Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs, causing cough with phlegm or pus, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. It can be caused by bacteria, a virus, or a fungus, and can lead to other medical troubles. Complications may include headache, muscle pain, extreme tiredness, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Older adults and people with serious illnesses or weakened immune systems may not have typical symptoms.
Symptoms of pneumonia may include fever, chills, cough, usually with phlegm, shortness of breath, muscle and body aches, loss of taste or smell, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Walking pneumonia is also a respiratory illness. Diarrhea may be a presenting symptom of bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia, more likely to occur in younger patients.
Pneumonia symptoms include chest pain when breathing or coughing, fatigue, fever, sweating, and shaking chills, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Diarrhea may be more likely to occur in younger patients.
Pneumonia is a respiratory illness that can be treated with antibiotics, such as antibiotics, if necessary. It is important to know the symptoms, where to get medical help, the treatments, what causes it, and how to prevent it. It is essential to seek medical help if you experience symptoms such as chest pain, confusion, or changes in mental awareness.
Article | Description | Site |
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8 things you should know about pneumonia | Additional symptoms may manifest as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and chest discomfort, as well as shortness of breath. The presence of certain symptoms may indicate a more severe form of the condition. | www.health.harvard.edu |
Complications of Pneumonia You Should Know | The patient presented with the following symptoms: abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, tachypnea, and fever. It is imperative that immediate medical attention be sought. | www.webmd.com |
Walking Pneumonia: What Is It, Causes, Symptoms & … | Nevertheless, the disease may also result in the onset of muscle and body aches, loss of taste or smell, diarrhea, and nausea and vomiting. Additionally, walking pneumonia is a respiratory illness. … | my.clevelandclinic.org |
📹 Why is pneumonia so dangerous? – Eve Gaus and Vanessa Ruiz
Explore how pneumonia attacks the tiny air sacs in your lungs and how your immune system works to fight off the infection.
How long do you feel unwell after pneumonia?
Recovering from pneumonia1 weekyour fever should be gone6 weeksyou should cough less and find it easier to breathe3 monthsmost of your symptoms should be gone, though you may still feel tired6 monthsmost people will feel back to normal – but for some it will take longer.
Often people with COVID-19 pneumonia are ill for longer than people with bacterial pneumonia or other kinds of viral pneumonia, especially if the pneumonia is severe or if you’re elderly. This is because the virus affects many small areas of the lung more gradually.
If you have severe COVID-19 pneumonia and you have to go into intensive care, you’ll have a follow-up consultation 4-6 weeks after being discharged from hospital, to make sure your recovery is going well. All patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 pneumonia will have a follow-up chest X-ray around 12 weeks after they are discharged.
COVID-19 pneumonia can cause long-term lung problems, including scarring of the lungs, known as pulmonary fibrosis, especially if the pneumonia is severe. We have support for people living with this condition. If you are living with long-term lung problems after COVID-19, you may benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation. Ask your GP or practice nurse about getting a referral.
Do your lungs completely heal after pneumonia?
“Once the infection is cleared with treatment, your body still has to deal with removing all of the fluid, damage and debris left behind in your lungs. This can take a few weeks, resulting in a lingering cough and reduced lung capacity,” explains Dr. Lee. “During this time, you may find physical exertion more tiring than usual.”
A more severe case of pneumonia can cause even more damage to your lungs, which can be significant and even permanent in some cases.
“After severe pneumonia, lung capacity is reduced and muscles may be weak from being so ill. Significant weight loss can further contribute to weakness and other health conditions may be aggravated due to the stress placed on the body during illness. These are all things your body will need time to recover from,” says Dr. Lee.
What is the last stage of pneumonia?
Stage 4 (resolution) is the final recovery stage and occurs during days 8 to 10. Fluids and breakdown products from cell destruction are reabsorbed. Macrophages (large white blood cells) are present and help to clear white blood cells (neutrophils) and leftover debris. You may cough up this debris. The airways and air sacs (alveoli) return to normal lung function. Any remaining lung swelling may lead to chronic lung disease (such as airway narrowing or pleural adhesions).
Pneumonia symptoms can include a cough with green, yellow or bloody phlegm or pus, chills, a fever, trouble breathing and shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pains and loss of appetite.
If you suspect you have contracted pneumonia, see your doctor promptly. Pneumonia can range from a mild illness to life-threatening complications. It is most serious for infants and young children, people older than age 65, and people with health problems or weakened immune systems. Vaccines can prevent some forms of pneumonia.
How long does it take your body to heal from pneumonia?
Some people feel better and are able to return to their normal routines in 1 to 2 weeks. For others, it can take a month or longer. Most people continue to feel tired for about a month. Talk with your healthcare provider about when you can return to your normal activities.
Ask your provider when you should schedule follow-up care. If your symptoms have not improved, your provider may use a chest X-ray to check for other conditions that may be causing them.
Your provider may suggest pulmonary rehabilitation to help you breathe better as your lungs recover. You may also need physical therapy to help you regain your strength. Physical activity can help improve your recovery.
Pneumonia can have long-term effects such as depression, and worsening heart and blood vessel diseases. Call your provider if you develop these conditions, if your symptoms suddenly get worse, or if you have trouble breathing or talking.
What are signs of worsening pneumonia?
When to call a doctor. If you think you or your child has symptoms of pneumonia, don’t wait for the disease to get even worse before you seek care. Call your doctor. And see your doctor right away if you have difficulty breathing, develop a bluish color in your lips and fingertips, have chest pain, a high fever, or a cough with mucus that is severe or is getting worse.
