How to Identify Signs or Symptoms of Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection of one or both of the lungs, which can be caused by a virus, bacteria or fungi. Although most people recover from pneumonia when treated, it still can be a life-threatening illness. Below are some steps you can take to identify whether you have pneumonia.
Determine whether you have a high fever, sometimes as high as 104 degrees.
Determine whether you have shaking chills.
Determine whether you have a cough with sputum, which can be discolored and bloody.
Determine whether you have muscle aches or headaches.
Sometimes you can develop pleuritic chest pain. Determine whether you have any pain in the chest, especially when breathing. (If you have this symptom or you are coughing up blood, be sure to rule out blood clots and pulmonary embolism, which can be deadly).