According to WebMD, symptoms of pneumonia include a cough that may produce green or slightly red mucus, fever, chills, fast breathing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fast heartbeat and chest pain when breathing in. The symptoms associated with pneumonia come very quickly when caused by bacteria. However, in other causes, the symptoms usually build slowly.
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs, according to Mayo Clinic.The most common type of pneumonia is called community-acquired pneumonia and is characterized as being caught outside of hospital and health care settings. Common causes of this type of pneumonia include bacteria and viruses. Other types of pneumonia include hospital-acquired pneumonia and health care-acquired pneumonia, which can be more serious because they may be more resistant to antibiotic treatment.
Treatment of community-acquired pneumonia usually involves self treatment at home, as symptoms typically ease after a few days. This treatment can include cough medicine to help a person rest. However, Mayo Clinic states it may not be a good idea to get rid of a cough entirely, as coughing helps to remove mucus and fluid from the lungs.
For the other types of pneumonia, antibiotics are usually prescribed, according to Mayo Clinic. If the pneumonia has a viral cause, antivirals are administered. Patients with pneumonia usually see symptoms clear up after a few weeks, though the feeling of being tired can last a month or more.