Pneumonia symptoms can range from mild to severe. This will depend on factors such as your age, overall health, or the type of germ that is causing the infection. Mild symptoms are often similar to what you would see with a cold or the flu, but they last longer.

Other symptoms can include chest pain when you breathe or cough. Confusion can happen in people who are older. Your cough may produce phlegm. You will often feel fatigued and have a fever with sweating and shaking chills. Older adults can experience a lower-than-normal body temperature. Other potential symptoms include shortness of breath, nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting.

Newborns and infants might not show any signs of infection. Or they might vomit, appear restless or listless, have a fever or cough, or have difficulty breathing and eating.

You should see a doctor if you have chest pain, difficulty breathing, a persistent fever that is 102F or higher, or a persistent cough, especially if you are coughing up the pus.
 
It is more important for people in high-risk groups to see a doctor if they have symptoms of pneumonia. These high-risk groups include people over 65, children younger than 2, people who have underlying health conditions, people with weakened immune systems, or people who are taking medications that suppress the immune system.

People who have had heart failure or chronic lung issues are at great risk of pneumonia becoming life-threatening.

The four stages of pneumonia are:

1. Congestion – In this stage, the lungs become heavy and congested as fluid fills the lungs. You may experience coughing, heaviness in the chest, fatigue, loss of appetite, or rapid breathing.

2. Stage 2 – This is often referred to as “red hepatization.” Immune cells and red blood cells enter the lungs to fight the infection. This gives the lungs a red appearance. This is the beginning of the body’s attempt to fight the infection. However, symptoms may start to worsen. You may experience a more productive cough, shortness of breath, headache, muscle aches, fever, extreme fatigue, sweating, chills, and bluing of the lips or fingernails. Some people may experience confusion at this stage.

3. This stage is called Gary hepatization. At this stage, red blood cells will disintegrate and give the lungs a greyish color. Symptoms will usually persist.

4. This is the resolution phase. At this stage, you will start to feel better but may still have a productive cough.

Viruses, fungi, and bacteria can cause pneumonia. In the U.S., viral pneumonia is most often caused by the flu or various forms of respiratory viruses. Bacterial forms of pneumonia most often come from Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus). There are times when a clinician is not able to identify which germ caused someone to become ill with pneumonia.

Pneumonia can be acquired through community involvement, just being around others. It can be acquired during a stay in the hospital or other healthcare setting. Pneumonia can also be triggered by a ventilator if they have needed to use one. Pneumonia infections that come from the community are usually different from those that are acquired in healthcare settings.

Most people who get pneumonia will not have many difficulties and will respond well to treatment. But pneumonia can have serious effects and even be deadly for some people. People who are older and those who are very young, have a weakened immune system, or serious medical conditions that can have serious consequences from pneumonia.
 
Some of these issues are:
 
● Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a serious form of respiratory failure.
● Lung abscesses are pockets of pus in or around the lung and may require surgery.
● Repository failure can require the need for a ventilator or breathing machine.
● Sepsis is an infection in the blood and can lead to organ failure or death.
 
Visit Franklin Primary Care for comprehensive treatment of pneumonia. For more information, please contact us or schedule an appointment online. We are located at 225 Nassau Boulevard, West Hempstead, New York 11552. We serve patients from West Hempstead NY, Franklin Square NY, Garden City NY, New Hyde Park NY, Uniondale NY, Mineola NY, and North Valley Stream NY.