A pneumonia diagnosis is more likely if the patient also has a fever (except neonatal diagnosed with afebrile Chlamydia trachomatis pneumonia) and auscultatory findings that include abnormal breathing sounds, abnormal percussion findings, and crepitations.Ĭhest X-ray of a patient with Q fever. A patient with pneumonia will often continue to have an upper respiratory tract infection and develop respiratory symptoms that indicate a lower respiratory tract infection – cough, dyspnea, sputum production, and tachycardia. Getting the right treatment will help you feel better more quickly.Many patients diagnosed with pneumonia mention that they have previously had similar symptoms, flu, or upper respiratory tract infection. If you have pneumonia signs or symptoms, don’t wait too long before you contact your doctor. Most over-the-counter medications should work, but your doctor may recommend specific medications.
Pain reliever/fever reducer to help bring down your fever and pain symptoms.Cough medicine to help reduce coughing and allow for more rest.More than one type of antibiotic may be needed to treat your pneumonia. Antibiotics, which target and treat bacterial infections.However, your doctor may choose to hospitalize you if you’re risks of getting worse are high or your symptoms are severe. In most cases, you can be treated at home. Once you’ve been diagnosed, your doctor can begin treating your pneumonia. Pulse oximetry, which measures the oxygen level in your blood.A sputum test that takes a sample of fluid from your lungs after a deep cough.A chest x-ray, which will help your doctor determine where your infection is located and how bad it is.To diagnose pneumonia your doctor may perform: Thankfully, your doctor should have a better idea. You might have a difficult time determining if you have a simple cough or if you have pneumonia. If you’re at risk, contact your doctor right away if you start showing symptoms of pneumonia. Individuals undergoing chemotherapy or taking medications that suppress the immune system.
If you have walking pneumonia, your symptoms will be mild and you’ll probably function normally. Walking pneumonia usually indicates a more mild pneumonia caused by a bacteria called mycoplasma pneumoniae. Cough that produces discolored mucus and continues to get worse.If you have bacterial pneumonia, your symptoms will be more serious and noticeable than non-bacterial pneumonia. A bacterial infection often follows a viral infection that causes a cold or the flu. Bacterial Pheumoniaīacterial pneumonia is the most common type of pneumonia. There are several types of pneumonia, but the most common include bacterial and non-bacterial. Pneumonia symptoms and their severity vary depending on the type of pneumonia you have.