Bacterial Pneumonia Symptoms

Doctors often refer to typical and atypical pneumonias, based on the signs and symptoms of the condition. This can help to predict the type of bacteria causing the pneumonia, the duration of the illness, and the optimal treatment method.

• Typical pneumonia comes on very quickly.
  
  
  • Typical pneumonia usually results in a high fever and shaking chills.
    
    
  • Typical pneumonia usually leads to the production of yellow or brown sputum when coughing.
    
    
  • There may be chest pain, which is usually worse with breathing or coughing. The chest also may be sore when you touch or press it.
    
    
  • Typical pneumonia can cause shortness 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.
    
    
  • Older people can have confusion or a change in their mental abilities as a sign of pneumonia or other infection.
  
  
• Atypical pneumonia has a gradual onset.
  
  
  • It is called "walking pneumonia."
    
    
  • Sometimes it follows another illness in the days to weeks before the pneumonia.
    
    
  • The fever is usually lower, and shaking chills are less likely.
    
    
  • There may be headache, body aches, and joint pain.
    
    
  • Coughing may be dry or produce only a little sputum. You may not have any chest pain.
    
    
  • Abdominal pain may be present.
    
    
  • There may be other symptoms, such as feeling tired or weak.

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