Your doctor will ask you questions about your signs and symptoms, and how and when they began. To diagnose pneumonia, and to try to identify the germ that is causing the illness, your doctor will ask questions about your medical history, do a physical exam, and run some tests. Sometimes pneumonia can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are so variable, and are often very similar to those seen in a cold or influenza. For individuals that already have a chronic lung disease, those symptoms may worsen. Older adults who have pneumonia sometimes have sudden changes in mental awareness. They may even have a lower than normal temperature. Older adults and people who have serious illnesses or weak immune systems may have fewer and milder symptoms. Or, they may vomit, have a fever and cough, or appear restless, sick, or tired and without energy. Newborns and infants may not show any signs of the infection. Symptoms may vary in certain populations. There may be a high fever and there may be blueness of the lips. Within a day or two, the symptoms typically get worse, with increasing cough, shortness of breath and muscle pain. Early symptoms are similar to influenza symptoms: fever, a dry cough, headache, muscle pain, and weakness. The symptoms of viral pneumonia usually develop over a period of several days. A patient's mental state may be confused or delirious. Lips and nailbeds may have a bluish color due to lack of oxygen in the blood. Fever may rise as high as a dangerous 105 degrees F, with profuse sweating and rapidly increased breathing and pulse rate. The symptoms of bacterial pneumonia can develop gradually or suddenly. Bacterial pneumonia, which is the most common form, tends to be more serious than other types of pneumonia, with symptoms that require medical care.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |