How fast can pneumonia come on

Colds that last longer than 7 to 10 days or respiratory illnesses like respiratory syncytial virus RSV can develop into walking pneumonia.

Symptoms can come on suddenly or take longer to appear. Those that start slowly tend to be more severe. Symptoms usually depend on where the infection is concentrated. A child whose infection is in the top or middle part of the lungs will probably have labored breathing. Another whose infection is in the lower part of the lungs near the belly may have no breathing problems, but may have an upset stomach, nausea, or vomiting.

Walking pneumonia is usually diagnosed through a physical examination. The doctor will check your child's breathing and listen for a hallmark crackling sound that often indicates walking pneumonia. If needed, a chest X-ray or tests of mucus samples from the throat or nose might be done to confirm the diagnosis.

Antibiotics are an effective treatment for walking pneumonia. A 5- to day course of oral antibiotics is usually recommended.

If your doctor prescribes antibiotics, make sure your child takes them on schedule for as long as directed to recover more quickly. You'll be admitted to hospital for treatment if you develop one of these complications. Although most cases of pneumonia are bacterial and are not passed on from one person to another, ensuring good standards of hygiene will help prevent germs spreading. A healthy lifestyle can also help prevent pneumonia. For example, you should stop smoking as it damages your lungs and increases the chance of infection.

Excessive and prolonged alcohol misuse also weakens your lungs' natural defences against infections, making you more vulnerable to pneumonia. People at high risk of pneumonia should be offered the pneumococcal vaccine and flu vaccine. Page last reviewed: 30 June Next review due: 30 June Overview - Pneumonia Contents Overview Treatment. Symptoms of pneumonia The symptoms of pneumonia can develop suddenly over 24 to 48 hours, or they may come on more slowly over several days.

Common symptoms of pneumonia include: a cough — which may be dry, or produce thick yellow, green, brown or blood-stained mucus phlegm difficulty breathing — your breathing may be rapid and shallow, and you may feel breathless, even when resting rapid heartbeat high temperature feeling generally unwell sweating and shivering loss of appetite chest pain — which gets worse when breathing or coughing Less common symptoms include: coughing up blood haemoptysis headaches fatigue feeling sick or being sick wheezing joint and muscle pain feeling confused and disorientated, particularly in elderly people Important: Could it be coronavirus COVID?

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Pneumonia. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Accessed April 15, Community-acquired pneumonia adult. Rochester, Minn. Goldman L, et al. Overview of pneumonia. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. Philadelphia, Pa. Accessed April 18, Schauner S, et al. Journal of Family Practice. Attridge RT, et al. Health care-associated pneumonia: An evidence-based review.

American Journal of Medicine. Hunter JD. Ventilator associated pneumonia. Dockrell DH, et al. Pneumococcal pneumonia: Mechanisms of infection and resolution. Reynolds RH, et al. Pneumonia in the immunocompetent patient. British Journal of Radiology. Remington LT, et al. Community-acquired pneumonia. Current Opinion Pulmonary Medicine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adults: Protect yourself with pneumococcal vaccines.