10 Life Saving Tips If You Contract Pneumonia

Symptoms of Pneumonia

Symptoms associated with pneumonia are numerous and varied. Usually associated with a current upper respiratory infection, they can include persistent wet coughing which produces mucus, a fever alternating with the chills, difficulty breathing or a shortness of breath, pain in the chest, rapid heartbeat, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, and diarrhea. A cough in older adults may not be combined with mucus, and a fever may not be present, but they could experience confusion.

Cause Of Pneumonia

Several things, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites can cause pneumonia. A diagnosis is difficult because unless the specific cause is identified as the bacteria, Streptococcus pneumonia, most times a specific organism will not be identified. The general flu virus, influenza, can cause pneumonia, as can Mycoplasma pneumonia, and a fungus called Pneumocystis jiroveci, often discovered in people who are infected with the AIDS virus.