What Are the Lungs?
The lungs are a pair of organs in the chest which are primarily responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air we breathe and the blood. There are many conditions that can impact the health of your lungs; Asthma, COPD, Tuberculosis, Bronchitis, Pleurisy and Pneumonia.
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- What Causes Asbestos-Related Lung Diseases?
- How Are Asbestos-Related Lung Diseases Diagnosed?
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- What Is COPD?
- What Are the Signs and Symptoms of COPD?
- How Is COPD Treated?
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- What Is Pneumonia?
- What Causes Pneumonia?
- What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Pneumonia?
- How Is Pneumonia Treated?
- What Is Pulmonary Hypertension?
- What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Pulmonary Hypertension?
- How Is Pulmonary Hypertension Treated?
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What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Pneumonia?
The symptoms of pneumonia vary from mild to severe. Many factors affect how serious pneumonia is, including the type of germ causing the infection and your age and overall health. (For more information, see “Who Is At Risk for Pneumonia?” )
See your doctor promptly if you:
- - Have a high fever
- - Have shaking chills
- - Have a cough with phlegm, which doesn’t improve or worsens
- - Develop shortness of breath with normal daily activities
- - Have chest pain when you breathe or cough
- - Feel suddenly worse after a cold or the flu
People with pneumonia may have symptoms, feeling sick to your stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Symptoms may vary in certain populations. Newborns and infants may not show any signs of the infection or may vomit, have a fever and cough, or appear restless, sick, or tired and without energy.
Older adults and people who have serious illnesses or weak immune systems may have fewer and milder symptoms. They may even have a lower than normal temperature. If they already have a lung disease, it may get worse. Older adults who have pneumonia sometimes have sudden changes in mental awareness.
Complications of Pneumonia
Often, people who have pneumonia can be treated successfully and not have complications. But some patients, especially those in high-risk groups, may have complications such as:
- Bacteremia. This serious complication occurs when the infection moves into your bloodstream. From there, it can quickly spread to other organs, including your brain.
- Lung abscess. An abscess occurs when pus forms in a cavity in the lung. An abscess usually is treated with antibiotics. In some cases, surgery or needle drainage is needed to remove it.
- Pleural effusion. Pneumonia may cause fluid to build up in the pleural space, which is the space between your lungs and chest wall. Pneumonia can cause the fluid to become infected - a condition called empyema. If this happens, you may need to have the fluid drained through a chest tube or removed through surgery.
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How Is Pneumonia Diagnosed?
Pneumonia can be hard to diagnose because it may seem like a cold or the flu. People may not realize it’s more serious until it lasts longer than these other conditions.
Your doctor will diagnose pneumonia based on your medical history and the results from a physical exam and tests.
Medical History
Your doctor will ask about your signs and symptoms and how and when they began. To find out what type of germ is causing the pneumonia, he or she also may ask about:
- - Any recent traveling you’ve done
- - Your hobbies
- - Your exposure to animals
- - Your exposure to sick people at home, school, or work
- - Your past and current medical conditions, and whether any have gotten worse recently
- - Any medicines you take
- - Whether you smoke
- - Whether you've had a flu or pneumonia vaccination
Physical Exam
Your doctor will listen to your lungs with a stethoscope. If you have pneumonia, your lungs may make crackling, bubbling, and rumbling sounds when you inhale. It may be hard to hear sounds of breathing in some areas of your chest. Your doctor also may hear wheezing.
Diagnostic Tests
If your doctor suspects you have pneumonia, he or she also may order one or more of the following tests.
Chest X Ray
A chest x ray is a painless test that creates pictures of the structures inside your chest, such as your heart and lungs.
A chest x ray is the best test for diagnosing pneumonia. However, this test won’t tell your doctor what kind of germ is causing the pneumonia.
Blood Tests
Blood tests involve taking a sample of blood from a vein in your body. A complete blood count (CBC) measures many parts of your blood, including the number of white blood cells in the blood sample. The number of white blood cells can show whether you have a bacterial infection.
Your doctor also may order a blood culture to find out whether the infection has spread to your bloodstream. This test is used to detect germs in the bloodstream. It may show which germ caused the infection. If so, your doctor can decide how to treat the infection.
Other Tests
You may need other tests if you’re in the hospital, have serious symptoms, are older, or have other health problems.
Sputum test. Your doctor may look at a sample of sputum collected from you after a deep cough. This may help your doctor find out what germ is causing your pneumonia.
Chest CT scan. A chest CT scan is a painless test that creates precise pictures of the structures in your chest, such as your lungs. A chest CT scan is a kind of x ray, but its pictures show more detail than those of a standard chest x ray.
Pleural fluid culture. For this test, a sample of fluid is taken from the space between your lungs and chest wall. This is done using a procedure called thoracentesis.The fluid is studied for germs that may cause pneumonia.
Pulse oximetry. For this test, a small clip is attached to your finger or ear to show how much oxygen is in your blood. Pneumonia can keep your lungs from moving enough oxygen into your bloodstream.
If you’re very sick, your doctor may need to measure the level of oxygen in your blood using a blood sample. The sample is taken from an artery, usually in your wrist.
Bronchoscopy. Bronchoscopy is a procedure used to look inside the lungs' airways. If you’re in the hospital and treatment with antibiotics isn’t working well, your doctor may use this test.
Your doctor passes a thin, flexible tube with a camera on its tip through your nose or mouth, down your throat, and into the airways.
This test allows your doctor to see whether something is blocking your airways or whether another factor is contributing to your pneumonia.