- Health A to Z
Healthline Premium Tools
Advertisement
Marketplace
Symptoms could include:
-
Coughing Up Phlegm
-
Stabbing Pain
-
Painful Cough
-
Rusty Sputum
-
Respiratory Crackles
-
Coughing Up Yellow Sputum
 |
The most common symptoms of pneumonia are: Cough (with some pneumonias you may cough up greenish or yellow mucus, or even bloody mucus; Fever, which may be mild or high; Shaking chills; Shortness of breath (may only occur when you climb stairs. Ad...
|
 |
Pneumonia is suspected in any patient who has fever , cough, chest pain, shortness of breath , and increased A chest x-ray showing lobar pneumonia in the lower lobe of a patient's right lung. The alveoli (air sacs) of the lung become blocked with ...
|
 |
The list of organisms that can cause pneumonia is lengthy and includes nearly every class of infecting organism: viruses, bacteria, bacteria-like organisms, fungi, and parasites (including certain worms). Different organisms are more frequently en...
|
|
Chlamydia trachomatis is a major cause of sexually transmitted diseases (called nongonococcal urethritis and pelvic inflammatory disease ). When a woman with an active chlamydial infection gives birth to a baby, the baby may aspirate (suck into hi...
|
 |
Pneumonia can have more than 30 different causes, but the five main causes are: bacteria viruses mycoplasmas other infectious pathogens, like fungi (including Pneumocystis ) some chemicals Common symptoms of pneumonia vary according to its cause, ...
|
|
Symptoms of bacterial pneumonia include a cough , sputum (mucus) production that may be puslike or bloody, shaking and chills, fever , and chest pain . Symptoms often have an abrupt beginning and occur after an upper respiratory infection such as ...
|
|
The incubation period of PCP is not definitely known, but is thought to be between four and eight weeks. The major symptoms include shortness of breath , fever , and a nonproductive cough . Less common symptoms include production of sputum, blood ...
|
 |
Pneumonia is suspected in any patient who has fever , cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, and increased respirations (number of breaths per minute). Fever with a shaking chill is even more suspicious. Many patients cough up clumps of sputum, c...
|
|
Pneumonia with eosinophils occurs as part of a hypersensitivity reaction. A hypersensitivity reaction is an over-reaction of the immune system to a particular stimulus. As part of the hypersensitive reaction, cells of the immune system are produce...
|
 |
Fever is the temporary increase in the body's temperature, in response to some disease or illness. A child has a fever when their temperature is at or above one of these levels: 100.4 F (38 C) measured in the bottom (rectally; 99.5 F(37.5 C) measu...
|
 |
The nervous system constantly relays information about the body''s temperature to the thermostat, which in turn activates different physical responses designed to cool or warm the body, depending on the circumstances. These responses include: decre...
|
|
Detailed information on fevers in children A fever is a temperature of 100.4º F and higher.
|
|
A fever is a special cause for concern in infants younger than 3 months of age. Parents and caregivers should be most concerned with changes in eating or sleeping habits, coughing, pain or other marked changes.
|
|
Fever is defined as an abnormally high body temperature or a regulated rise to a new set point of body temperature. While a body temperature above 100°F(37.8°C) is considered to be a fever by some clinicians, a significant fever is usual...
|
 |
A fever is any body temperature elevation over 100°F(37.8°C).A healthy person''s body temperature fluctuates between 97°F(36.1°C) and 100°F(37.8°C), with the average being 98.6°F(37°C). The body maintains sta...
|
|
While the standard for normal body temperature is 98.6°F(37°C), normal body temperatures actually fluctuate within a range of one to two degrees, making it impossible to formulate a precise definition of fever based on a specific tempera...
|
|
Early morning body temperature may be as low as 97°F, and as high as 99.3°F in the afternoon hours yet still be considered normal. Higher temperatures may be observed in healthy people, but an abnormal elevation(pyrexia) is classified as...
|
|
One minute you're hot; the next, you're chilled and your teeth chatter. You've got a fever. But look on the bright side: Fever seems to serve a helpful function in the body.
|
|
Buying a thermometer isn't as easy as it used to be. You face an array of choices. But the decision doesn't have to be hard. Like temperature, it's a matter of degrees.
