Pneumonia | Arizona Infectious Disease

If you have a persistent cough, chills, fever, and fatigue, you may have pneumonia. We provide comprehensive care for lung infections like pneumonia. For relief from pneumonia and to get you back to your regular activities, call the office to make an appointment or book online.

Pneumonia Q & A

Pneumonia is an inflammatory infection that affects the inflames the air sacs in one or both of your lungs. The sacs typically fill with fluid or pus, which may cause trouble breathing, a wet cough, and pain.

Pneumonia can be life-threatening, so it’s imperative to see the doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

What are the symptoms of pneumonia?

Symptoms of pneumonia can be mild, moderate, or severe. Common symptoms include:

Extreme fatigue
Fever and chills
Chest pain
Cough with phlegm
Sweating
Nausea
Loss of appetite

Pneumonia can often cause a headache, and dizziness, and shortness of breath..If you have difficulty breathing, you should get medical care as quickly as possible.

How is pneumonia diagnosed?

The team at Arizona Infectious Disease give you a comprehensive physical exam and evaluates your symptoms. Your health history is taken into account as well.

Usually, pneumonia is confirmed with a chest X-ray, blood work, and tests to determine the level of your lung fluid.

What causes pneumonia?

You can get pneumonia for a variety of reasons. In fact, there are more than 30 different causes of the illness. The culprits are usually viruses and bacteria, while fungi, mycoplasma, and chemicals are less commonly the cause.

Dr. Dalal is diligent to pinpoint the exact cause of your pneumonia since treatment varies accordingly.

Who’s at risk for getting pneumonia?

Anyone can get pneumonia, but there are a few people who are especially susceptible. Your risk is higher if you:

Smoke
Are very young or elderly
Have cerebral palsy
Have a respiratory infection
Had surgery recently
Had a recent hospital stay
Have COPD or Cystic Fibrosis

If your immune system is compromised, you’re also at increased risk for developing the lung infection.

How is pneumonia treated?

Once we know how you got pneumonia, we will recommend antibiotics. He’ll encourage plenty of rest to give your body the downtime it needs to heal.

If you have an extreme case of pneumonia, you may need to be hospitalized and closely monitored.