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Community Acquired Pneumonia sometimes presents after a cold, the flu, or any condition that damages the defenses of the airways that would allow bacteria to infect them. The symptoms of CAP can vary and generally overlap with other symptoms of the common cold or flu. This variability makes it sometimes difficult to recognize pneumonia. Many people attribute it to a cold that just won’t go away. However, CAP can be life-threatening or even fatal if it is not properly treated.
Some symptoms that you may notice with community acquired pneumonia include, but are not limited to:
- shaking and chills
- fever
- a cough that produces sputum—usually rust colored (or burnt orange)
- shortness of breath
- chest pain worsened by deep breathing or coughing
- night sweats
Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:
- Headache
- Excessive sweating and clammy skin
- Loss of appetite
- Excessive fatigue
- Confusion in older people
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