It's Not Just a Cold: Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention Tips for Pneumonia

You've likely heard the term pneumonia many times throughout your life, perhaps vaguely in relation to water or cold weather. But what exactly is pneumonia? And are there ways to prevent it?

Pneumonia is an infection in one or both lungs typically caused by various types of bacteria and viruses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fungi and parasites can also cause pneumonia but this is less common.

Symptoms

Pneumonia is often mistaken for the common cold or even the flu because of the similarities in symptoms. Although they are alike in symptoms, there are ways to tell the difference between a cold and flu, which can help determine your course of action for treatment.

However, pneumonia is a very serious infection and can lead to worse symptoms, which is why it is important to know the signs.

Common symptoms of pneumonia are:

• Stabbing or sharp chest pain when breathing or coughing
• Fuzzy mental state or confusion
• Cough, which may produce greenish, yellowish or bloody mucus
• Fatigue, loss of appetite
• Fever or chills
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
• Shortness of breath
• Rapid, shallow breathing

Pneumonia is often caused by viral infections like influenza, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) or rhinovirus. Bacterial infections that can lead to pneumonia include mycoplasma pneumoniae infection and pneumococcal disease, which is the most common type of bacterial pneumonia, according to the American Lung Association.

Symptoms can vary widely and can depend on the type of germ causing the infection, your age and overall health.

Treatment

Treatment for pneumonia can vary based on many factors including the type of pneumonia you have, the severity of your symptoms, your age and other health conditions you may have.

For mild symptoms, home remedies or over-the-counter medicines to alleviate your symptoms may help along with plenty of fluids and rest. Here are some medicine cabinet essentials that include pain and fever relievers as well as decongestants and cough medicines from EvergreenHealth's Dr. Jimena Gomez Del Carpio.

For more severe symptoms, you should consider calling your doctor for an appointment, going to urgent care or seeking emergency care, if necessary. Our guide helps you determine the right level of care at the right time.

If your provider finds that your pneumonia is caused by bacteria, they may give you an antibiotic. Be sure to take the antibiotic as instructed by your provider.

If your pneumonia is caused by a virus, you may be prescribed antiviral medication.

Prevention

Taking steps to prevent pneumonia is important, especially for those who are at higher risk like older adults or children.

Vaccinations against viruses that commonly cause pneumonia are the best ways to prevent infection. These include the yearly flu shot, getting up to date on your COVID-19 vaccination and receiving your pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine if you are at high risk. Discuss with your care provider if you or your children should receive the pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine.

Additionally, not smoking and keeping good hand hygiene are great ways to prevent pneumonia.

As with many health conditions, a healthy diet, a steady sleep schedule and regular exercise also go far in helping your body fend off an infection including a lung infection.

Lastly, managing existing health conditions like asthma, COPD and diabetes is another major step in preventing a serious bout of pneumonia.