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Doctors often refer to typical and atypical pneumonias, based on signs and symptoms. This can help to predict the type of bacteria causing pneumonia, how long you can expect to be sick, and your best treatment.
- Typical pneumonia comes on very quickly.
- You usually have a high fever and shaking chills.
- When you cough, your sputum is yellow or brown.
- You may have chest pain, which is usually worse with breathing or coughing. Your chest also may be sore when you touch or press it.
- You may be very short of breath, especially if you have any chronic lung conditions such as asthma or emphysema.
- Because chest pain also can be a sign of other serious medical conditions, do not try to diagnose yourself.
- Atypical pneumonia has a gradual onset.
- It is called "walking pneumonia."
- You may have had another illness in the days to weeks before the pneumonia.
- Your temperature is usually lower, and shaking chills are less likely.
- You may have a headache, body aches, and joint pain.
- Your cough may be dry or produce only a little sputum. You may not have any chest pain.
- You may have abdominal pain.
- You may have other symptoms, such as feeling tired or weak.
- Older people can have confusion or a change in their mental abilities as a sign of pneumonia or other infection.
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