Typical pneumonia

• A sudden rise in fever to 41 ºC (106 ºF) and significant chills.
• Shortness of breath, rapid breathing and pulse.
• A cough. At first, the cough is dry. After a few days, it becomes oily and is accompanied by yellowish or greenish secretions, sometimes streaked with blood.
• Chest pain that intensifies during coughing and deep breaths.
• A deterioration of the general condition (fatigue, loss of appetite).
• Muscle pain.
• Headaches.
• Wheezing.

Some signs of gravity must lead to immediate hospitalization.

• Altered consciousness.
• Pulse too fast (greater than 120 beats per minute) or respiratory rate greater than 30 breaths per minute.
• Temperature above 40 ° C (104 ° F) or below 35 ° C (95 ° F).

Atypical pneumonia

“Atypical” pneumonia is more misleading because its symptoms are less specific. They can manifest as headaches, digestive disorders to joint pain. Cough is present in 80% of cases, but in only 60% of cases in the elderly¹⁷.