Do you ever know the disease called pneumonia? Pneumonia is the disease that occurs whenever there is an infection in the lung that commonly caused by the bacterial or viral infection. This pneumonia is considered as the life-threatening disease because it could inflame the lung which then can cause you having the difficulty in breathing.
Types and Causes of Pneumonia
There are several types and causes that can lead you to pneumonia. So, before you look at the symptoms of the pneumonia, you need to know the types and causes of pneumonia. Here are the types and causes of pneumonia.
- Bacterial Pneumonia. There are a lot of types of bacteria that can lead you to pneumonia, which are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Chlamydophila penumoniae, and Legionella pneumophila. The pneumonia that caused by the bacteria could affect people at any age.
- Viral Pneumonia. Viruses in the respiratory system could also lead you to the pneumonia. But, the pneumonia that caused by the viruses usually lasts in a short amount of time. The viral pneumonia often occurs in the children and elderly people. But, the viral pneumonia could be fatal in pregnant women.
- Mycoplasma Penumonia. Mycoplasma are the organisms other than viruses and bacteria that could lead you to the pneumonia in the same level in the fatality. But, mycoplasma often cause the mild cases of pneumonia in older children and also in the young adults.
- Other types of Pneumonia. The contaminants aside that already mentioned above could also lead you to pneumonia in the same fatality. The other contaminants that can lead you to pneumonia including inhaling food, dust, liquids, and gas as well as by various fungi.
Symptoms of Pneumonia
After you already know the various types and causes of the pneumonia, now you need to see the various symptoms that could happen to you as the sign that you’re having the pneumonia. Here are the various symptoms of pneumonia.
1. Cough
The first symptom that you’re having the pneumonia disease is the cough. Basically, cough is the most common things that will occur whenever you’re having the pneumonia. Cough is the reflex reaction that clears the throat from the mucus of other foreign irritants. While this cough is commonly considered as the common condition, but whenever you’re experiencing the cough for more that three weeks, that could be the sign that you’re having the cough as the sign of the more serious medical conditions, including pneumonia.
Since the most common causes of the cough is related to the infection of viruses and bacteria in the respiratory tract, there is no doubt that the cough could be the indication that you’re having the pneumonia. The treatment related to the cough that caused by the viruses and bacteria infections are:
- The doctor will prescribe you the oral antibiotics.
- The doctor will prescribe you the expectorant cough syrup.
- The doctor will prescribe you the cough suppressant that contain codeine.
2. Wheezing
The next symptom that also could indicate that you’re having the pneumonia disease is the wheezing. So, wheezing is a high-pitched sound that could be heard whenever you breathe. But, the sound could be heard more clearly whenever you’re exhaling. While most of the people think that the asthma is the common cause of wheezing, but this condition could be the sign of more serious disease, such as pneumonia.
Since one of the common serious medical conditions that can lead you to wheezing is pneumonia, you need to take this condition seriously. The common treatment related to wheezing are:
- The prescription of anti-inflammatory drugs
- Open up the breathing tubes with quick-acting medications like Bronchodilators.
3. Unexplained Fever
The next symptom that also could be the indication that you’re having the pneumonia disease is the unexplained fever. Fever is the condition when the body elevates the temperature as the response against the invaders in the body. Since the pneumonia is commonly caused by the infections in the lung from the bacteria or viruses, there is no doubt that fever could be the obvious sign that you’re having the pneumonia disease.
While most of the people think that fever is the common condition and not harmful at all, but whenever you’re suffering from the persistent fever on a regular basis and without any apparent reason, you need to seek the medical treatment as soon as possible and the doctor will treat you depends on the underlying cause. In case you have the pneumonia, the doctor will be most likely to prescribe you with the antibiotics.
4. Chills
The next symptom that also could be the indication that you’re having the the pneumonia disease is the shaking chills. So, chills is the condition whenever you feel the cold without any apparent reason at all. In the case of pneumonia, you will be likely to suffer from the shaking chills. Since chills are the condition that occurs because of the body’s response against the viruses or bacteria that invade the body, there is no doubt that chills are the sign that you’re having the pneumonia.
Whenever you’re experiencing the shaking chills, alongside with the other symptoms that will be explained in this article, you need to seek the medical treatment as soon as possible. The doctor then will try to find the main cause of the chills. In case the chills caused by the pneumonia, the doctor would be likely to prescribe you with the oral antibiotics.
