I Was Diagnosed With Pneumonia Yesterday. I Had A Chest

Posted on Sat, 27 Apr 2019

Question: I was diagnosed with pneumonia yesterday. I had a chest X-ray and there is a dense area of pneumonia in my right upper lobe. I had a high fever, and significant pain when breathing deep on my right side, aches and headache, but absolutely no cough. I have been in a z-pack and augmentin 875 now for over 24 hours. The pain has gotten a bit better in the left side of my back, but now I am feeling some disconfort in the right side.
however, I still have absolutely no cough. can this be normal to have no cough??

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Yes. This is possible.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, this is possible.
Cough can be absent in pneumonia.
So no need to worry much for this.
Get done repeat chest x ray after 7 days.
If pneumonia not improving then get done CT thorax.
Please let me know if you have smoking habit.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (28 minutes later)

Thank you for your response. I have been a smoker for many years, but about 3 months ago, I switched to electronic nicotine and am cutting down on that now. This is the first time I have ever had pneumonia.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Don't worry. Take your antibiotics regularly.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
It is good that you are trying to quit smoking.
Don't worry much.
Just take your antibiotics timely.
When is your next chest x ray scheduled?
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)

My next follow-up x-ray is in 13 days. (2 weeks from the first). Assuming I have bacterial pneumonia (which I assume since I was given 2 antibiotics at once), is this contagious? And for how long?
And how quickly do you really start to feel better once you begin antibiotics? (Like fever, headache, and body aches)

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (53 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You will start improving after 2-3 days.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
After starting antibiotics, you will start improving after 2-3 days.
And pneumonia is contagious by coughing.
Since you are not coughing, no need to worry for spread.
Has your doctor told about CT thorax and bronchoscopy?
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (56 minutes later)

He mentioned that if there is still signs of pneumonia on the X-ray that he will then order a CT Scan. I am familiar with CT Scans because I had a pulmonary embolism 9 years ago after a c-section. However, I do not know what a broncoscopy is. He told me. It to be concerned about another clot because it wouldn’t show up on an X-ray and I had high fever and other symptoms that present with pneumonia. What is a broncoscopy?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Ok. Get done CT thorax if chest x ray is not improving.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
OK. Get done CT thorax if chest x ray is not improving after 2 weeks.
Bronchoscopy is endoscopic examination of lungs.
In this, endoscope (bronchoscope) is passed through nose and trachea in the lungs.
All airways examined and samples are taken to identify infection or malignant lesion.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana