Sign & Symptoms of Pneumonia

Symptoms of pneumonia caused by bacteria in otherwise healthy people (younger than 65) usually come on suddenly. They often start during or after an upper respiratory infection, such as influenza or a cold, and may include:

• Cough, often producing mucus (sputum) from the lungs. Mucus may be rusty or green or tinged with blood.
• Fever which may be less common in older adults.
• Shaking, "teeth-chattering" chills (one time only or many times).
• Fast, often shallow, breathing and the feeling of being short of breath.
• Chest wall pain that is often made worse by coughing or breathing in.
• Fast heartbeat.
• Feeling very tired (fatigue) or feeling very weak (malaise).
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Diarrhea

Clinical signs of pneumonia are characteristic and are referred to clinically as consolidation :

• Expansion : reduced on the affected side
• Vocal fremitus : increased on the affected side (in other chest disease this sign is of very little use!)
• Percussion : dull
• Breath sounds : bronchial breath sounds
• Additional sounds : medium, late or pan-inspiratory crackles
• Vocal resonance : increased
• Pleural rub : may be present

Definition and prevalence of pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs which is usually caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Prior to the discovery of antibiotics, one-third of all people who developed pneumonia subsequently died from the infection. Currently, over 3 million people develop pneumonia each year in the United States. Over a half a million of these people are admitted to a hospital for treatment. Although most of these people recover, approximately 5% will die from pneumonia. Pneumonia is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.