5. Nausea and Vomiting
The next symptom that also could be the sign that you’re having the pneumonia disease is nausea and vomiting. Nausea is the condition whenever you have the feeling that you want to vomit, which is the uncontrollable reflex from the body to expel the contents of the stomach through the mouth. This symptom could occur as the sign that you’re having the pneumonia since nausea and vomiting is the condition that commonly caused by the invasion of bacteria and viruses in the body.
Whenever you’re having the nausea and vomiting that lasts for several weeks without any apparent reason, you need to seek the medical treatment since it is the sign that you’re having the serious medical condition like pneumonia.The doctor then could prescribe you some medications like promethazine, diphenhydramine and trimethobenzamide to relieve the symptom of nausea and vomiting.
6. Shortness of Breath
The next symptom that also could be the sign that you’re having the pneumonia disease is the feeling of shortness of breath. So, shortness of breath is the condition that commonly described when you feel that you couldn’t get enough air while you’re breathing. Since the most common cause of the shortness of breath is related to the lung condition, this condition without a doubt will occur whenever you’re having the pneumonia disease.
So, whenever you’re having the shortness of breath together with the symptoms like cough and unexplained fever that already mentioned above, you need to seek the medical treatment as soon as possible since this is the strong sign that you’re having the pneumonia disease. The doctor then will be likely to prescribe you with the inhaler to relieve the shortness of breath feeling. In the extreme cases, the doctor will also give you a breathing machine.
7. Weakness
The next symptom that also could be the sign that you’re having the pneumonia disease is the sudden weakness. So, weakness is the condition of the body fatigue and tiredness. Whenever the people have the sudden weakness, they couldn’t move the certain part of the body properly.
In case of pneumonia, the sudden weakness could possibly happen because the infections in the lung without a doubt will affect and reduce the proper ability of the lung to supply the blood to the other parts of the body, which then will cause the feeling of fatigue and tiredness in the body.
So, whenever you’re experiencing the sudden weakness alongside with other symptoms like shortness of breath, unexplained fever, and other conditions, that could be the strong signal that you’re having the pneumonia. In case you’re having the weakness because of the abnormal thing in the lung, you might need the blood transfusion and that’s what the doctor will perform to you.
8. Confusion
The next symptom that also could be the sign that you’re having the pneumonia is the confusion. So, confusion is the condition that makes you feel that you can’t think as clear as usual. Confusion is also commonly described as the condition that makes you feel disoriented and couldn’t have the focus to do something. This confusion is closely related to the dementia.
So, whenever you couldn’t focus anymore whenever you’re doing something and have the difficult time to make the decision and concentrating about something, alongside with the other symptom like clammy skin and unexplained fever and also the sudden weakness, that could be the strong sign that you’re having the pneumonia.The doctor then will give you the best medication to cope with the confusion.
9. Sore Throat
The next symptom that also could be the indication that you’re having the pneumonia is the sore throat. So, sore throat is the condition when you feel the pain, itchiness, or irritation in the throat. Whenever you’re having the sore throat, you might face the difficulties to swallow the food and liquids. Since the main cause of the sore throat is because of the bacterial or viral infections, this disease without a doubt could also become one of the signs that you’re having the pneumonia.
So, whenever you’re having the sore throat that won’t go away after several days and accompanied with the other symptoms of the pneumonia that mentioned in this article, you shouldn’t hesitate to go to the doctor and seek for medical treatment. In the case of the pneumonia that causing the sore throat, the doctor would either give you the oral antibiotics and antiviral drugs.
10. Loss of Appetite
The next symptom that also could be the indication that you’re having the pneumonia is the loss of appetite. So, loss of appetite is the condition when you’re having the sudden loss of desire to eating even your favourite foods. This loss of appetite could occur mostly due to the sign that you’re having the infections or psychological condition. Since the loss of appetite could occur because of the infection of bacteria and viruses, there is no doubt that this condition could be the sign that you’re having the pneumonia.
So, whenever you’re experiencing the loss of appetite alongside with other symptoms that already mentioned above, you shouldn’t hesitate to call the doctor. The doctor then will perform the following tests:
- An ultrasound in your abdomen.
- Tests of the kidney, liver and thyroid functions.
- An upper gastrointestinal tests
The prescription of the nutrients through the intravenous line could be occur too if you’re suffering from the loss of appetite that causing the malnutrition in the body.
11. Chest Pain
The next symptom that also could be the indication that you’re having the pneumonia is the chest pain. So, chest pain is the condition that commonly described when you feel the aches and pain around the chest. There are a lot of possibilities why you could have the chest pain. But, the most common cause why the chest pain could occur is because there is something wrong in the lung, including pneumonia.
