Pneumonia what does it look like

This stage will occur two to three days after red hepatization and is an avascular stage. The lungs will appear to be a grayish brown or yellow color because of the disintegration of red cells. Your lungs will also appear to be paler and drier than usual. There will be a persistence of fibrin exudate during this stage. The resolution, or complete recovery, occurs when the exudate experiences progressive enzymatic digestion. This will produce debris that is eventually reabsorbed, ingested by macrophages, coughed up, or reorganized by fibroblasts.

Symptoms of pneumonia include coughing with green, yellow, or bloody mucus , fever, chills, shortness of breath, nausea, low energy, stabbing chest pains, shallow breaths, and a loss of appetite. With bacterial pneumonia, a person may have a high fever. They may also have blue lips of nail beds, which is due to a low amount of oxygen in the blood. Viral pneumonia can develop over a few days and has symptoms similar to those of influenza.

These include fever, headaches, muscle pains, weakness, and a dry cough. If these symptoms get worse within a few days and include fever and blue lips, a person should seek out medical attention. Depending on the type of pneumonia, some may not even display symptoms. In older adults and infants, it is common to see less symptoms.

An infant may vomit, cough, and display restlessness while an older adult may have a low temperature and sudden mental confusion.

While pneumonia does not initially infect everyone, some of the germs associated with pneumonia can spread between individuals. Many viruses that easily spread between people can cause pneumonia. How does pneumonia spread? Pneumonia can be spread by coughs or sneezes that are not appropriately covered, sharing drinks or eating utensils, from touching objects used by a carrier like tissues , and especially from not regularly washing your hands.

If you believe that you have contracted pneumonia, it is important to seek out help as soon as possible. We are fully equipped to diagnose and treat pneumonia, as well as other infections. With our help, we can get you started on proper medication and feeling better. Computed Tomography Scan. Blood Pressure Check. In adults, the most common cause of viral pneumonia is the influenza virus. In children, the most frequent cause is respiratory syncytial virus.

Many other virus types may cause viral pneumonia, including :. Viral pneumonia symptoms are very similar to those of bacterial pneumonia. However, a person may experience additional symptoms , such as:. Fungal pneumonia is more likely to affect people who have a chronic underlying health condition or a weakened immune system due to disease or the use of immunosuppressant medications.

The most common type of fungal pneumonia in such populations is pneumocystis pneumonia PCP. Pneumocystis jirovecii is the fungus that causes PCP. The fungus attaches itself to the tiny air sacs, or alveoli, within the lungs, prompting the immune system to launch an inflammatory response. It is this response that causes damage to the lungs. A person may also develop fungal pneumonia following exposure to fungal spores from soil.

The following types of pneumonia-causing fungi exist in soil in some areas of the United States:. Symptoms of fungal pneumonia include :. Although viral and bacterial pneumonia symptoms can be very similar , there are some key differences between the two. The section below outlines some examples. The symptoms of pneumonia can vary across different age groups. Babies and infants may not show any signs of infection.

If symptoms do appear, they may include:. According to the American Lung Association ALS , older adults are more likely to experience fewer and milder symptoms of pneumonia compared with people in younger age groups. However, older adults are at increased risk of developing a sudden change in mental awareness as a result of pneumonia. Pneumonia, the common cold , and the flu are different respiratory conditions. The table below outlines the similarities and differences in symptoms among these three conditions.

There are several steps a person can take to help their body heal from pneumonia. Examples include:. Learn more about home remedies for pneumonia here. Doctors will prescribe antibiotics for people with bacterial pneumonia. A doctor may ask a person to come back within 2 days to assess the treatment and to make sure that people do not require hospitalization.

A doctor may also suggest that a person does the following to reduce their risk of bacterial pneumonia in the future:. A doctor may prescribe antiviral medication for viral pneumonia. However, many people will recover simply by resting and managing their symptoms at home.

If a person has both viral and bacterial pneumonia, their doctor may also prescribe antibiotics. If a person has fungal pneumonia, a doctor may prescribe a course of oral or intravenous therapy.

This may consist of an antifungal treatment along with possibly glucocorticoids to reduce lung inflammation. Bacterial , viral , and fungal infections can cause pneumonia.

Bacteria are the most common cause. Bacterial pneumonia can occur on its own. It can also develop after you've had certain viral infections such as a cold or the flu. Several different types of bacteria can cause pneumonia, including. Viruses that infect the respiratory tract may cause pneumonia. Viral pneumonia is often mild and goes away on its own within a few weeks. But sometimes it is serious enough that you need to get treatment in a hospital. If you have viral pneumonia, you are at risk of also getting bacterial pneumonia.

The different viruses that can cause pneumonia include. Fungal pneumonia is more common in people who have chronic health problems or weakened immune systems. Some of the types include.

The symptoms can vary for different groups. Newborns and infants may not show any signs of the infection. Others may vomit and have a fever and cough. They might seem sick, with no energy, or be restless. Older adults and people who have serious illnesses or weak immune systems may have fewer and milder symptoms. They may even have a lower than normal temperature.

Older adults who have pneumonia sometimes have sudden changes in mental awareness. Sometimes pneumonia can be hard to diagnose. This is because it can cause some of the same symptoms as a cold or the flu. It may take time for you to realize that you have a more serious condition.

If you are in the hospital, have serious symptoms, are older, or have other health problems, you may also have more tests, such as. Treatment for pneumonia depends on the type of pneumonia, which germ is causing it, and how severe it is:.

You may need to be treated in a hospital if your symptoms are severe or if you are at risk for complications.