how do i know if i have pneumonia?

Question

what are the signs, I am having a hard time breathing and i try to cough cuz i can feel something in my chest. but when i do it just hurts real bad on my right lung. I feel so short of breath. What could i have and should i go to the doctor

Answer 1

Hi,

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs caused by infection with bacteria, viruses or other organisms. Usually these organisms enter the lungs through the air that is breathed. Pneumonia may also be caused from infections that spread to the lungs through the blood stream from other parts of the body.

The body's defence mechanisms normally protect the lungs from infection. If these mechanisms are weakened as in patients with chronic illnesses such as malignancy, diabetes, HIV infection, alcoholism, liver cirrhosis and asthma, then bacteria or other organisms produce pneumonia.


The symptoms of bacterial pneumonia include fever, chest pain, cough, chills, shortness of breath and rapid breathing. Older people may be very sick yet may have few symptoms. Coughing up sputum or phlegm containing pus or blood is an indication of serious infection. In very sick cases, the skin may appear bluish (cyanosis), breathing is laboured and heavy and the patient is confused due to insufficient oxygen in the blood.


In many cases the physician is able to make a diagnosis on the clinical history and physical examination. Sometimes, the physician may advise blood tests and sampling of the sputum or phlegm that is coughed up. A chest X-ray is done to confirm the diagnosis and identify if there is pleural effusion. CT scan may be necessary in some instances.

Sometimes, obtaining fluid from the pleural space (with syringe and needle) or inserting a flexible bronchoscope into the trachea under local anaesthesia may be necessary for diagnosis and treatment.

The treatment

For severe pneumonia, antibiotics are administered into the vein (intravenous). These may be given for 5 to 10 days or even longer. All antibiotics carry some risk for allergic reactions, which can be serious in some cases. Some commonly used antibiotics include penicillins, ampicillin, amoxycillin, cephalosporins and aminoglycosides.

Fever may need to be controlled by acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Steam inhalation helps soothe the air passages and relieve cough. Patients with lung abscess, empyema or other complications may require an operation.

Chest physiotherapy including coughing, deep breathing exercises and chest tapping are important to help remove the mucous and pus from within the lungs.



A healthy diet, regular physical exercises and deep breathing exercises, all help maintain the body's defence mechanisms. One must avoid close contact with people who have flu or cold, or are coughing.

Answer 2

Having a hard time breathing, feeling chest congestion. Painful coughs. Short of breath. You could have everthing from a cold to pneumonia to asthma to lung cancer, and the only way to know for sure is to go to the doctor

Answer 3

You should see a Dr have an x-ray taken and see what the blood oxygen saturation level is.
Pneumonia is painful in more than just your chest. You would have a high fever and NO energy. I mean, it can feel like your dead at times. It is miserable. last time I had it was cocci-pneumonia in both lungs but it was still just as painful as just pneumonia.
Just go to the Dr

Answer 4

You are not usually deathly ill with pneumonia unless it is untreated or your immune system is compromised. With pneumonia you usually have a fever, shortness of breath, you do not always have a cough. You will need a chest Xray to determine if this is pneumonia or just a upper respiratory infection.

Answer 5

Go to the doctor. They can listen to your breathing and take an x-ray of your lungs.

You could have what is called "walking pneumonia" which doesn't make you as sick at first - but can get really bad.

Go to the DOC

Answer 6

if you have fever and your chest is jumping up and down when you breath it may be pneumonia. Otherwise it is a case of lungs membrane inflammation. take a cup of hot black coffee with two half boiled eggs (if you don't have the symptoms of Pneumonia as described above in this case rush to the GP) also consult your GP.

Answer 7

Yes, go asap, plez. I've had it before, i get it every winter actually, the dr. will usually prescribes a antibotic and it helps your body fight it off-i think.

Sounds like it; breathing in feeling it down in your chest. All i can think of it being, is pneumonia, srry. Go to a dr. thou they can examine you and take and x-ray to be sure.

Answer 8

Could be bronchitis

So to a doctor and you will probably get an antibiotic.

If it is a Virus you will just be told to get rest and drink plenty of fluids.

Answer 9

The harsh facts are stop hanging around and get to your doctors

Answer 10

You should go to the doctor.