What is the first stage of pneumonia?

1. Congestion. This is typically the first stage of infection that occurs after a pneumonia infection has dominated one of the lobes in your lung. The congestion stage typically lasts around 24 hours, and your lungs become inflamed, red, and weighed down by infection.

What are the 4 stages of viral pneumonia?

As pneumonia progresses, it has four stages: Congestion, red hepatization, gray hepatization, and resolution. You'll typically feel worse during the first three stages before feeling better during the final stage when the immune cells clear the infection.

What is the beginning stage of pneumonia?

Early symptoms are similar to influenza symptoms: fever, a dry cough, headache, muscle pain, and weakness. Within a day or two, the symptoms typically get worse, with increasing cough, shortness of breath and muscle pain. There may be a high fever and there may be blueness of the lips.

What are the danger signs of pneumonia?

See your doctor if you have difficulty breathing, chest pain, persistent fever of 102 F (39 C) or higher, or persistent cough, especially if you're coughing up pus. It's especially important that people in these high-risk groups see a doctor: Adults older than age 65.

How is early stage pneumonia treated?

Mild pneumonia can usually be treated at home with rest, antibiotics (if it's likely be caused by a bacterial infection) and by drinking plenty of fluids. More severe cases may need hospital treatment.

Pneumonia - causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, pathology

Can pneumonia go away on its own?

Viruses that infect the respiratory tract may cause pneumonia. Viral pneumonia is often mild and goes away on its own within a few weeks. But sometimes it is serious enough that you need to get treatment in a hospital.

How long does pneumonia last if caught early?

It may take time to recover from pneumonia. Some people feel better and are able to return to their normal routines in 1 to 2 weeks. For others, it can take a month or longer. Most people continue to feel tired for about a month.

What hurts with pneumonia?

Chest pain is one of the most common symptoms of pneumonia. Chest pain is caused by the membranes in the lungs filling with fluid. This creates pain that can feel like a heaviness or stabbing sensation and usually worsens with coughing, breathing or laughing.

When should I go to the ER for pneumonia?

See your doctor to rule out pneumonia if shortness of breath, cough, or chest congestion also develop. Seek emergency care at a Dignity Health ER or urgent care clinic for the following symptoms: Bluish color of the lips or fingernails. Confusion or lethargy.

What does a pneumonia cough sound like?

Bacterial pneumonia is more serious and often results in a gurgling sound when breathing and mucus or phlegm when coughing.

How do you check for pneumonia?

A chest X-ray is often used to diagnose pneumonia. Blood tests, such as a complete blood count (CBC) see whether your immune system is fighting an infection. Pulse oximetry measures how much oxygen is in your blood. Pneumonia can keep your lungs from getting enough oxygen into your blood.

How quickly should pneumonia be treated?

Pneumonia can be serious so it's important to get treatment quickly. The main treatment for bacterial pneumonia is antibiotics. You should also rest and drink plenty of water. If you're diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia, your doctor should give you antibiotics to take within four hours.

What are mild symptoms of pneumonia?

Common symptoms of pneumonia include: a cough – which may be dry, or produce thick yellow, green, brown or blood-stained mucus (phlegm) difficulty breathing – your breathing may be rapid and shallow, and you may feel breathless, even when resting. rapid heartbeat.

What not to do when you have pneumonia?

Don't try to run back to work and infect everyone else. Rest until you feel better. Whatever you do, don't smoke, it will only make your pneumonia worse. If your pneumonia is really severe or you have another serious health problem, your doctor may recommend that you get treated in the hospital.

Does pneumonia get worse at night?

Walking pneumonia usually indicates a more mild pneumonia caused by a bacteria called mycoplasma pneumoniae. If you have walking pneumonia, your symptoms will be mild and you'll probably function normally. Walking pneumonia symptoms include: Dry cough that's persistent and typically gets worse at night.

How do doctors know if pneumonia is viral or bacterial?

The radiograph still remains the reference standard for a medical diagnosis of pneumonia, and also helps to differentiate between bacterial and viral pneumonia. However, a combination of clinical symptoms, exam findings, and imaging is the best way to uncover the most likely culprit.

What is the best antibiotic to treat pneumonia?

The first-line treatment for pneumonia in adults is macrolide antibiotics, like azithromycin or erythromycin. In children, the first-line treatment for bacterial pneumonia is typically amoxicillin.

Does pneumonia come on suddenly?

Bacteria and viruses are the most common causes of pneumonia. Fungi and parasites can sometimes cause it. When the cause is bacteria, the illness can come on either slowly or quickly.

How do you sleep with pneumonia?

Is it better to sit up or lie down with pneumonia? Whether you're in bed or resting on the couch, you may find it more comfortable to sit up or prop yourself up with extra pillows. That's because an upright position allows the congestion to drain from your nose and throat more easily.

Can someone with pneumonia be contagious?

Pneumonia is swelling (inflammation) of the tissue in one or both lungs. It's usually caused by an infection, most commonly bacteria and viruses, which are both contagious.

Is mucinex good for pneumonia?

Symptoms of both viral and bacterial pneumonia can be treated with expectorant (not suppressant) cough medicines like Mucinex or Robitussin decongestants or nasal sprays; increased hydration; inhaled medications like Mucomyst or Albuterol; and nebulizers using distilled water, saline solution or other medication, ...

What is the main cause of pneumonia?

Viruses that infect your lungs and airways can cause pneumonia. The flu (influenza virus) and the common cold (rhinovirus) are the most common causes of viral pneumonia in adults. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of viral pneumonia in young children.

How can I tell if I have walking pneumonia?

Does pneumonia show up on xray?

Chest x-ray: An x-ray exam will allow your doctor to see your lungs, heart and blood vessels to help determine if you have pneumonia. When interpreting the x-ray, the radiologist will look for white spots in the lungs (called infiltrates) that identify an infection.

Does albuterol help pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a serious lung infection. It often causes a buildup of mucus in the lungs that can make it hard for you to breathe. Albuterol doesn't treat the pneumonia infection itself. But albuterol can improve your breathing by loosening the mucus in your lungs.