Clinical Features

Typical pneumonia is characterized by a sudden onset of symptoms caused by lobar infiltration.

• Severe malaise

• High fever and chills

• Productive cough with purulent sputum (yellow-greenish)

  • Crackles and bronchial breath sounds on auscultation

  • Decreased breath sounds

  • Enhanced bronchophony, egophony, and tactile fremitus

  • Dullness on percussion

• Tachypnea and dyspnea (nasal flaring, thoracic retractions)

• Pleuritic chest pain when breathing, often accompanying pleural effusion

• Pain that radiates to the abdomen and epigastric region

Atypical pneumonia typically has an indolent course (slow onset) and commonly manifests with extrapulmonary symptoms.

• Nonproductive, dry cough

• Dyspnea

• Auscultation often unremarkable

• Common extrapulmonary features include fatigue, headaches, sore throat, myalgias, and malaise.