What are the Symptoms of Pneumonia?

Signs and symptoms of pneumonia can mimic flu in the initial stages beginning with a cough and a fever. Hence it may not be apparent at the start that you have a more serious condition.

Symptoms of pneumonia can progress gradually or rapidly. The signs and symptoms may include:

• Fever (may be high up to 105 degrees).
• Lower-than-normal body temperature (in newborns, older people).
• Cough (With or without mucus. Mucus may be greenish or blood stained).
• Shortness of breath.
• Rapid breathing.
• Chills and sweating.
• Chest pain that varies with breathing (pleurisy).
• Headache.
• Muscle pain.
• Fatigue.
• Other symptoms such as nausea (feeling sick to the stomach), vomiting, and diarrhoea.

The sign and symptoms vary depending on age, the type of germ causing the infection and the general health of the person. The severity of symptoms can vary from mild to severe. Symptoms may vary in the extremes of age such as newborns and infants may have vomiting, fever or lower-than-normal body temperature, appear restless, sick or tired and without energy. They may not show the typical signs of lung infection. Similarly, older adults and people with weak immune systems may have few and milder symptoms even though the disease may be severe.

Consult your doctor immediately if you have:

• High fever.
• Shaking chills.
• Cough with phlegm (a slimy substance), which is not improving or worsens.
• Shortness of breath.
• Rapid breathing.
• Chest pain on breathing or cough.
• Starting to feel worse after a cold or flu.

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