PNEUMONIA HISTORY

PNEUMONIA ILLNESS AND SYMTOMS
What Are the Symptoms of
Pneumonia?
The most common symptoms of
pneumonia are:
Cough (with some pneumonias you
may cough up greenish or yellow
mucus, or even bloody mucus)
Fever, which may be mild or high Shaking chills
Shortness of breath, which may only
occur when you climb stairs
Additional symptoms include:
Sharp or stabbing chest pain that gets
worse when you breathe deeply or
cough Headache Read More>>

Excessive sweating and clammy skin Loss of appetite,
low energy, and
fatigue Confusion, especially in older people
Symptoms also can vary, depending
on whether your pneumonia is
bacterial or viral.
In bacterial pneumonia, your
temperature may rise as high as 105
degrees F.
This pneumonia causes
profuse sweating, and rapidly
increased breathing and pulse rate.
Lips and nailbeds may have a bluish color due to lack
of oxygen in the
blood.
A patient's mental state may be
confused or delirious.
The initial symptoms of viral
pneumonia are the same as influenza
symptoms: fever, a dry cough,
headache, muscle pain, and
weakness. Within 12 to 36 hours,
there is increasing breathlessness; the cough becomes
worse and produces
a small amount of mucus. There is a
high fever and there may be blueness
of the lips. How Is Pneumonia Diagnosed? Physical
exam: Your doctor will listen
to your lungs with a stethoscope. If
you have pneumonia, your lungs may
make crackling, bubbling, and
rumbling sounds when you inhale.
You also may be wheezing, and it may be hard to hear
sounds of breathing in
some areas of your chest. Chest x-ray (if your doctor
suspects
pneumonia) Some patients may need other tests,
including: CBC blood test to check white blood
cell count Arterial blood gases to see if enough
oxygen is getting into your blood
from the lungs CT (or CAT) scan of the chest to see
how the lungs are functioning Sputum tests to look for
the organism
(that can detected by studying your
spit) causing your symptoms Pleural fluid culture if
there is fluid in
the space surrounding the lungs Pulse oximetry to
measure how much
oxygen is moving through your
bloodstream, done by simply
attaching a small clip to your finger for
a brief time Bronchoscopy, a procedure used to
look into the lungs' airways, which
would be performed if you are
hospitalized and antibiotics are not
working well How Is Pneumonia Treated? Treatment for
pneumonia depends on
the type of pneumonia you have and
how severe it is, and if you have other
chronic diseases. The goals of
treatment are to cure the infection and
prevent complications. Most people can be treated at
home by
following these steps: Drink plenty of fluids to help
loosen
secretions and bring up phlegm. Get lots of rest. Have
someone else do
household chores. Do not take cough medicines without
first talking to your doctor. Cough
medicines may make it harder for your
body to cough up the extra sputum. Control your fever
with aspirin,
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen or
naproxen), or acetaminophen. DO NOT
give aspirin to children. If your pneumonia becomes so
severe
that you are treated in the hospital,
you may receive fluids and antibiotics
in your veins, oxygen therapy, and
possibly breathing treatments. You are more likely to be
admitted to
the hospital if you: Have another serious medical
problem Have severe symptoms Are unable to care for
yourself at
home, or are unable to eat or drink Are older than 65 or
a young child Have been taking antibiotics at home
and are not getting better Viral Pneumonia Typical
antibiotics will not work for
viral pneumonia; sometimes, however,
your doctor may use antiviral
medication. Viral pneumonia usually
improves in 1 to 3 weeks. Bacterial Pneumonia Patients
with mild pneumonia who are
otherwise healthy are sometimes
treated with oral macrolide antibiotics
(azithromycin, clarithromycin, or
erythromycin). Patients with other
serious illnesses, such as heart disease, chronic
obstructive
pulmonary disease, or emphysema,
kidney disease, or diabetes are often
given more powerful or higher dose
antibiotics. In addition to antibiotics, treatment
includes: proper diet and oxygen to
increase oxygen in the blood when
needed. In some patients, medication
to ease chest pain and to provide relief
from violent cough may be necessary. Recovery A
healthy young person may lead a
normal life within a week of recovery
from pneumonia. For middle-aged
people, it may be weeks before they
regain their usual strength and feeling
of well-being.
A person recovering from
mycoplasma pneumonia may be weak
for an extended period of time.
Adequate rest is important to maintain
progress toward full recovery and to
avoid relapse.
Don't rush recovery! A A