Pneumonia symptoms in adults and children

Pneumonia is a respiratory disease caused by viruses, bacteria or fungi that can cause symptoms such as fever above 37.8ºC, difficulty breathing, feeling short of breath and chills.

Pneumonia is a contagious disease that causes inflammation of the lung and accumulation of fluid within the pulmonary alveoli. When the infection affects different regions of the lung, it is called Bronchopneumonia.

Pneumonia symptoms can appear suddenly or gradually, appearing when the immune system is weakened, such as after a flu or cold that does not go away or worsens over time. Pneumonia can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites, but the most common are bacterial pneumonias that are treated with antibiotics. See how to identify if it is a bacterial pneumonia.

Alveoli with pneumonia

What are the main symptoms

Although there are different types of pneumonia, in most cases, the symptoms are similar, varying only the treatment indicated by the pulmonologist. To find out if you may have pneumonia, select your symptoms:

1. 1. Fever above 37.5º C Yes No
2. 2. Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath Yes No
3. 3. Breathing faster than normal Yes No
4. 4. Dry cough Yes No
5. 5. Cough with greenish phlegm or blood Yes No
6. 6. Chest pain Yes No
7. 7. Constant headache Yes No
8. 8. Frequent tiredness or muscle pain Yes No
9. 9. Intense night sweats Yes No

These symptoms can also vary slightly depending on whether it is an adult, baby or elderly person. Thus, in addition to the symptoms indicated, a baby or child, who have more difficulty explaining what they feel, may also have other signs such as agitation, tremors, vomiting, decreased appetite and, in the case of babies, excessive crying.

In the elderly, it is possible that other symptoms may develop, such as confusion and memory loss, associated with fever, difficulty breathing and coughing.

As the doctor confirms that it is pneumonia

The diagnosis of pneumonia is usually made by assessing the symptoms and an X-ray examination to check the health status of the lungs. In addition, other tests may also be ordered, such as a conventional blood test, a catarrh test or an arterial blood gas analysis, which are used to assess changes in the blood and identify the type of infection present. Know what blood gas analysis consists of.

Treatment options

Treatment for pneumonia can be done with antibiotics, but keeping your airway clear and eating easily digestible, immunity-boosting foods are excellent ways to recover faster. Thus, the treatment indicated by the pulmonologist can be done with the following options:

1. Medicines to eliminate the virus or bacteria

In most cases, pneumonia treatment can be done at home, by taking antibiotics that fight the microorganisms responsible for causing the disease. After confirming pneumonia, in most cases, it is not possible to immediately find out which microorganism is causing the disease. However, as bacteria are the most common infectious agent, the doctor may choose to prescribe antibiotics.

In children under 1 year of age and in the elderly over 70 and who have other associated health problems, such as diabetes, the doctor may prefer that the person is admitted to receive treatment at the hospital. In the most severe cases, when practically the person cannot breathe alone, it may be necessary to stay in the ICU.

2. Home treatment

The treatment can last up to 21 days, and some precautions are recommended, which can be seen as a home treatment for pneumonia, such as:

• Drink a lot of water; Cover your mouth to cough and wash your hands regularly to prevent transmission of the disease; Avoid going to public or closed places; Make nebulizations with saline; Rest and rest, avoiding efforts; Do not take cough medicine; Avoid sudden changes in temperature.

These precautions prevent the transmission and worsening of the disease, ensuring correct recovery.

3. What to eat to recover faster

Food is also a very important factor throughout the recovery process, and it is recommended to bet on the consumption of vegetable soups, echinacea tea, garlic, onions or propolis extract. Watch the video of our nutritionist for other tips:

What are the causes of pneumonia

Some conditions that can cause pneumonia include:

• Viruses or bacteria present in the nose or throat that reach the lung; Aspiration of an object into the lungs, as can happen when the child puts a bean bean or a small toy in the nose and it will stop in the lung; Vomiting aspiration, causing inflammation of the lung tissues; use of some equipment to help breathe, such as CPAP, and it is dirty, with viruses or bacteria that go directly to the lung; admission to the hospital up to 48 hours before symptoms appear, which indicates that the virus or bacteria reached the person's lungs when they were still in the hospital but the symptoms did not begin to manifest until days later.

The people most affected are children under the age of 5 and the elderly over 70, who are in more fragile health, becoming ill more easily. However, anyone can get pneumonia, especially if they have a problem such as difficulty swallowing, failing to eliminate the phlegm or having a weakened immune system because they are being treated for cancer or HIV, for example.