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Pneumonia is an inflammatory lung disease caused by fungal, bacterial or viral infection. Individuals who have a weakened immune system are most likely to contract this lung infection. If timely remedial measures are not taken to treat pneumonia it can even result in an individual’s death.
People of all age groups can be afflicted with this dangerous lung condition. However, young children, older adults and individuals who have a weak immune system are most likely to be afflicted with pneumonia. In the United States alone nearly four million people are diagnosed with pneumonia every single year.
7 Signs of Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an air borne infection which transmits from person to person via germ infected droplets. Once a person contracts this respiratory infection, it can lead to a variety of health complications including breathing difficulty and chest pain. Common signs of this lung disease have been described below.
Chest Pain
One of the first signs of pneumonia is chest pain often described by the patient as sharp or stabbing ache. The chest pain is localized only on one side of the chest (directly above the infected lung).
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Individuals suspected of having pneumonia often complain of this pain when they inhale deeply. Some patients may complain of difficulty in breathing. Along with chest pain pneumonia patients may also experience a rapid heart beat.
Cough
Accompanying the chest pain will be persistent and dry cough. Doctors may typically describe it as a ‘rattling’ cough. A lot of phlegm may come up along with the dry racking cough. Typically the mucus of pneumonia patients will have a green or rusty color.
Flu like Symptoms
Once a person contracts pneumonia they may experience flu like symptoms. Pneumonia patients may complain of fever, muscle pain, extreme tiredness and nausea.
If the flu like symptoms persists for a long period of time and does not subside despite taking regular flu medication it is indicative of more serious health complication. The intensity of fever in pneumonia patients may be such that they may also experience body shaking chills.
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Low Blood Pressure
Individuals who are infected with bacterial strain of pneumonia may experience very low blood pressure. This sustained drop in blood pressure can negatively affect the major organs of the body including the heart the brain and the kidneys.
Change in Skin Tone
There is a distinctive change in the skin tone of patients suffering from pneumonia. The change in skin color or cyanosis is caused by a dip in the blood oxygen levels. Because of a sudden plunge in the oxygen levels of the blood the skin tone of pneumonia patients may change from a healthy pinkish tone to a bluish color.
Disorientation
If pneumonia is left untreated and the infection is allowed to progress, it can even affect the central nervous system. When the central nervous system is affected it can lead to feelings of confusion, delirium or disorientation.
Headache
Pneumonia patients may also complain of a pounding headache.
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The intensity of the headache is such that normal pain killers cannot even alleviate the pain. Extreme fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting and sweating are some of the other signs of pneumonia.
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