Pneumonia Symptoms - A Word of Caution

Pneumonia is a lung infection that can potentially make you very ill or even cause death. Quite worryingly it is currently estimated that 5% of people diagnosed with Pneumonia in the USA will die from the infection. But catching Pneumonia is not specific to living in certain countries or to certain types of people: Pneumonia can be caught by anyone of any age, level of fitness, race or creed. One cause of the illness is different bacteria and micro-organisms being breathed in. Another way of catching it is the bacteria in the mouth moving to the lungs inadvertently. Occasionally breathing in certain chemical fumes can be the cause. Pneumonia can affect either one or both of the lungs. It is best to be able to recognise the Pneumonia symptoms in order to act quickly to minimise the affects.

Take the story of David, 23, from Oklahoma:
"One of my friends was not very well and we told him to go and see his doctor. After a few days of me yelling at him, he went to see his doctor. He thought he just had something like a sinus or strep infection, but the doctor decided he needed an x-ray. The doctor then performed the x-ray on my friend. This doctor diagnosed that my friend had Pneumonia instead of the strep or sinus infection he had thought it was. He was admitted to the hospital and received treatment for just under two weeks. He was lucky and we both realised that if he hadn't visited the doctor's that day, it could have been a whole lot worse-he could have ended up dead.

As if this wasn't bad enough, I had another friend who found he had developed a simliar problem to that of the first friend (we all hung out together regularly). I told the second friend to go and get himself checked out with the doctor just to make sure he was okay. When this friend went to see his doctor he was just given medication to help the infection clear up. His doctor did not seem interested in wanting to give him an x-ray at all. I'm sorry to say that this second friend had actually contracted Pneumonia, and it wasn't until he went to a different doctor that he was given the x-ray and diagnosed. He was admitted to the hospital, after a week in the hospital he lapsed into a coma. Unfortunately three weeks after that, he passed away. Both myself and my friend who survived are devastated."
 
This story illustrates how serious the infection can be and why it is important to be able to recognise the signs and symptoms, in order to seek effective treatment immediately. Below is a guide to the symptoms to look out for in relation to Pneumonia.

It is most likely that you will catch Pneumonia if you already have a cold or the flu, as it is harder for your lungs to counteract the infection. You are also a high risk if you have recently had other illnesses such as viral infections, or if you have suffered a stroke or a seizure. People with chronic illnesses such as Diabetes and Cancer are of great risk too. Lifestyle choices such as smoking, alcohol abuse or drug use can substantially increase the chances of developing Pneumonia. In fact, smoking can increase the chances of smokers and children around them developing Pneumonia. If the disease is caused by bacteria then the onset of symptoms is usually quite rapid. On the other hand, if Pneumonia has been caused by a virus then the onset of symptoms will be slower. Whichever way Pneumonia has been contracted, the symptoms are common for both types.

You may experience symptoms of a cold and then develop a high fever. Another indication may also be that you are very short of breath. Most people may have chills and a severe cough. The mucus (or sputum as it is sometimes called) can be discoloured, either green or brown, and may contain blood. Chest pains that are very painful when you breathe in are also another common symptom of Pneumonia. You may experience feelings of lethargy and weakness, diarrhea, and even feeling or being sick. Experiencing headaches or aches in the muscles can sometimes occur. Some people find that their skin goes a purplish color (known as Cyanosis). This is because the blood is not getting as much Oxygen as it should. It is also possible that you will not experience any coughing. This is due to the infection being established further away from the bigger airways of the lungs.

Viruses are the most common cause of Pneumonia developing in children. Pneumonia in babies, children, and older people can be harder to detect as they may not show many of the symptoms indicated in the above information. These classes of people will more than likely need hospital treatment for the disease. Babies and children not show signs of a chest infection; however they will develop a fever, appear or look ill and will be very tired. Elderly people are unlikely to show the symptom of fever. They can show signs of coughing but they may not necessarily cough up mucus. It is common for older persons to develop confusion or delirium, especially if they already have a lung condition.

The information provided by Jillian from Denver, Colorado, highlights this point well:

"This past weekend my 88 year old grandmother had fallen on the ground and was taken into the hospital with a pulled leg muscle. The doctors said that she had been weakened and confused because of pneumonia. She had had a very bad cough filled with phlegm for about 6 months, but we had all figured that this was normal because she was 88. She was pretty healthy for her age, only complaining about the normal arthritis. She was admitted to the hospital on the Wednesday, and is to be discharged today (Tuesday). She will be on a course of antibiotics to clear up the infection."