Covid: ‘Three times’ more deaths than flu and pneumonia
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Pneumonia is usually caused by a bacterial infection, but it can also be caused by a virus, such as coronavirus. The symptoms of pneumonia can develop suddenly over 24 to 48 hours, or they may come on more slowly over several days. Most of the time, pneumonia is treated at home, but severe cases may be treated in the hospital.
Pneumonia can affect people of any age, but it can be more serious in certain groups of people, such as the very young or the elderly.
The NHS says that “feeling generally unwell” is a “common” sign.
The health body says: “Call 999 for an ambulance if you or someone you care for:
- Are struggling to breathe
- Are coughing up blood
- Have blue lips or a blue face
- Feel cold and sweaty, with pale or blotchy skin
- Have a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it
- Collapse or faint
- Become confused or very drowsy
- Have stopped peeing or are peeing much less than usual.
The NHS states that this cough may be dry, or produce thick yellow, green, brown or blood-stained mucus. This is known as phlegm.
If your cough is showing any of these signs, it could potentially be a pneumonia symptom.
If you have a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste, it could be COVID-19.
Other common symptoms of pneumonia include difficulty breathing and a high temperature. A person’s breathing may be rapid and shallow, and you may feel breathless, even when resting.
The NHS also states that a rapid heartbeat, sweating, shivering and loss of appetite could also be symptoms.
Less common symptoms include feeling sick and getting headaches. In some cases, people will also cough up blood, or might experience joint and muscle pain.
Feeling confused and disorientated can also be an indicator, and is particularly common in elderly people.
If you feel unwell and have any other symptoms of pneumonia, contact your GP, or if it is an emergency call 999.
The signs and symptoms of pneumonia may also include loss of appetite, according to the American Lung Association.
“How your body responds to pneumonia depends on the type of germ causing the infection, your age and your overall health,” the organisation states.
A doctor may be able to diagnose pneumonia by asking about your symptoms and examining your chest.
Complications of pneumonia are more common in young children, the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions, such as diabetes.
There are more than 30 different causes of pneumonia, and they’re grouped by the cause.
The main types of pneumonia are bacterial, viral, and mycoplasma pneumonia, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Fungal pneumonia is rare in the UK, and more likely to affect people with a weakened immune system.
People can also get it whilst in hospital, and people in intensive care on breathing machines are particularly at risk of developing ventilator-associated pneumonia.
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