Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a lower respiratory lung infection in one or both of your lungs. It is primarily caused by bacteria or viruses.
Once infected, the air sacs in the lungs become inflamed and fill up with fluid and pus, which can persist for weeks or cause rapid deterioration of breathing.
Signs & Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of pneumonia can vary from mild to severe. The severity of an infection depends on many factors, including your age and overall health, as well as where you may have acquired the illness.
- Cough – may produce greenish, yellow or even bloody mucus
- Fever
- Chills
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea and vomiting
Diagnosis
The doctor may review the patient’s signs and symptoms, discuss medical history, and conduct a physical examination, such as listening to your lungs with a stethoscope to check for abnormal bubbling or crackling sounds that suggest pneumonia.
The following tests may be ordered:
- Blood tests
- Chest X-ray
- Pulse oximetry
- Sputum test – sample of fluid from your lungs after a deep cough and analyzed
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan
- Pleural fluid culture – sample taken by putting a needle between your ribs from the pleural area and analyzed