What is pneumonia? Pneumonia is an infection of the lung, which can be caused by different types of microbes, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and mycobacteria.
Pneumonia results from an infection in the lungs, and may cause many symptoms. Most of the time, it can be treated at home without the need for hospitalization. It usually lasts for two to three weeks and then goes away on its own.
Symptoms of pneumonia appear quickly, and include the following:
A cough accompanied by phlegm or mucus that may contain blood.
Fever.
Difficulty breathing.
Goosebumps.
Chest pain that worsens when coughing.
Accelerated heartbeat.
Feeling tired and exhausted.
Nausea and vomiting.
When the symptoms of pneumonia are mild, doctors call it mycoplasmal pneumonia, or what is called atypical pneumonia, or walking pneumonia. Because the affected person can walk without having difficulty breathing.
How do the symptoms of pneumonia differ between children and adults?
The symptoms of pneumonia in younger people may be a little different, as they are less severe and usually do not have a fever, but they do cough without phlegm.
As for the elderly, pneumonia may cause disturbance and confusion in mental clarity, in addition to hallucinations, which are common symptoms. If the person had a pre-existing lung disease before being exposed to pneumonia, the severity of the symptoms may worsen.
