Pneumonia Cough Worse At Night

How Is Walking Pneumonia Diagnosed

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.

Treatment For Chest Infections

Most people with bronchitis can be treated at home and make a full recovery. Assessment of the severity of pneumonia is complex. Some patients can be managed at home on simple antibiotics. Those assessed as severe may require admission to the intensive care unit and their illness may be life threatening.Treatment options include:

• Your doctor will advise you about any medications you need to get over this attack.
• Some people need to be admitted to hospital for further treatment, particularly young children and the elderly who are at greater risk of serious complications.
• Review with your local doctor may be needed within 48 hours, especially if you are not improving, and again in six weeks to make sure that you have made a full recovery. A chest x-ray may be needed at this time.

Whats The Difference Between An Allergy And An Intolerance

Theres a difference between being allergic to a food and being intolerant to it.

True food allergies trigger the immune system, which causes the bodys reaction. With a food sensitivity , which is more common than a food allergy, the digestive system causes the bodys reaction. Food sensitivities are caused by the bodys inability to properly process a food.

While food sensitivities arent typically life threatening, food allergies can be.

Don’t Miss: How To Get Better From Pneumonia

Heart Failure And Related Conditions

You may experience shortness of breath because your heart cant pump blood at a sustainable level. This is known as heart failure. You may develop this condition for many reasons. Risk factors include poor diet, diabetes, certain medications, smoking, and obesity.

One condition that can lead to a heart attack is coronary artery disease. You may experience shortness of breath from a heart attack as well as chest pain and tightness, sweating, nausea, and fatigue. You should seek medical care right away if you suspect youre having a heart attack.

Other conditions associated with heart failure include high blood pressure or if your heart experiences trauma, inflammation, or irregular heart rate.

What Are The Symptoms Of Silent Pneumonia

An awareness of these symptoms however, is important so that professional help can be obtained before the condition becomes worse. Some common symptoms of the silent pneumonia are as follows Dry cough: A cough that gets worse at night and comes in fits is the most important symptom of silent pneumonia.

Read Also: How To Help With Pneumonia Cough

When To Get Medical Advice

• You dont get better in the first 2 days of treatment

• Fever of 100.4°F or higher, or as directed by your healthcare provider

• Shaking chills

• Cough with phlegm that doesn’t get better, or get worse

• Shortness of breath with activities

• Weakness, dizziness, or fainting that gets worse

• Thirst or dry mouth that gets worse

• Sinus pain, headache, or a stiff neck

• Chest pain with breathing or coughing

• Symptoms that get worse or not improving

Persistent Cough Common Causes And Cures

What’s that nagging cough, and what can you do to cure it? Cough for a minute or two, and you may think something has “gone down the wrong pipe.” Cough for a day or two, and you may think you’ve picked up a cold or the flu. After a week, bronchitis or allergies may come to mind. But after three or four weeks, your mind starts to race, and the worry begins to mount.

For many people, chronic coughing raises the specter of cancer. But is cancer really a common cause of a cough that lingers? And if it’s not, what is and what can you do to quiet a nagging cough?

Read Also: How Long Can A Cough Last After Pneumonia

Why Is Pneumonia Cough Worse At Night

Some people find pneumonia cough especially worse at night. Some possible reasons for pneumonia cough worsening at night are:

There are no clear-cut ways to help reduce pneumonia cough at night. Sometimes, keeping your head higher with a propped pillow may help. If you have increased mucus, an antihistamine such as Benadryl may help. If you have other symptoms of acid reflux, you can try an OTC acid reducer. Call your doctor if your symptoms worsen.

In conclusion, coughs are a very important defense against pneumonia. You need to regularly cough to keep your airways clear so that you can recover from pneumonia. In certain situations, too many coughs can cause problems. There is no clear-cut solution to help pneumonia cough. Try a few options and see what helps you.

Can A Persistent Cough Get Worse At Night

A persistent cough tends to get worse at night just when youre trying to get the good sleep you need to feel better. Heres why it happens and how to get relief. When it comes to getting over a cough, there are a few relatively simple steps you can take. Health experts suggest a regimen of fluids, medications if needed, and lots of rest.

Don’t Miss: How To Cure Pneumonia Symptoms

How Common Is Pneumonia

Approximately 1 million adults in the United States are hospitalized each year for pneumonia and 50,000 die from the disease. It is the second most common reason for being admitted to the hospital — childbirth is number one. Pneumonia is the most common reason children are admitted to the hospital in the United States. Seniors who are hospitalized for pneumonia face a higher risk of death compared to any of the top 10 other reasons for hospitalization.