|
|
Most medical professionals agree a fever by itself is not an illness; it is a symptom of an underlying problem. Fevers actually can be a positive sign the body is fighting an infection. However, a fever can cause discomfort for a child.
|
|
A fever is a way for the body to fight infection. But it may also be a sign of a serious illness, especially in children younger than 3 months and children who haven't been immunized. Know when to seek medical care for your child.
|
|
Detailed information on fever, including when to call your physician Fever (also called pyrexia) is defined as body temperature that is higher than normal for each individual. It generally indicates that there is an abnormal process occurring in the body. Exercise, hot weather, and common childhood immunizations can also make body temperature rise.
|
|
The best way to take an infant's temperature is rectally with a digital thermometer (never use a glass mercury thermometer). Taking the temperature under the arm, or using an ear thermometer, is less exact.
|
|
Use a digital thermometer to take your child's temperature; never use a glass mercury thermometer. Most children aged three years and older can hold a thermometer under their tongue. If your child is younger than that, or you're having difficulty with the oral method, talk to your doctor about the best way to take his temperature.
|
|
Detailed information on children and fever, including symptoms and treatment A fever is a temperature of 100.4º F and higher.
|
|
Hyperthermia is the use of therapeutic heat to treat various cancers on and inside the body.The purpose of hyperthermia is to shrink and hopefully destroy cancer without harming noncancerous cells. It can be used to treat cancer in many areas of t...
|
|
Hyperthermia involves raising the body''s core temperature as a means of eradicating tumors. The treatment simulates fever.
|
|
Children can become cranky, fussy or irritable for many reasons. Often it's because they're hungry or just tired. But sometimes irritability can be a sign of illness in children.
|
 |
Coughing is an important way to keep your throat and airways clear. However, excessive coughing may mean you have an underlying disease or disorder. Some coughs are dry, while others are considered productive. A productive cough is one that brings...
|
|
Coughs, those mini-explosions in your throat, are valuable weapons in your body's self-defense arsenal. Their assignment: keep airways clear by quickly expelling intruders from the lower respiratory system -- principally your throat and upper lungs. If dust, fluid, viruses, bacteria or even tumors block any part of this region, your cough reflex takes explosive action.
|
|
Your doctor should evaluate you if you are having symptoms that suggest a more serious cause, such as a bacterial infection, or if your symptoms aren't manageable with over-the-counter remedies or the passing of time.
|
|
A cough is a forceful release of air from the lungs that can be heard. Coughing protects the respiratory system by clearing it of irritants and secretions.While people can generally cough voluntarily, a cough is usually a reflex triggered when an ...
|
|
A cough is a forceful release of air from the lungs that can be heard. Coughing protects the respiratory system by clearing it of irritants and secretions.While people can generally cough voluntarily, a true cough is usually a reflex triggered whe...
|
|
A cough is a forceful release of air from the lungs that can be heard. Coughing protects the respiratory system by clearing it of irritants and secretions.While people can generally cough on purpose, a cough is usually a reflex triggered when an i...
|
|
Chest pain is discomfort or pain that you feel anywhere along the front of your body between your neck and upper abdomen.
|
|
New onset chest pain always requires evaluation by your doctor. If the pain is severe, you should seek immediate medical care.
|
|
Doctor-patient communication can improve the treatment outlook for those with chronic chest pain.
|
|
If hospitals become accredited as "chest pain centers," it could make deciding where to go for treatment easier, and also increase recovery rates.
|
|
The benefits of chest pain regarding acute coronary events.When it comes to exercise, that old chestnut "No pain, no gain” is passé. But it may still apply to heart attacks. People who have chest pain (angina) with activity in the months or weeks before a heart attack tend to have smaller heart attacks, better survival, fewer heart rhythm problems, and better recovery of heart function than those without chest pain. In May, a team that included cardiologists from Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital reported in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology that angina protects against the muscular remodeling of the left ventricle that can follow a heart attack and lead to heart failure. It didn't seem to help people with diabetes, though.
|
|
A Harvard Medical School physician answers your question about when chest pain may be heartburn, and when it may be a sign of something more serious.
|
|
Women who suffer from chest pain but show clear arteries on an angiogram may have a different type of blocked artery, where plaque builds up evenly on the inner surface or bulges outward.
|
|
Every now and then I get a sudden, sharp pain on the left side of my chest, like a knife. I get a little dizzy, and then it disappears as quickly as it came on. Even though the test results were fine, it still scares me. Should I be concerned about this?
|
|
A new drug has been approved to treat angina, though it is intended for those who have not had success with other angina medications, and is meant to be used in combination with another such drug.
|
|
What would cause me to have chest pains when I eat a full meal?
