When to Seek Medical Care

When to call the doctor

• If you have a fever and cough up yellow, green, or brown sputum, make an appointment with your doctor.
  
  
• If you have, shortness of breath, chest pain, or confusion, you should seek emergency care.
  
  
• If you are healthy, you can safely make an appointment to see your doctor. A day or two of waiting should not make a big difference, unless you are experiencing significant shortness of breath or if any signs of confusion are present.

When to go to the hospital

• If you have shortness of breath, you should always seek emergency care. Shortness of breath is not simply the feeling that you can't take a full breath. Shortness of breath means that you cannot take in enough air to meet your body's needs. It is a potentially serious symptom and always requires a visit to an emergency department, no matter how healthy you are.
  
  
• If you have chest pain or confusion, you should seek emergency care.
  
  
• You are at higher risk of developing pneumonia if you have the following:
  
  
  • a chronic health problem, such as diabetes,
    
    
  • a poor immune system because of HIV, AIDS, steroid use, or immune-suppressant medications (people with organ transplants take these medications),
    
    
  • diseased or damaged lungs, such as with asthma or emphysema, or
    
    
  • are very young or very old.

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