So, whenever you’re having the chest pain alongside with the other symptoms that already mentioned above, you need to take this thing seriously. You need to seek the medical treatment as soon as possible since this could be the strong sign that you’re having the pneumonia. The common treatment related to chest pain are:
- Taking the medication such as nitroglycerin
- Lung re-inflation for the collapsed lung, which your doctor will insert the chest tube.
- Surgical repair related to the arteries and lungs.
12. Muscle Aches
The next symptom that also could be the sign that you’re having the pneumonia disease is the muscle aches. So, muscle aches is the condition that occurs whenever you feel the pain around the muscle and this condition is very hard to differentiate with the bone aches.
So, the muscle aches. While most people think that the muscle aches could occur because the injuryin the bone or arthritis, but the other serious medical conditions such as pneumonia could also lead you to the muscle aches.
Whenever you’re having the muscle aches alongside with the sudden weakness and unexplained high fever, that could be the sign that you’re probably suffering from the pneumonia disease. The common treatments related to the muscle aches are:
- Gently stretching the muscles.
- Avoiding weight-lifting activity whenever you’re having the muscle pain.
- Doing stress-relief exercise such as yoga so that it can relieve the muscle tension.
13. Hyperventilation
The next symptom that also could be the sign that you’re having the pneumonia disease is the hyperventilation. So, hyperventilation is the condition that occurs whenever you start to breath very quickly persistently. This condition occurs whenever you’re exhaling more than you inhale and this is due to the lower carbon dioxide level that can narrow the blood vessels that supply blood in the brain.
Since the hyperventilation is commonly caused by the something wrong in the lung, there is no doubt that this condition could be the sign of pneumonia disease.
Whenever you’re having the hyperventilation, you need to seek the medical treatment as soon as possible. The doctor then would prescribe you some medications such as alprazolam, doxepin, and paroxetine. You could do some exercise to control the breathing too like:
- Breathe through pursed lips.
- Hold the breath for several seconds.
- Attempt to breath in the belly rather than in the chest.
- Breathe into the paper bag.
14. Heart Palpitation
The next symptom that also could be the indication that you’re having the pneumonia is the heart palpitation. So, heart palpitation is the sensation that your heart skipped a beat or add the extra beat. So, as the simple word, the heart palpitation is the condition that occurs whenever you feel that the heart rhythm is pretty abnormal, which then will make you aware about the health of your heart.
While the heart palpitation could occur because you’re taking too much caffeine, but this condition could be the sign of the serious medical conditions like pneumonia too.
Whenever you’re having the heart palpitation with the other symptoms of pneumonia that already mentioned above, you need to seek the medical treatment as soon as possible. Commonly, the treatment of the heart palpitation is related to the underlying cause. So, if the doctor couldn’t find the main cause that can lead you to the heart palpitation, they couldn’t give you the treatment. In case that you’re having the heart palpitation because of pneumonia, the doctor would be likely to prescribe you with the oral antibiotics.
15. Hyperhidrosis
The next symptom that also could be the indication that you’re having the pneumonia disease is the hyperhidrosis. So, hyperhidrosis is the condition whenever you’re feeling the excessive sweating, eventhough in the unusual condition like in the cooler weather, or without any apparent reason at all. In case you’re having the hyperhidrosis because of pneumonia disease, this is classified as the secondary generalized hyperhidrosis, which is the excessive sweating that caused by the serious medical conditions.
So, whenever you’re having the excessive sweating, you need to seek the treatment as soon as possible. You could either treat in in the home or in the hospital. The common treatments related to the hyperhidrosis are:
- Specialized Antiperspirant. Your doctor might give you the specialized antiperspirant that contains aluminum chloride.
- Iontophoresis. This is the procedure that uses the device that can deliver the low electrical currents while you’re submerged in the water, which then could block the sweat glands temporarily.
- Anticholinergic Drugs. The doctor might also could give you the anticholinergic drugs to relieve the generalized sweating.
- Home Remedies. You could treat hyperhidrosis on your own by bathing daily to get rid of the bacteria, changing the socks frequently, or using the over-the-counter antiperspirant on the affected area.
16. Clammy Skin
The next symptom that also could lead you to the pneumonia disease is the clammy skin, which is closely related to the hyperhidrosis. So, clammy skin is the condition that occurs whenever you’re having the sweaty skin. In the case that you’re having the clammy skin without any apparent reason at all, even in the unusual condition like in the cool weather, you shouldn’t ignore this problem.