It’s especially important to get medical attention for pneumonia if you are in a high-risk group, including adults older than age 65, children age two or younger, people with an underlying health condition or weakened immune system. For some of these vulnerable individuals, pneumonia can quickly become a life-threatening condition.
How Is Pneumonia Diagnosed?. 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. 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.
What are the after symptoms of pneumonia?
The symptoms you are feeling, such as cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath may linger as you heal. Signs and symptoms to watch for and report back to your healthcare provider include if your fever returns, you experience chest pain or worsening shortness of breath or if you develop any new symptoms that concern you.
How Is Pneumonia Treated?. Treatment for pneumonia depends on the type of pneumonia you have, how sick you are feeling, your age, and whether you have other health conditions. The goals of treatment are to cure the infection and prevent complications. It is important to follow your treatment plan carefully until you are fully recovered.
Take any medications as prescribed by your doctor. If your pneumonia is caused by bacteria, you will be given an antibiotic. It is important to take all the antibiotic until it is gone, even though you will probably start to feel better in a couple of days. If you stop, you risk having the infection come back, and you increase the chances that the germs will be resistant to treatment in the future.
Typical antibiotics do not work against viruses. If you have viral pneumonia, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication to treat it. Sometimes, though, symptom management and rest are all that is needed.
Does pneumonia mess with your stomach?
- 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
Symptoms of pneumonia indicating a medical emergency include:
- Blood in sputum
- Bluish-toned (cyanotic) skin
- High fever
- Labored and heavy breathing
- Mental confusion or reduced mental function in older people
- Rapid heart rate
- Weight loss
What pneumonia causes diarrhea?
Pneumococcal pneumoniae is a common cause of community-acquired infections, causing up to 40 of cases and 40, 000 deaths annually in the United States. Symptoms typically include fever, pulmonary symptoms, and gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea. A 41-year-old man with a history of non-insulin-requiring diabetes mellitus presented with a 3-day history of nausea, emesis, fever, chills, and 5 to 7 watery stools daily. He had not received any antibiotic therapy in the preceding 12 months and had a temperature of 102°F. He was admitted with suspected gastroenteritis and administered intravenous ciprofloxacin and intravenous fluids. Chest radiograph revealed a left perihilar infiltrate, and stool test results were negative for leukocytes, blood, pathological bacteria or parasites, or the presence of Clostridium difficile toxin A or B. After 24 hours, blood cultures yielded Streptococcus pneumoniae. The antibiotic therapy was changed to levofloxacin, and within 48 hours, his diarrhea resolved. He was discharged 5 days after admission and completed a 14-day course of treatment with complete recovery.
The study aimed to determine the association of diarrhea with pneumococcal pneumonia and to identify cases of pneumococcal bacteremia occurring in the institution in 2002. Diarrhea was considered present if the patient complained of having 3 or more watery stools daily before admission or if 3 or more bowel movements were recorded for the first 24 hours of admission. Patients with a history of antibiotic use immediately before admission were excluded from the study.
Which organ is most affected by pneumonia?
What Is Pneumonia?. Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that may be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. The infection causes the lungs’ air sacs (alveoli) to become inflamed and fill up with fluid or pus. That can make it hard for the oxygen you breathe in to get into your bloodstream. The symptoms of pneumonia can range from mild to severe, and include cough, fever, chills, and trouble breathing.
Many factors affect how serious a case of pneumonia is, such as the type of germ causing the lung infection, the person’s age, and their overall health. The people most at risk are infants and young children, adults 65 or older, and people who have other health problems.
Pneumonia is a leading cause of hospitalization in both children and adults. Most cases can be treated successfully, although it can take weeks to fully recover. Tens of thousands of people in the U. S. die from pneumonia every year, most of them adults over the age of 65.
What are alarming symptoms of pneumonia?
What are the signs and symptoms of pneumonia?High fever (up to 105 F or 40. 55 C). Cough with yellow, green or bloody mucus. Tiredness (fatigue). Rapid breathing. Shortness of breath. Rapid heart rate. Sweating or chills. Chest pain and/or abdominal pain, especially with coughing or deep breathing.
What is pneumonia?. Pneumonia is an infection in your lungs caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. Pneumonia causes your lung tissue to swell (inflammation) and can cause fluid or pus in your lungs. Bacterial pneumonia is usually more severe than viral pneumonia, which often resolves on its own.
Pneumonia can affect one or both lungs. Pneumonia in both of your lungs is called bilateral or double pneumonia.
What’s the difference between viral and bacterial pneumonia?. While all pneumonia is inflammation caused by an infection in your lungs, you may have different symptoms depending on whether the root cause is a virus, bacteria or fungi.
Can pneumonia affect your bowels?
You may also have other symptoms, including a headache, muscle pain, extreme tiredness, nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), vomiting, and diarrhea.
Older adults and people who have serious illnesses or weakened immune systems may not have the typical symptoms. They may have a lower-than-normal temperature instead of a fever. Older adults who have pneumonia may feel weak or suddenly confused.
Sometimes babies don’t have typical symptoms either. They may vomit, have a fever, cough, or appear restless or tired and without energy. Babies may also show the following signs of breathing problems:
📹 What are the symptoms of pneumonia?
Dr. Devon Quasha discusses the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for pneumonia.
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