Pneumonia Signs and Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of pneumonia vary widely, differ from person to person, and mimic a bad cold or the flu. Know what needs checked.

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Pneumonia Signs & Symptoms

Helpful Highlights

When to see a provider

See a provider if your loved one has difficulty breathing, chest pain, persistent fever (≥ 102 F or 39 C), or persistent cough, especially if the cough produces discolored phlegm.

It's especially important that your loved one see a provider if they are 65 or older, have a chronic health condition (like heart or lung disease) or weakened immune system, or are receiving chemotherapy or taking medication that suppresses the immune system.

For people with heart failure or chronic lung disease, pneumonia can quickly become a life-threatening condition.

What are the signs?

Early symptoms are similar to a bad cold or the flu: fever, dry cough, headache, muscle pain, and weakness. Within a day or two, the symptoms typically get worse, with an increasing cough that starts to produce mucus, shortness of breath, and chest pain (or even stomach pain). There may be a high fever (≥102 F or 39 C), or there may be a low body temperature (below their normal), and shaking chills.

Advanced signs also include a sudden change in mental state, no appetite, extreme fatigue, and a bluish tint around the lips.

What are the symptoms?

Pneumonia symptoms can vary from so mild as to be undetectable, to so severe that hospitalization is required. How the body responds to pneumonia depends on the type of germ causing the infection, age, and overall health.

Mild signs and symptoms are often similar to those of a cold or the flu, but they last longer (more than 1-2 weeks).

What are the potential complications?

Complications of pneumonia in older adults and the elderly are pleurisies, lung abscesses, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which can lead to respiratory failure and organ damage from a lack of adequate circulating oxygen. It can also worsen pre-existing conditions.

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