1. Take the Pneumonia Quiz
2. The Common Cold Slideshow Pictures
3. Bronchitis Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

George Schiffman, MD, FCCP

George Schiffman, MD, FCCP

Dr. Schiffman received his B.S. degree with High Honors in biology from Hobart College in 1976. He then moved to Chicago where he studied biochemistry at the University of Illinois, Chicago Circle. He attended Rush Medical College where he received his M.D. degree in 1982 and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He completed his Internal Medicine internship and residency at the University of California, Irvine.

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Medical Editor:

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.

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Your doctor will check your temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. An oximeter, small clamp-like device, which looks like a clothespin, can be put on your finger to check your blood oxygen level. Your doctor will examine you and specifically listen to your heart and lungs to help determine the cause of your symptoms and the severity of your illness. If it is possible that you have pneumonia, you will probably have an X-ray of your chest.

Influenza A and B are usually diagnosed clinically, which means the symptoms give the diagnosis. Often screening lab tests can help with the diagnosis. These tests are usually taken from secretions from your nose to help identify the organism.

• Varicella pneumonia is usually diagnosed clinically because it usually happens during an outbreak of the chickenpox. The chest X-ray is often characteristic after the infection has resolved (small round white dots seen in both lung fields).
• If your doctor suspects respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a swab of your nose secretions can be sent for testing by a laboratory. Children and infants are more likely to be tested for RSV, because this virus can be more serious in them.
• Adenovirus and parainfluenza virus are not likely to cause life-threatening illness. Tests are rarely done if these viruses are suspected to be the cause of pneumonia.

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Bacterial Pneumonia Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. People with pneumonia usually complain about coughing, fever, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Your body's imm...learn more >>

Bronchitis Bronchitis is acute or chronic inflammation of the air passages in the lungs. There are several viruses and bacteria that cause bronchitis. Exposure to pollutan...learn more >>

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