Lung Infection Symptoms

Symptoms of a lung infection may vary, depending on the type of infection that's causing them. Many different types of organisms can cause pneumonia, which is an infection in one or both lungs. However, it is essential to note that all infections in your body need proper treatment. This is because they can lead to complications.

Common signs of a lung infection

Here are some common signs that indicate you might have a lung infection:

• High fever:

  A high fever is a sign that your body is fighting an infection. It's possible to have a lung infection without fever; however, this sign would indicate a more serious medical condition. If you experience these symptoms for more than two days, seek immediate medical attention. Having increased shortness of breath or feeling sicker after taking antibiotics may mean complications with the infection, so see your doctor right away.

   

• Wheezing or difficulty breathing:

  Generally, these are symptoms of more severe lung infections which might be harder to treat. If either of these problems persists for more than two days, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Any time you feel sicker after taking antibiotics or if your condition worsens in any way that can include chills and increased shortness of breath, see your doctor right away.

   

• Coughing:

  Cough lasts more than two weeks or produces yellowish or greenish phlegm. Both viruses and bacteria can cause pneumonia, but the one thing they have in common is that they're all contagious. If your condition becomes chronic, you can spread the infection to others.

   

• Headaches:

  Lung infections can cause headaches. If you already suffer from headaches then it might signal a significant health problem.

   

• Weakness and fatigue:

  These are signs that may indicate more severe complications with either pneumonia or other health issues involved.

   

• Chest pain:

  Symptoms can vary depending on an upper respiratory infection, bronchitis, pharyngitis, tracheobronchitis, or another type of lung infection. Do you have a severe cough that produces sputum (phlegm), fever, chills, and sometimes significant chest pain? Then it might be due to pneumonia. Symptoms may vary depending on your age and severity of pneumonia. Your doctor will examine you to determine which parts of your lungs are affected by the illness.

   

• Thick mucus (phlegm):

  In lung infections, usually, sputum colour varies from clear to yellow or green. Other symptoms include muscle aches, fatigue, and sometimes loss of appetite.

   

• Coughing up mucus:

  This is a sign that your body is trying to defend itself against illness. Keep in mind that coughing up mucus doesn't necessarily mean you have an infection; it could also be that you're fighting off allergies or another condition like bronchitis. Symptoms typically associated with viral infections are generally milder than those seen with bacterial infections.