Question 1

how do i know if i have pneumonia or just a common cold?

Accepted Answer

Multiple symptoms: Symptoms that should make you think of pneumonia include high fever, cough with sputum production, chest pain when you breathe deeply, and/or shortness of breath.  A cough with sputum production but without any of the other symptoms is probably just a cold.

Question 2

can you please list the common causes of pneumonia in tweens and teens?

Accepted Answer

Many possibilities. : The most common cause is likely viruses, followed by a germ called mycoplasma & then pneumococcus. The presenting features af the different germs usually varies as does the appearance on x-ray.

Question 3

how common is it for a child to die of pneumonia?

Accepted Answer

Not common: It is not common at all in previously healthy children, but it does happen.

Question 4

is it normal or common to have pneumonia every year? what causes it? how does it happen?

Accepted Answer

No: It's not even common to have pneumonia once. First you need to make sure the term is not being used loosely to describe an acute bronchitis. If you truly are having recurrent pneumonia you need to find the underlying cause, which is some kind of immune deficiency.

Question 5

what are common symptoms of walking pneumonia?

Accepted Answer

Cough and fever: Walking pneumonia is basically a pneumonia that is not so severe that it requires hospitalization for most people. A common cause of walking pneumonia is mycoplasma; a bacteria that responds well to antibiotics in the Erythromycin family. Common symptoms include cough, fever, and shortness of breath.  See your doctor if you have these symptoms.

Question 6

what's the most common organism that causes pneumonia?

Accepted Answer

Strep. pneumoniae: This bacteria accounts for about 45% of community acquired pneumonia. There is an effective vaccine against it which should be given to people with lung disease, diabetes and cardiac disease and anyone over 65.

Question 7

how common is pneumococcal pneumonia?

Accepted Answer

Somewhat: It is the most common cause of pneumonia, which is the 4th leading cause of death in the us... But it is still unlikely that you will have it during your lifetime.

Question 8

what time of year is bacterial pneumonia more common?

Accepted Answer

More cases in winter: Pneumonia is prevelant year around but more cases diagnosed in winter season.

Question 9

how can i tell if i have the common cold (with bronchitis), flu or pneumonia?

Accepted Answer

Not so easy: Pneumonia is an infection of the lung or lower respiratory tracts.  A cold (usually caused by viruses) is an infection of the upper respiratory tract - flu also usually affects the upper tract but can start involving the lungs (serious).  A patient should see a physician who can do lab tests and get an x-ray - doubly important to do so if a person is getting worse, dehydrated, or short of breath.

Question 10

how do i know if i have a cold or flu? how can i tell if i got the common cold, influenze or pneumonia?

Accepted Answer

A cold is: Usually an upper tract issue, ie clear nasal discharge and congestion.  Flu is associated with more systemic symptoms including fevers and muscle aches.  Pneumonia by definition involves infection of the lung itself and can be confirmed by physical exam and chest xray.

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Common precursor to pneumonia

A member asked:

How do i know if i have pneumonia or just a common cold?

A member asked:

Can you please list the common causes of pneumonia in tweens and teens?

A member asked:

How common is it for a child to die of pneumonia?

A member asked:

Is it normal or common to have pneumonia every year? what causes it? how does it happen?

A member asked:

What are common symptoms of walking pneumonia?

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What's the most common organism that causes pneumonia?

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How common is pneumococcal pneumonia?

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What time of year is bacterial pneumonia more common?

A member asked:

How can i tell if i have the common cold (with bronchitis), flu or pneumonia?

A member asked:

How do i know if i have a cold or flu? how can i tell if i got the common cold, influenze or pneumonia?

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