How do doctors tell if you have pneumonia?

             Written by: Deepa Sarkar

Wondering if it’s pneumonia? Early testing can be essential for proper diagnosis and quick treatment. 

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Discover the different ways pneumonia is diagnosed.

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Doctors listen to your lungs with a stethoscope to detect any unusual sounds, such as crackling, that may indicate pneumonia.

Physical Exam

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The next step would be a chest X-ray to visualize lung inflammation and determine the severity of pneumonia.

Chest X-Ray

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A small device placed on your finger measures oxygen levels in your blood, which can drop during pneumonia.

Pulse Oximetry

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You may also be advised to get blood tests done to identify the type of infection, whether bacterial or viral, to guide treatment.

Blood Tests

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In this test, a sample of mucus (sputum) is analyzed to detect the presence of infectious organisms.

Sputum Test

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In some cases, a CT scan provides a more detailed lung image, especially if X-rays are inconclusive.

CT Scan

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If other tests are unclear, a bronchoscopy might be done to examine the lungs directly using a small camera.

Bronchoscopy

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