When To Get Worried About Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a type of lung infection that may affect one or both lungs. In this condition, the air sacs, also known as alveoli, fill with pus or fluid which makes it difficult to breathe. Moreover, pneumonia is known to cause inflammation in the air sacs. This disease may range from mild to life-threatening and the severity depends on the cause of inflammation, the organism fostering your infection, your age and general health. 

Symptoms of pneumonia in adults
The symptoms of pneumonia in adults include:

• Fatigue
• Fever
• Coughing up slightly bloody, brown or green mucus
• Weakness
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Chest pain

The milder forms of this disease do not disturb the regular functions of the affected individual and are called “walking” pneumonia.

Signs of pneumonia in children
Unlike adults, kids suffering from pneumonia might not experience a fever or a nagging cough. They might have more subtle signs of this infection. However, children have relatively higher chances of being infected because they do not have fully developed immune systems. Overall, the signs of pneumonia vary according to the age of an individual.

Pneumonia caused by bacteria like Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae generally results in milder signs of the disease in kids. This kind of pneumonia is called walking or atypical pneumonia and is generally found among school-going children. Children suffering from mild pneumonia might not feel very sick, but they can have one or more of the following symptoms:

• Low-grade fever
• Dry cough
• Tiredness
• Headache

Irrespective of the age of an individual, it is always important to consult a specialist after determining the symptoms of pneumonia. Remember, it is a deadly disease and needs timely treatment.