Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFrequent SymptomsWalking PneumoniaComplicationsFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Pneumonia GuideCauses and Risk Factors of Pneumonia
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Frequent Symptoms
Walking Pneumonia
Complications
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Pneumonia Guide
Pneumonia, an infection in your lungs, can affect anyone, but children under age 2 and adults over 65 are at the highest risk of developing it and having more serious cases.Symptoms in children include fever, fast breathing, no energy, vomiting, and cough.
In adults, symptoms can be similar to a cold, progressing to a fever, chest pain, muscle aches, shortness of breath, chills, and a productive cough, though some people may first only experience fever and malaise.
In young children, pneumonia can be difficult to spot because the most common symptoms often differ from those in adults. Pneumonia may also be harder to spot in adults who are over the age of 65 because they tend to have fewer symptoms than younger adults.
Infants
Newborns and infants may not show any signs of infection at all, but if they do, symptoms can include:
Symptoms of pneumonia in children can be more subtle and varied than in adults.
Children
After having symptoms of a mild upper respiratory tract infection, such as a runny nose and mild cough, children who develop pneumoniamay worsen suddenly and develop other symptoms and signs, including:
Irrespective of the other symptoms, you should seek immediate care if therespiration rateis ever over 50 breaths per minute (BPM) in infants 2 to 12 months, 40 BPM in children 1 to 5 years, or 30 BPM in children older than 5.
Adults
Common symptoms in adults include:
2:29How Pneumonia Occurs
2:29
How Pneumonia Occurs
Walking pneumoniais the term to describe mild pneumonia that doesn’t require hospitalization. In fact, you can usually go about your normal activities if you have it. Walking pneumonia usually infects people under the age of 40, but it can infect anyone at any age.
While walking pneumonia has fairly mild symptoms, it can take a month or more to recover.
The recovery time for walking pneumonia may be extended for the very young, the elderly, and those who have a compromised immune system.
The most common symptom is a dry, hacking cough that may change to a productive cough later.In adults, other symptoms include:
The first symptoms of walking pneumonia in kids can be similar to a cold or the flu and usually begin gradually with decreased activity,fever, sore throat, and a headache.Children then develop a dry cough, which can be worse at night.
With walking pneumonia, a cough won’t resolve within a week as it might with a cold. It will continue to increase even after the other symptoms are gone and become increasinglyproductive, often with blood-streaked sputum.
Other signs and symptoms might include:
Most people recover well from pneumonia, but some develop complications, particularly those in high-risk groups such as young children, older adults, people who are hospitalized, and people with compromised immune systems.Potential complications include:
The annual death rate for pneumonia in the United States is around 44,000, most often as a result of seasonalinfluenza. Most of the deaths are seen the elderly and young children with underdeveloped immune systems.
When to See a Healthcare ProviderCall your healthcare provider if you develop breathing difficulties, chest pain, or shaking chills. Seek emergency care if your child experiences rapid breathing, shortness of breath, nasal flaring, cyanosis, or signs of dehydration
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Call your healthcare provider if you develop breathing difficulties, chest pain, or shaking chills. Seek emergency care if your child experiences rapid breathing, shortness of breath, nasal flaring, cyanosis, or signs of dehydration
Causes and Risk Factors of Pneumonia
A Word From Verywell
If you are in a high-risk group (over age 65, you’re hospitalized, or you have a compromised immune system) or have an underlying chronic condition such as asthma, heart failure, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it’s vital that you see your healthcare provider as soon as you suspect that you have an infection of any sort.
That’s not to say that anyone else with symptoms of pneumonia should ride it out. Even in people with intact immune systems, pneumonia can turn deadly if left untreated. In fact, when combined with influenza, it is the eighth leading cause of death overall in the United States.
Pneumonia affects yourrespiratory system, making it harder to get enough oxygen. This lack of oxygen weakens your body’s cells, and this is especially felt in the muscles and in a general sense of fatigue. With treatment, your symptoms will ease, but many people continue to feel tired and achy for a month.Dehydration can also contribute to muscle aches, so be sure to drink enough liquids.
No. While you may have a low-grade fever and minor aches or chills after the shot, these effects are not long-lasting or debilitating like pneumonia.The most commonly reported side effect after receiving thepneumonia vaccineis tenderness at the injection site.
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Sattar SBA, Sharma S.Bacterial pneumonia. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.
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Ebeledike C, Ahmad T.Pediatric pneumonia. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.
le Roux DM, Zar HJ.Community-acquired pneumonia in children - a changing spectrum of disease [published correction appears inPediatr Radiol. 2017 Dec;47(13):1855].Pediatr Radiol. 2017;47(11):1392–1398. doi:10.1007/s00247-017-3827-8
Palafox M, Guiscafré H, Reyes H, Munoz O, Martínez H.Diagnostic value of tachypnoea in pneumonia defined radiologically.Arch Dis Child. 2000;82(1):41–45. doi:10.1136/adc.82.1.41
Mandell LA, Wunderink RG, Anzueto A, et al.Infectious Diseases Society of America/American Thoracic Society consensus guidelines on the management of community-acquired pneumonia in adults.Clin Infect Dis. 2007;44 Suppl 2:S27-72.
Dall L, Stanford JF.Fever, chills, and night sweats. In: Walker HK, Hall WD, Hurst JW, editors. Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd edition. Boston: Butterworths. Chapter 211.
Bajantri B, Toolsie O, Venkatram S, Diaz-Fuentes G.Mycoplasma pneumoniaepneumonia: Walking pneumonia can cripple the susceptible.J Clin Med Res. 2018;10(12):891–897. doi:10.14740/jocmr3592w
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Youn YS, Lee KY.Mycoplasma pneumoniaepneumonia in children.Korean J Pediatr. 2012;55(2):42–47. doi:10.3345/kjp.2012.55.2.42
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Shebl E, Paul M.Parapneumonic pleural effusions and empyema thoracis. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.
Puligandla PS, Laberge JM.Respiratory infections: pneumonia, lung abscess, and empyema.Semin Pediatr Surg. 2008;17(1):42-52.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumonia.
American Lung Association.Pneumonia treatment and recovery.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumococcal vaccination.
Jain S.Epidemiology of viral pneumonia.Clinics in Chest Medicine. March 2017;38(1):1–9. doi:10.1016/j.ccm.2016.11.012
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National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Pneumonia.
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