Could Your Persistent Cough Be Walking Pneumonia

4 min Read Time

You might expect that if you had pneumonia, youd know it. Its reasonable to assume that a severe lung infection would likely stop you in your tracks and cause hard-to-miss symptoms like a wet cough, difficulty breathing, fever and chills.

But if you have some minor cold-like symptoms, such as a low-grade fever, along with a persistent dry, hacking cough that just wont quit, you could actually have a form of the infection called atypical or walking pneumonia that can be mild.

Walking pneumonia can last longer, and you may not feel as sick, as symptoms are less pronounced, explains James McClune, MD, an HCA Healthcare interventional pulmonologist in critical care. People who have walking pneumonia may think they have a common cold, as symptoms are not as severe as what people assume with traditional pneumonia.

Don’t Miss: How Can You Tell When You Have Pneumonia

Who Is Most At Risk For Getting Pneumonia

People who have an increased risk of pneumonia include:

• People over the age of 65 and infants under age 2. The weakening immune system of older people makes them less able to fight off illnesses. Similarly, the immune system of infants is still developing and not at full-strength, making them more susceptible to infection.
• People with a health-caused weakened immune system. Examples include:
• People who are receiving chemotherapy
• Transplanted organ recipients
• People who have HIV/AIDS
• People with autoimmune disease and who are taking medications that suppress the immune system.

Signs And Symptoms Of A Chest Infection

The main symptoms of a chest infection can include:

• coughing up yellow or green phlegm , or coughing up blood
• breathlessness or rapid and shallow breathing
• wheezing
• chest pain or tightness
• feeling confused and disorientated

You may also experience more general symptoms of an infection, such as a headache, fatigue, sweating, loss of appetite, or joint and muscle pain.

Also Check: Age Requirement For Pneumonia Vaccine

Managing Nighttime Coughs: 3 Tips To Know

Whether your cough is caused by postnasal drip or acid reflux, youll notice that lying down makes it worse. To combat this, you can try sleeping with pillows propped up to prevent mucus from collecting in the back of your throat.

Now, if you have acid reflux, you can also do the trick with the pillows, plus avoiding late-night snacking. When you eat before bedtime, it can make reflux worse, which in turn, makes nighttime coughs worse.

As for those whose main problem is dry air cough, the solution isnt always a humidifier. Yes, a dry, indoor environment could make a cough worse, but using a humidifier improperly can make you prone to bacterial infections. If you want to use a humidifier, make sure to only put sterile water and to clean it according to directions.

Are Vaccines Available To Prevent Pneumonia

Yes, there are two types of vaccines specifically approved to prevent pneumonia caused by pneumococcal bacteria. Similar to a flu shot, these vaccines wont protect against all types of pneumonia, but if you do come down with pneumonia, its less likely to be as severe or potentially life-threatening especially for people who are at increased risk for pneumonia.

• Bacterial pneumonia: Two pneumonia vaccines, Pneumovax23® and Prevnar13®, protect against the most common causes of bacterial pneumonia.
• Pneumovax23® protects against 23 different types of pneumococcal bacteria. It is recommended for all adults 65 years of age and older and children over 2 years of age who are at increased risk for pneumonia.
• Prevnar13® protects against 13 types of pneumonia bacteria. It is recommended for all adults 65 years of age and older and children under 2 years of age. Ask your healthcare provider about these vaccines.

If you have children, ask their doctor about other vaccines they should get. Several childhood vaccines help prevent infections caused by the bacteria and viruses that can lead to pneumonia.

Recommended Reading: Mild Case Of Pneumonia Symptoms

How Is Pneumonia Diagnosed

Pneumonia can sometimes be hard to diagnose because the symptoms are the same as for a bad cold or flu. If you think it could be pneumonia, you should see your doctor. Your doctor may diagnose pneumonia based on your medical history and the results from a physical exam. He or she will listen to your lungs with a stethoscope. Your doctor may also do some tests, such as a chest X-ray or a blood test. A chest X-ray can show your doctor if you have pneumonia and how widespread the infection is. Blood and mucus tests can help your doctor tell whether bacteria, a virus, or a fungal organism is causing your pneumonia.

Stay Away From Allergens

Not to sound like Captain Obvious, but if you have allergies, avoid those allergens.

Common allergens that cause coughing are dust and pollen, says Casusi.

If youre not sure whether you have an allergy to anything, you might consider consulting with an allergist or trying out an at-home allergy test.

