Bacterial pneumonia symptoms: what to know

Bacterial pneumonia is an infection in the lung tissue. Inflammation and fluid around the air sacs can make breathing feel harder and may reduce how deeply you can breathe. A cough may bring up yellow, green, or blood-streaked phlegm, although phlegm colour alone cannot identify the cause. Fever and chills may occur together, and tiredness can be marked. Symptoms can begin suddenly or build after a milder respiratory illness. Similar features occur with viral infections such as influenza or COVID-19, so symptoms cannot confirm a bacterial cause by themselves.

Arrange a clinical assessment if a cough is accompanied by fever, breathlessness, chest pain, confusion, or a clear decline in energy. A clinician may listen to your lungs, check oxygen levels, and decide whether further tests are needed. Rest, drink fluids if you can, and avoid smoking. Do not start leftover antibiotics; the choice of treatment depends on the examination and likely cause. Keep a record of fever, breathing changes, and any phlegm to describe at the appointment.

Seek emergency help for severe difficulty breathing, blue or grey lips, new confusion, collapse, or inability to stay awake. Urgent assessment is also needed when breathing worsens quickly, chest pain is severe, or you cannot keep fluids down. Pneumonia can occasionally lead to sepsis, particularly when infection affects the whole body. People who are older, pregnant, immunocompromised, or living with heart or lung disease should seek advice promptly when these symptoms appear.

Could this be pneumonia or another respiratory infection? Do I need an oxygen check or chest imaging? Which warning signs should prompt emergency care? If antibiotics are prescribed, how should I take them and what improvement should I expect?