So, whenever you’re having the clammy skin alongside with the other symptoms of pneumonia like the shortness of breath, unexplained fever, and heart palpitation, you need to seek the medical attention as soon as possible. The common treatment related to the clammy skin basically depends on the underlying cause. In case you’re having the clammy skin because of the pneumonia, the doctor would prescribe you with the oral antibiotics.
17. Blood Tinged Sputum
The next symptom that also could be the indication that you’re having the pneumonia is the blood tinged sputum. So, blood tinged sputum is the condition whenever your sputum have the visible streaks of blood in it. Well, this blood that come out alongside from the body is commonly coming from the respiratory tract or digestive system, which including the lungs. This blood tinged sputum could be the strong sign that you’re having the pneumonia disease.
So, whenever you’re having the blood tinged sputum, you need to seek the medical treatment as soon as possible since this is the sign of pneumonia disease. Basically, the treatment of the blood tinged sputum is depending on the underlying cause. In case you’re having the pneumonia, the doctor might prescribe you with the antibiotics.
For people who already have the massive loss of blood because of the blood tinged sputum, the treatment will focus on stopping the bleeding and preventing aspiration, which happen when there are foreign materials like bacteria and viruses that cause an infection in the lungs. The other treatment related to blood tinged sputum are:
- Taking antivirals such as Tamiflu.
- Taking cough suppressants for prolonged flu.
- Drinking plenty of fluids on a regular basis.
- Having the surgery if there are any tumors that can cause the blood clots.
18. Discoloration of Skin
The next symptom that also could be the indication that you’re having the pneumonia disease is the discoloration of skin or commonly called as cyanosis. So, the cyanosis is commonly described as the bluish tint in the skin, fingernails, and fingertips. Commonly, cyanosis is the medical condition that could appear because of the abnormalities in the lung, blood, or heart. So, there is no doubt that the discoloration in the skin could be the indication that you’re having the pneumonia.
So, whenever you’re experiencing the discoloration in the skin, you should go to the doctor and seek the medical treatment as soon as possible since it could be the sign of serious medical conditions like pneumonia. The doctor then will try to find the main cause of the discoloration in the skin, and then give you the proper treatment. In the case of pneumonia, the doctor would prescribe you with either antibiotics and antiviral drugs.
How to Treat Pneumonia
Now, after you already know the various symptoms that could be the indication that you’re having the pneumonia, you need to know too how to treat this disease as early as possible, so that it won’t affect your health so badly in the future. So, here are the various treatments that could be done to cure you from the life-threatening disease like pneumonia disease.
- General Treatment
The general treatment of the pneumonia will be performed by the doctor no matter the causes of your pneumonia. The general treatment related to the pneumonia disease is taking the prescribed medications from the doctor and also participating in the follow-up care such as the chest X-ray to monitor and ensure that the pneumonia disease is already fully treated.
- Bacterial Pneumonia Treatment
The second type on how to treat pneumonia is depending on the cause that can lead you to the pneumonia disease. The common cause of the pneumonia is basically because of the bacterial infections. Whenever the doctor says that the pneumonia is caused by the bacteria, they then will prescribe you with antibiotics and you must use those antibiotics until the pneumonia is fully cured. Whenever you’re stop using the antibiotics whenever the pneumonia is not fully cured, this disease may return again in the future.
- Viral Pneumonia Treatment
The third factor that also could lead you to the pneumonia aside from the bacterial infections is the viral infection. Whenever your doctor indicates that you’re having the pneumonia because of the viral infections, the application of antibiotics would be useless. So, the certain antiviral drugs would be prescribed to you to relieve the symptoms of pneumonia and cure you from this life-threatening disease.
How to Prevent Pneumonia
While the pneumonia could be cured by several antibiotics or antiviral drugs, but we must agree that the prevention act would be better instead of cure it whenever you already suffer from the pneumonia. So, since the asthma, diabetes, and other severe health conditions could lead you to pneumonia, you need to maintain the healthy lifestyle and eating healthy foods.
In the matter of fact, quitting smoking could be one of the most important factors whenever you want to stay away with the pneumonia disease. However, taking the vaccines against the bacterial pneumonia would be beneficial too to protect yourself from pneumonia.
Now you already know everything that you need to know about the various symptoms of the pneumonia, alongside with the causes, treatments, and how to prevent it. Although pneumonia is the life-threatening disease, but pneumonia is totally preventable and you could protect yourself from this disease if you apply the healthy lifestyle.