Pneumonia

Diagnosis & Tests

To diagnose pneumonia, your health care provider will take a detail history, do physical exam. You may need blood tests as well as a chest x-ray.

Patients with pneumonia may show the following symptoms:

  • new or increased cough; coughing up thick mucus
  • reduction in blood oxygen levels
  • new or changed lung problem
  • chest pain
  • rapid breathing at 25 breaths a minute
  • fever
  • high white blood cell count (shows infection)
  • severe changes in mental status or functional status

A person who has signs of pneumonia may have tests of their blood, urine, as well as imaging of lungs by chest x-ray.

 

Last Updated October 2022

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