that doctors suggest if any of the above symptoms appear, to immediately make an appointment with a doctor. If pneumonia is the diagnosis, the doctor will be able to prescribe an antibiotic that can typically take care of most bacterium. The same goes if it is a virus, but with an antiviral. Taking no action, though, can cause the pneumonia to degenerate to the point of death.