In adults, symptoms can be similar to a cold, progressing to a fever, chest pain, muscle aches, shortness of breath, chills, and a productive cough, though some people may first only experience fever and malaise.
Frequent Symptoms
In young children, pneumonia can be difficult to spot because the most common symptoms often differ from those in adults. Pneumonia may also be harder to spot in adults who are over the age of 65 because they tend to have fewer symptoms than younger adults.
Infants
Newborns and infants may not show any signs of infection at all, but if they do, symptoms can include:
VomitingFever and coughRestlessnessLow energyDifficulty eating due to having a hard time breathing
Children
After having symptoms of a mild upper respiratory tract infection, such as a runny nose and mild cough, children who develop pneumonia may worsen suddenly and develop other symptoms and signs, including:
Fever: Sometimes the only sign that a child may have pneumonia is the presence of a fever. Wheezing: Wheezing is common, especially with viral pneumonia. Cyanosis: This is signaled by a bluish appearance to a child’s lips, nose, and fingers, which means there’s not enough oxygen in the blood. Vomiting: This is often due to labored breathing. Cough: A cough may be either dry or produce phlegm, which can be clear, white, yellow-green, or even blood-tinged. Rapid respiratory rate (tachypnea): An increased respiratory rate can be an important sign of pneumonia in children. Respiratory rate is often called the “neglected vital sign” because it is so frequently overlooked.
Adults
Because adults who are older than age 65 tend to show fewer or milder symptoms than younger adults, they are more likely to be at a dangerous point by the time they seek medical attention. There’s aren’t usually cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose or sneezing unless pneumonia is a complication of an upper respiratory infection. A quick response when any of the below symptoms are present can result in less chance of hospitalization and death.
Common symptoms in adults include:
Fever: Though you may have a fever with pneumonia, you won’t necessarily have one. Chest pain: You may have pain in your chest that worsens when you take deep breaths or cough. It may feel like an ache or pressure under your breastbone. Productive, frequent cough: This is the opposite of a dry, hacking cough, meaning that you’re producing phlegm or sputum, which is a mixture of saliva, mucus, and sometimes pus, when you cough. The sputum may be clear, but it may instead be green, yellow, or bloody. Any of these can mean you have pneumonia. Fatigue and muscle aches: You may feel a general sense of being tired and uncomfortable and/or have achy muscles or joint pain. Shortness of breath: You may feel like you can’t get enough air, even when you’re not really exerting yourself. However, this may only happen with increased activity. Sweating and chills: You may feel so chilled that it doesn’t matter how warm the room is or how many blankets you have on, you can’t get warm. You may also feel sweaty and your teeth may chatter. Headaches: This symptom sometimes occurs, and it’s more likely if you have a fever. Change in mental awareness or confusion: This is far more common in adults who are over the age of 65. Lower body temperature than normal: This symptom commonly occurs in adults over 65 and in people with compromised immune systems. Gray or bluish skin color: This usually occurs around your mouth and it means that you’re not getting enough oxygen in your blood. Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
Walking Pneumonia
Walking pneumonia is the term to describe mild pneumonia that doesn’t require hospitalization. In fact, you can usually go about your normal activities if you have it. Walking pneumonia usually infects people under the age of 40, but it can infect anyone at any age.
The recovery time for walking pneumonia may be extended for the very young, the elderly, and those who have a compromised immune system.
Adults
The most common symptom is a dry, hacking cough that may change to a productive cough later. In adults, other symptoms include:
HeadacheChest painFatigueSore throatWheezingLow-grade fever, possibly with chills
Children
The first symptoms of walking pneumonia in kids can be similar to a cold or the flu and usually begin gradually with decreased activity, fever, sore throat, and a headache. Children then develop a dry cough, which can be worse at night.
Other signs and symptoms might include:
A skin rash Crackles and wheezes in the chest Muscle aches Diarrhea Chest pain Chills Enlarged lymph glands Trouble breathing
Complications
Most people recover well from pneumonia, but some develop complications, particularly those in high-risk groups such as young children, older adults, people who are hospitalized, and people with compromised immune systems. Potential complications include:
Bacteremia: This complication occurs when bacteria from your lungs get into your bloodstream. This can cause the infection to spread to other organs and result in septic shock, which can lead to death. Pleural effusions: Sometimes people develop a pleural effusion or empyema with pneumonia. The pleura are the membranes that surround and cushion the lungs with each breath. If pneumonia occurs near the outer regions of the lung, this region can become inflamed and filled with fluid or pus. When this occurs, the fluid or pus may need to be drained. This sounds frightening, but it’s a fairly easy procedure in which a fine needle is inserted into the pleural cavity to withdraw fluid. If a large empyema is present, a chest tube may need to be placed while the infection clears. Lung abscess: These are usually treated with antibiotics, but sometimes you will need surgery or drainage with a long needle or tube to get the pus out. Respiratory failure: You may have enough trouble breathing that you need to be hospitalized and put on a respirator for a period of time.
A Word From Verywell
If you are in a high-risk group (over age 65, you’re hospitalized, or you have a compromised immune system) or have an underlying chronic condition such as asthma, heart failure, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it’s vital that you see your healthcare provider as soon as you suspect that you have an infection of any sort.
That’s not to say that anyone else with symptoms of pneumonia should ride it out. Even in people with intact immune systems, pneumonia can turn deadly if left untreated. In fact, when combined with influenza, it is the eighth leading cause of death overall in the United States.