Howard LeWine, M.D., is chief editor of Internet Publishing at Harvard Health Publications. He is recognized as an outstanding clinician and teacher and is a recipient of the Internal Medicine Teacher of the Year award at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Dr. LeWine continues to practice Internal Medicine; most recently he became a hospitalist after practicing primary care for over 20 years.
|
|
|
Breathing difficulty involves a sensation of difficult or uncomfortable breathing or a feeling of not getting enough air. See also: Difficulty breathing - first aid
|
|
Shortness of breath, or dyspnea, is a feeling of difficult or labored breathing that is out of proportion to the patient''s level of physical activity. It is a symptom of a variety of different diseases or disorders and may be either acute or chron...
|
|
Dyspnea is the technical word for difficulty breathing. It's a common symptom in people who have lung cancer or have cancer that has spread to the lungs. People who experience dyspnea describe it as difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath. They often compare it to feeling like they are suffocating or being smothered. In many cases, patients may develop anxiety or panic if they feel they cannot breathe. Often their anxiety and fears can make the dyspnea worse. By panicking, patients can become more breathless and begin a cycle that is hard to stop.
|
|
Detailed information on the most common breathing problems in a newborn Babies breathe much faster than older children and adults. A newborn's normal breathing rate is about 40 times each minute. This may slow to 20 to 40 times per minute when the baby is sleeping. The pattern of breathing in a baby may also be different. A baby may breathe fast several times, then have a brief rest for less than 10 seconds, than breathe again. This is often called periodic breathing and is a normal occurrence. Babies normally use their diaphragm (the large muscle below the lungs) for breathing.
|
|
Severe shortness of breath and shortness of breath accompanied by certain symptoms requires immediate medical attention.
|
|
If your child cannot seem to get enough breath in his lungs (shortness of breath) or is having a hard time breathing, he probably has a medical condition that needs treatment. If your child is old enough to talk, he can tell you that he is having difficulty breathing. If your child is younger, you may notice that he is breathing harder or faster than usual, isn't feeding well, or is cranky.
|
|
For the past two months I have experienced increased shortness of breath. I have chronic asthma, but there's concern the shortness of breath could be caused by a blockage in heart. I have experienced difficulties in the past when anesthetized. Is there an effective alternative to heart catheterization? I've read about a new CT scan ? is it recommended?
|
|
I had a quadruple bypass seven years ago. A few months back I found myself taking frequent short breaths when I climbed the stairs. Once I stopped exerting myself, my breathing soon returned to normal. Is this due to a problem with my heart or lungs?
|
|
Shortness of breath may be a warning sign of heart disease.
Chest pain is a near-universal signal of heart disease. Shortness of breath may be an equally valuable tip-off.
|
|
Chills is the common name for a feeling of coldness accompanied by shivering and possibly fever.
|
|
Coughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract. Hemoptysis is the medical term for coughing up blood from the respiratory tract.
|
|
Hemoptysis is the coughing up of blood or bloody sputum from the respiratory tract. The blood can come from the nose, mouth, throat, airway passages leading from the lungs, or the lungs.Hemoptysis can range from small quantities of blood-stained s...
|
|
Hemoptysis is the coughing up of blood or bloody sputum from the lungs or airway. It may be either self-limiting or recurrent.
|
|
Chills refers to feeling cold after an exposure to a cold environment. The word can also refer to an episode of shivering, accompanied by paleness and feeling cold.
|
|
Blood-tinged sputum is distinguished from frank hemoptysis—or coughing up blood without or with very little sputum—which can be a potentially life-threatening condition requiring immediate medical attention. Sputum that is streaked with blood may be due to something as benign as irritation of upper-airway passages due to dry ambient air, or it may a sign of a more serious medical condition, such as pneumonia or a blood clot in the lung, especially if accompanied by other symptoms..
