Pneumonia is a lung infection that inflames your lung’s air sacs by filling them with fluid or pus. The common symptoms of pneumonia are cough, fever, chills, chest pain, and difficulty in breathing. Pneumonia diagnosis proceeds with the physical examination, including listening to your lungs with a stethoscope to check for bubbling or cracking sounds. If pneumonia is suspected, your doctor may recommend blood tests, chest X-rays, pulse oximetry, sputum test, etc. The primary treatment of pneumonia is antibiotics by drinking plenty of water. In addition, drugs and other treatment methods depend on how severe your pneumonia is. Treatment with antibiotics should be started as soon as possible after pneumonia diagnosis.

What is pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a lung infection in which your air sacs are filled with fluid and making it hard for you to breathe enough oxygen to reach your bloodstream. It can range from mild to severe and you have to go to the hospital. Lifestyle, smoking, and drinking alcohol excessively can raise your chances of getting pneumonia.

What are the common symptoms of pneumonia?

Your symptoms of pneumonia can vary depending on your age, causing microbe and overall health status. The common symptoms of pneumonia include:

• Chest pain
• Cough with mucus
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Fever& chills
• Sweating
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Breathing difficulty

What are the causes of pneumonia?

Bacteria, viruses, and fungi all can cause pneumonia. Common microbes which cause pneumonia are given below:

• Flu virus
• Cold virus
• RSV virus
• Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria

What is the procedure for pneumonia diagnosis?

The procedure of pneumonia diagnosis may include the following tests:

 i. Blood tests

In the blood test, infection is confirmed, and the causing microorganism such as bacteria, fungi, or virus is identified.

 ii. Chest X-ray

Chest X-ray helps your doctor in pneumonia diagnosis and pinpoint the severity and location of infection.

 iii. Pulse oximetry

When you’re suffering from pneumonia, your infection can prevent your lungs from moving enough oxygen into your bloodstream. So, pulse oximetry measures the oxygen level in the blood and diagnoses pneumonia.

 iv. Sputum test

In this test, a sample of fluid is taken from your lungs after deep coughing to determine the causing organism and location of the infection.

What kind of complications may arise after a delayed pneumonia diagnosis?

If pneumonia diagnosis gets delayed, then several complications may arise as given below:

 i. Bacteremia

In this situation, bacteria or viruses spread into your blood. As a result, septic shock or organ failure may occur.

 ii. Trouble breathing

In this situation, infection fluid spreads in the lungs, and you need to use a breathing machine till your lungs heal.

 iii. Lung abscess

In this situation, pockets of pus form inside or around your lungs.

What is the treatment of pneumonia?

Treatment of pneumonia is the next step after pneumonia diagnosis because it can be life-threatening. Treatment depends on the severity of the infection, microorganism, symptoms, and overall health status. The options for treatment include:

 i. Antibiotics

Antibiotics are prescribed to treat bacterial pneumonia. If your symptoms don’t improve, your doctor may recommend different antibiotics.

 ii. Cough medicine

This medicine is used to give you relief from deep coughing. If your cough gets worse, then your symptoms of pneumonia can’t be treated easily. So, this is the best option to eliminate your cough first of all.

 iii. Pain relievers

Your doctor may prescribe you aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen to relieve your body pain and reduce your fever.

How can one manage symptoms of pneumonia at home?

Typical antibiotics can’t work against viral pneumonia. In this condition, your doctor may prescribe your any antiviral medication to treat viral infection. Some home remedies are also very effective to manage and treat the symptoms of pneumonia at home, as given below:

• Control your fever with aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Drink plenty of water to get hydrated
• Drink warm beverages, take steamy baths, and use a humidifier to ease your breathing
• Stay away from smoking to let your lungs heal
• Get lots of rest until you’re fully recovered

Pneumonia is a lung infection that fills your lungs with fluid. Bacteria, fungi, or viruses can cause it. Common symptoms of pneumonia are chest pain, coughing, chills, vomiting, etc. Pneumonia diagnosis can be undertaken by various tests such as blood tests, chest X-rays, pulse oximetry, or sputum tests. If a pneumonia diagnosis doesn’t occur at the right time, it can lead to several complications such as lung abscess, difficulty in breathing, bacteremia, etc. After a pneumonia diagnosis, the treatment procedure is chosen based on many factors. Common options of treatment include antibiotics, coughing medicine, and fever reducer. Some home-based remedies can also help to manage the symptoms of pneumonia.