symptoms and signs

Last reviewed 01/2018

Common symptoms and signs of pneumonia include:

• cough
• fever
• pleuritic chest pain

Features which indicate the severity of the pneumonia include:

• confusion
• respiratory distress
• cyanosis

The classical physical signs of pneumonic lung consolidation are:

• reduced percussion note
• bronchial breathing
• crackles
• whispering pectoriloquy
• pleural friction rub

Septicaemia should be suspected if the patient is cold, clammy and hypotensive.

Sputum production may not be a feature in the acute phase.