Pneumonia - Symptoms

Symptoms

General Symptoms. The symptoms of some bacterial pneumonias, such as pneumococcal pneumonia, develop very quickly and typically include:

• A single episode of shaking chills followed by fever
• Chest pain on the side of the infected lung. Severe abdominal pain sometimes occurs in people with pneumonia in the lower lobes of the lung
• Cough, which may be dry at first, but eventually produces phlegm (sputum)
• Night sweats
• Nausea, vomiting, and muscle aches
• Rapid breathing and heartbeat
• Shortness of breath
• Weight loss

Emergency Symptoms. Symptoms of pneumonia indicating a medical emergency include the following:

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• Blood in sputum
• Bluish-toned (cyanotic) skin
• High fever
• Labored and heavy breathing
• Mental confusion or reduced mental function in the elderly
• Rapid heart rate
• Weight loss

Symptoms in the Elderly. It is important to note that older people may have fewer or different symptoms than younger people. Symptoms may come on much more slowly. An elderly person who experiences even a minor cough and weakness for more than a day should seek medical help. Some elderly people may be confused, lethargic, and show general deterioration.

Symptoms of Atypical Pneumonia

General Symptoms of Atypical Pneumonias. Atypical pneumonia is most commonly caused by mycoplasma, Legionnaires' disease, or chlamydia and usually appears in children and young adults.

The disease progresses gradually:

• General flu-like symptoms often occur first. They may include fatigue, fever, weakness, headache, nasal discharge, sore throat, earache, and stomach and intestinal distress.
• Vague pain under and around the breastbone may occur, but the severe chest pain associated with typical bacterial pneumonia is uncommon.
• Patients may have a severe hacking cough, but it usually does not produce sputum.

Review Date: 04/13/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).