How is pneumonia diagnosed?

It can be difficult to diagnose pneumonia, with its cold- and flu-like symptoms. To decide if you have pneumonia, your doctor will use a stethoscope to monitor your lung activity. Your doctor may also order a chest x-ray. While this test provides the most accurate diagnosis, it does not detect what germ caused the infection. For that, your doctor will order blood tests and a sputum (spit) test. In addition, your doctor may check the level of oxygen in your blood using a pulse oximeter, a device that painlessly clips to your finger. Additional tests may be needed to determine how severe the pneumonia is and what is causing it.

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It can be difficult to diagnose pneumonia, with its cold- and flu-like symptoms. To decide if you have pneumonia, your doctor will use a stethoscope to monitor your lung activity. Your doctor may also order a chest x-ray. While this test... More

Natural Standard, The Authority on Integrative Medicine answered:

A doctor may first suspect pneumonia based on a medical history and a physical exam. During the exam, the doctor will listen to the lungs with a stethoscope to check for abnormal bubbling or crackling sounds and for rumblings that signal the presence of thick liquid. Both these sounds may indicate inflammation caused by infection.

A chest X-ray is usually used to confirm the presence of pneumonia and to determine the extent and location of the infection.

Blood tests are usually performed to check white blood cell count, or to look for the presence of viruses, bacteria, or other organisms. A doctor may examine a sample of phlegm (mucus) or blood to help identify the microorganism that is causing the pneumonia.

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More Related Answers from Natural Standard, The Authority on Integrative Medicine

A doctor may first suspect pneumonia based on a medical history and a physical exam. During the exam, the doctor will listen to the lungs with a stethoscope to check for abnormal bubbling or crackling sounds and for rumblings that signal the... More

Healthwise answered:

Your doctor will usually diagnose pneumonia with:

Your medical history.
A physical exam.
A chest X-ray, which is almost always done to check for changes in the lungs that may mean pneumonia and to look for other causes of your symptoms. But an X-ray does not always show whether you have pneumonia, especially if it is done when you first get sick. In some cases, the X-ray results may:
- Suggest the type of organism (bacterial, viral or fungal) causing pneumonia.
- Show complications of pneumonia.
- Show conditions that may occur with pneumonia, such as fluid in the chest cavity or a collapsed lung.
- Reveal another condition, such as heart failure, lung cancer or acute bronchitis.

Lab tests for pneumonia: The need for more tests often depends on how severe your symptoms are, your age and your overall health. In general, the sicker you are, the more tests you will have. This is especially true for older adults and infants.

Mucus test: If you are very ill, have severe shortness of breath or have a condition that increases your risk (such as asthma or COPD), your doctor may test your mucus. Tests include a Gram stain and a sputum culture.

Rapid urine test: This test can identify some bacteria that cause pneumonia. This can help guide treatment for pneumonia.

HIV test: In people who have impaired immune systems, pneumonia may be caused by other organisms, including some forms of fungi, such as Pneumocystis jiroveci (formally called Pneumocystis carinii ). This fungus often causes pneumonia in people who have AIDS. Some doctors may suggest an HIV test if they think that Pneumocystis jiroveci is causing the pneumonia.

Other lung test: If you have severe pneumonia, you may need other tests, including tests to check for complications and to find out how well your immune system is working.