Phenemonia. By x ray or blood sample!

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs with a range of possible causes. It can be a serious and life-threatening disease. It normally starts with a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection. The lungs become inflamed, and the tiny air sacs, or alveoli, inside the lungs fill up with fluid. Pneumonia can occur in young and healthy people, but it is most dangerous for older adults, infants, people with other diseases, and those with impaired immune systems. Symptoms usually seen are: - cough - rusty or green phlegm, or sputum, coughed up from lungs - fever - fast breathing and shortness of breath - shaking chills - chest pain that usually worsens when taking a deep breath, known as pleuritic pain - fast heartbeat - fatigue and weakness - nausea and vomiting - diarrhea - sweating - headache - muscle pain - confusion or delirium, especially in older adults - dusky or purplish skin color, or cyanosis, from poorly oxygenated blood Symptoms can vary depending on other underlying conditions and the type of pneumonia. Diagnosis is usually by: - Chest X-rays - CT scan - Blood tests measure the white blood cell count which helps determine how severe the infection is, and whether a bacteria, virus, or fungus is the likely cause. - Blood cultures may reveal whether the microorganism from the lungs has spread into the blood stream. - An arterial blood gas (ABG) - A sputum analysis can determine which organism is causing the pneumonia. - Bronchoscopy