Pneumonia

Anyone can get pneumonia, but certain groups are at greater risk. These include children under 2, adults over 65, people who smoke or those with complications due to other medical conditions.

Bacterial Pneumonia Symptoms

• Shaking
• Chills
• Low energy
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Sharp or stabbing chest pain that worsens with deep breathing or cough
• High temperature
• Heavy perspiring
• Rapid pulse
• Rapid breathing
• Bluish color to lips and nailbeds
• Confused mental state or delirium
• Cough that produces greenish, yellow, or bloody mucus

Viral Pneumonia Symptoms

Same as bacterial, plus:

• Increasing breathlessness
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Weakness
• Worsening of the cough

Diagnosis is usually made based on the season and the extent of the illness. Based on these factors, your doctor may diagnose simply on a thorough history and physical examination, but may include the following tests to confirm the diagnosis:

• Chest X-Ray: A diagnostic test which uses invisible electromagnetic energy beams to produce images of internal tissues, bones, and organs onto film.
• Blood Tests: To analyze whether infection is present and if infection has spread to the bloodstream (blood cultures). Arterial blood gas testing determines if enough oxygen is in your bloodstream.
• Sputum Culture: A diagnostic test performed on material you cough up. A sputum culture is often performed to determine if an infection is present.
• Pulse Oximetry: An oximeter is a small machine that measures the amount of oxygen in your blood. To obtain this measurement, a small sensor (like a bandage) is taped onto your finger.
• Chest CT Scan: A test that takes images of the structures in your chest to see how the lungs are functioning.
• Bronchoscopy: A procedure used to look inside the airways of your lungs.
• Pleural Fluid Culture: A culture of a fluid sample taken from the pleural space (space between the lungs and chest wall) to identify the bacteria that cause pneumonia.

Specific treatment for pneumonia will be determined by your doctor based on your age, overall health, medical history, the extent of the disease and your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies. Of course, your personal opinions and preferences will also be taken into consideration. Treatments may include antibiotics for bacterial pneumonia. Antibiotics may also speed recovery from mycoplasma pneumonia and some special cases.

There is no clearly effective treatment for viral pneumonia, which usually heals on its own. Other treatment may include appropriate diet, increased fluids, oxygen therapy and medication for pain and cough.

Our pulmonary rehabilitation programs at INTEGRIS help you by creating individualized plans and education, so you can do more things you enjoy. Support services include:

• Stress management, relaxation exercises and emotional support
• Medication management
• Exercises for physical conditioning programs
• Assistance with obtaining respiratory equipment and portable oxygen
• Lung medication
• Infection control
• Oxygen and equipment