Don’t Miss: How Do I Know That I Have Pneumonia

How We Chose Hepa Air Purifiers

There are so many options when it comes to home air cleaning, and the choices can become overwhelming. While the EPA does not certify or recommend particular types of air filters, the agency does offer advice for selecting the right product for you. These recommendations were the basis of our selection process and include the following considerations.

• Size matters. Look for portable filters designed for the room size you are trying to use it in. Generally, the clean air delivery rate score of your filter should be equal to about two-thirds of the area in the room.
• Avoid air cleaners that generate ozone. Ozone is a gas that is released during some air purification processes. While ozone gas is meant to clean and sanitize air, itâs also considered a pollutant that can cause irritation and damage to the lungs when inhaled. Air cleaners that use ozone are generally intended for rooms that are uninhabited at the time of use. They are not for use in confined spaces when you are present. No government agency in the United States has approved any ozone generators as air cleaners in homes.
• Look at industry ratings. While EPA doesnât set rules for these filters, there are industry leaders that set standards for HEPA filtration. When purchasing a filter, it should meet one of the following criteria:
• designated HEPA filter
• manufacturer states the product filters most particles smaller than 1 micron

What Are The Complications Of Pneumonia

Anyone can experience complications from pneumonia. However, people in high-risk groups are more likely to develop complications, including:

• Breathing difficulties: Pneumonia can make breathing difficult. Pneumonia plus an existing lung disorder can make breathing even more difficult. Breathing difficulties may require a hospital stay to receive oxygen therapy or breathing and healing assistance with the use of a breathing machine .
• Fluid buildup in the lungs : Pneumonia can cause a buildup in the fluid between the membranes that line the lungs and the inside of the chest cavity. It is a serious condition that makes breathing difficult. Pleural effusion can be treated by draining excess fluid with a catheter, chest tube or by surgery.
• Bacteria in the bloodstream : The bacteria that cause pneumonia can leave your lungs and enter your bloodstream, spreading the infection to other organs. This condition is treated with antibiotics.
• Lung abscess. A lung abscess is a pus-filled cavity in the lung that is caused by a bacterial infection. It can be treated by draining the pus with a long needle or removing it by surgery.

Read Also: At What Age Should You Get A Pneumonia Vaccine

More Severe Cases May Also Cause:

• quick breathing
• rapid heartbeat
• nausea and vomiting

Some people get a sharp pain in their chest when they breathe in and out. This may be because the thin lining between the lung and ribcage, called the pleura, is infected and inflamed. This inflammation, called pleurisy, stops your lungs moving smoothly as you breathe.

The symptoms of pneumonia are often very similar to those of other chest infections, such as bronchitis, COPD flare-ups or bronchiectasis flare-ups. To get a proper diagnosis youll need to visit your GP.

If you feel unwell with these symptoms, see your GP or call 111. If you have chest pain, a rapid heartbeat, quick breathing, shivers or confusion, get urgent advice from your GP or call 999. Take extra care if youre over 65.

Use Of Spacer Device And Face Mask To Give Bronchodilator Treatment

A spacer can be made locally from a plastic soft-drink bottle.

Steroids

If a child has a severe or life-threatening acute attack of wheezing , give oral prednisolone, 1 mg/kg, for 35 days or 20 mg for children aged 25 years. If the child remains very sick, continue the treatment until improvement is seen.

Repeat the dose of prednisolone for children who vomit, and consider IV steroids if the child is unable to retain orally ingested medication. Treatment for up to 3 days is usually sufficient, but the duration should be tailored to bring about recovery. Tapering of short courses of steroids is not necessary. IV hydrocortisone provides no benefit and should be considered only for children who are unable to retain oral medication.

Magnesium sulfate

Intravenous magnesium sulfate may provide additional benefit in children with severe asthma treated with bronchodilators and corticosteroids. Magnesium sulfate has a better safety profile in the management of acute severe asthma than aminophylline. As it is more widely available, it can be used in children who are not responsive to the medications described above.

Give 50% magnesium sulfate as a bolus of 0.1 ml/kg IV over 20 min.

Aminophylline

Aminophylline is not recommended in children with mild-to-moderate acute asthma. It is reserved for children who do not improve after several doses of a rapid-acting bronchodilator given at short intervals plus oral prednisolone. If indicated in these circumstances:

Oral bronchodilators

Also Check: How Does Having Pneumonia Feel

What Is Walking Pneumonia

Walking pneumonia usually indicates a more mild pneumonia caused by a bacteria called mycoplasma pneumoniae. If you have walking pneumonia, your symptoms will be mild and youll probably function normally. Walking pneumonia symptoms include: Dry cough thats persistent and typically gets worse at night.