Influenza and pneumonia: recognising the difference

Influenza commonly causes fever, chills, cough, headache, fatigue and feeling generally unwell. Pneumonia affects the deeper lung tissue and may cause breathlessness, chest discomfort, rapid breathing or a cough that becomes more troublesome. Influenza can be associated with pneumonia, but having influenza does not mean pneumonia is present. A clinician may listen to your chest, check oxygen levels and decide whether further assessment is needed.

Rest, take fluids in small regular amounts and follow advice about medicines for fever or discomfort. Avoid smoking and limit strenuous activity while you are feverish or short of breath. Reduce close contact during the infectious phase, ventilate rooms, cover coughs and clean your hands. Seek advice early if you are pregnant, older, immunocompromised, or living with heart or lung disease. Antibiotics do not treat influenza itself, but a clinician may prescribe them when a bacterial infection is diagnosed.

Get emergency help for severe difficulty breathing, chest pain, confusion, collapse, blue or grey lips, or inability to stay awake. Arrange prompt assessment if fever returns, breathlessness appears, cough worsens after initial improvement, or you cannot drink enough. Pneumonia can progress without dramatic early symptoms, so a change in breathing or overall strength deserves attention.

Ask whether your chest needs examination, whether testing or imaging is appropriate, which medicines are safe for you, and what recovery changes should trigger review.