Urgent Care 101: Signs and Symptoms of Pneumonia

When it comes to pneumonia, you need the services of a primary care provider or urgent care center. While your regular doctor may be booked for the whole week, a walk-in clinic can see you on a moment’s notice. If you are coughing frequently or see unreasonably tired, you may have pneumonia. Keep reading to see the basics of this illness and how to treat it.

About pneumonia

Pneumonia can be caused by bacteria, a virus or fungi. According to the American Lung Association, pneumonia is an infection that inflames the lungs’ air sacs, which may fill up with fluid or pus. This infection causes symptoms such as a cough, fever, chills and difficulty breathing. When you experience trouble breathing, it makes it harder for you to get enough oxygen in your bloodstream to support your overall health. It is possible for pneumonia only to affect one lung, while it is more likely that both lungs will be affected.

A case of pneumonia can be mild or can be very severe. It all depends on how your body reacts to the type of pneumonia you have, how old you are and your overall health.

Signs and symptoms of pneumonia

Some people do not realize the severity of their illness. They only figure out they have pneumonia once their health has declined dramatically. The following list includes some of the more common symptoms of pneumonia that we see at our urgent care clinic.

Chest pain or trouble breathing

Experiencing chest pain is not unusual as pneumonia directly affects the lungs’ ability to work at their proper capacity. This can make it hard for you to catch your breath, especially when moving around.

A persistent, deep cough

Coughs are often persistent and can be mild or deep. If you are coughing so much that your chest is sore, you may have this illness. Pneumonia can cause you to have a dry cough or it can bring up mucus.

Extreme fatigue

Those diagnosed with pneumonia tend to be extremely tired due to the toll it takes on the lungs. This is not mere drowsiness. Instead, you will find it a challenge even to stand up and walk for a glass of water at times.

High fever

Many people who have pneumonia can have a fever up to 105 degrees. At this level, your health is in jeopardy. The Mayo Clinic recommends getting medical help when your fever passes 103 degrees.

No or low appetite

One of the more common symptoms associated with pneumonia is a loss of appetite. This can hinder your ability to recover because your body is not getting the nutrition it needs to heal.

Treatment for pneumonia

For a medical professional to determine whether you have pneumonia, they will perform a physical exam. They will also order some lab tests to find out what type of pneumonia might be present. Depending on the strain of the illness you have, the physician may provide you with antibiotics or antiviral medicine.

Do you think you have pneumonia?

If you are experiencing signs of pneumonia, it may be time to visit our urgent care center. Early detection and treatment can help you avoid some of the worst parts of this illness. We welcome walk-in patients, so you can visit us at your convenience.

Call us today at (281) 946-1351 for more information from Eldridge Family Clinic.

Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Urgent Care in Houston, TX.