Symptoms of Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a serious infection that should be treated promptly. Contact your doctor if you or your child have pneumonia symptoms.
The symptoms of pneumonia include the following:
- Fever or below normal temperature
- Chills
- Sweating
- Rapid breathing
- Cough, may be dry or may produce sputum
- Increased sputum
- Chest or abdominal pain
- Shortness of breath
- Pain through to the back
- Pain with deep breathing
- Rattle sound in the chest
- Loss of energy, fatigue
- Weakness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headache
- General muscle aches and pains
- Lack of appetite
Severe symptoms that may occur in adults, especially the elderly, include:
- Bluish color of the nails or lips due to diminished oxygen in the blood
- Mental confusion (This is common in the elderly.)
Severe symptoms that may occur in babies and young children:
- Flaring nostrils with each breath
- Chest or ribs may suck in with each breath
- Grunting sound with breathing
References
Beovic B, Bonac B, Kese D, et al. Aetiology and clinical presentation of mild community-acquired bacterial pneumonia.
Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis.
2003;22:584-591
Pneumonia symptoms diagnosis and treatment. American Lung Association website. Available at:
http://www.lung.org/lung-disease/pneumonia/symptoms-diagnosis-and.html.
Accessed October 3, 2012.
Pneumonia in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php. Updated March 25, 2013. Accessed April 3, 2013.
Pneumonia in children. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php. Updated March 18, 2013. Accessed April 3, 2013.
What are the signs and symptoms of pneumonia? National Heart Lung Blood Institute website. Available at:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/pnu/signs.html. Updated March 1, 2011. Accessed April 3, 2013.