What Are the Symptoms You Feel After Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a medical term used to describe an infection within the small air sacs in your lungs. This infection can affect both children and adults and is caused by pathogens (bacteria, viruses or fungi) that invade the airway passages. Unlike the cold or flu, symptoms that develop after pneumonia typically do not include nasal congestion or sore throat. Discuss the symptoms you feel after developing pneumonia with your doctor to ensure that you receive appropriate treatment.

Cough

The most common symptom that occurs after pneumonia develops is cough. A cough due to this condition can sound congested or moist and may cause you to expel mucus or phlegm that is brown or green in color, explains the Better Health Channel, a health website provided by the Australian national government. Coughing can also cause chest pain or a sore throat in some patients. Contact your doctor immediately if you develop chest pain, as this symptom can be indicative of a more severe medical problem.

Breathing Difficulties

After developing pneumonia, you can experience irritation and inflammation within your lungs due to the presence of pathogens. When this occurs, your airways can narrow, making it harder for oxygen to flow into your lungs. This can cause patients to experience breathing difficulties, such as wheezing or shortness of breath, after developing pneumonia. When a doctor listens to your chest using a stethoscope, she can hear unusual crackling, bubbling or rattling noises within your lungs after you develop pneumonia. These symptoms may become worse when you move about during your usual daily activities.

Fever or Chills

Patients with pneumonia can rapidly develop a high fever--up to 105°F--after contracting this infection, explain health professionals at the National Heart Lung Blood Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health. Fever can be accompanied by shivering, chills, sweating, headache, fatigue or dizziness.

Decreased Appetite

If you have pneumonia, you can experience stomach-related symptoms after developing this infection. You may develop nausea or vomiting, which can contribute to a decrease in your usual appetite. Certain patients also experience stomach pains or diarrhea. These stomach-related symptoms occur most frequently in children with pneumonia.

Increased Heart Rate

Pneumonia can cause alterations in your heart rate as a symptom of infection. You may notice that your pulse is faster than usual, which can be accompanied by symptoms of dizziness or headache.

Body Aches

You can feel sore or achy sensations within your muscles after developing pneumonia. These symptoms may cause you to feel fatigued, irritable or lethargic and can occur in conjunction with fever, stomach upset, cough or breathing difficulties.