|
|
Painful respirations may be an indicator of a serious underlying medical problem requiring prompt medical intervention. For any unexplained chest pain or if there is difficulty breathing immediate medial attention is generally required.
|
|
Are sharp pains in the ribs a typical symptom of an asthma attack? The throat also felt tight.
|
|
Sometimes a person feels hot to touch due to illness or environmental situation that causes elevated core temperature. A compounding factor can be dehydration (lack of fluids.
|
|
Pain is a universal human experience. The International Association for the Study of Pain(IASP) defines pain as"an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage."
|
|
Expert-reviewed information summary about pain as a complication of cancer or its treatment. Approaches to the management and treatment of cancer-associated pain are discussed.
|
|
Pain, medically termed"nociception," is a response to noxious stimuli that is conveyed to the brain by sensory neurons. The discomfort signals actual or impending injury to the body.
|
|
American Pain Foundation 888-615-7246 www.painfoundation.org American Chronic Pain Association
|
|
Pain is an unpleasant feeling that is conveyed to the brain by sensory neurons. The discomfort signals actual or potential injury to the body.
|
|
A pain scale helps you rate pain intensity. In the scale, 0 means no pain, and 10 is the worst pain possible. (Scales may go up to 5 or up to 10.) Rate the pain every few hours. You may feel some pain even with medications. But tell your healthcare provider if medications don't reduce the pain. Be sure to mention if the pain suddenly increases or changes.
|
|
Pain is an unpleasant feeling that is conveyed to the brain by sensory neurons. The discomfort signals actual or potential injury to the body.
|
|
Pain is an unpleasant feeling that is conveyed to the brain by nerves in the body.Pain arises from any number of situations. Injury is a major cause, but pain may also arise from an illness.
|
|
This comprehensive report describes the many causes of pain, the latest treatments, and the best preventive strategies.
|
|
I have recurring sores in my mouth, most generally on the sides of my tongue, and the tip of my tongue gets very tender and sore. Do I have a vitamin deficiency? What else could be the cause of this?
|
|
Examines the role of forgiveness in personal health and happiness, ranging from reduced stress to improved relationships.
|
|
Children who experience verbal abuse are at as much risk for developing anxiety or depression as those who are abused physically or sexually. This may be due to the fact that verbal abuse is likely to persist over a lengthy period of time.
|
 |
A headache is pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck. Serious causes of headaches are extremely rare. Most people with headaches can feel much better by making lifestyle changes, learning ways to relax, and occasionally by taking medicatio...
|
 |
A headache is a pain in the head and neck region that may be either a disorder in its own right or a symptom.
|
|
This report helps you identify the cause of your headache and learn what to do about it. Includes the latest treatments, such as new medications and mind/body techniques.
|
|
Detailed information on headaches, including the different types of headaches and statistics relating to headaches
|
|
A headache involves pain in the head which can arise from many disorders or may be a disorder in and of itself.There are three types of primary headaches: tension-type(muscular contraction headache), migraine(vascular headaches), and cluster. Virt...
|
|
About 90 percent of all headaches are harmless episodes that can be treated with over-the-counter painkillers, either alone or together with rest, ice packs or relaxation techniques.
|
|
A headache involves pain in the head that can arise from many disorders or may be a disorder in and of itself.Headaches can be categorized as primary or secondary. Primary headaches occur independently and are not the result of another medical pro...
|
|
Most headaches in kids are caused by tension, not disease. Your pediatrician can determine what kind of headache your child has.
|
 |
Headache is a pain in the head and neck region that may be either a disorder in its own right or a symptom of an underlying medical condition or disease. The medical term for headache is cephalalgia.
|
|
When seeking treatment for headaches, start with your primary care provider. Most people who suffer from headaches tell their doctors about their pain only as an afterthought. And 31 percent have never seen a health care provider for their condition, according to the National Headache Foundation (NHF). The result is a lot of needless suffering.
|
|
Youngsters' most common head pain is a tension headache—a dull ache that feels like pressure around the head.
|
|
Detailed information on headaches, including types, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
|
|
Can dehydration cause headaches?
Howard LeWine, M.D., is chief editor of Internet Publishing at Harvard Health Publications. He is recognized as an outstanding clinician and teacher and is a recipient of the Internal Medicine Teacher of the Year award at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Dr. LeWine continues to practice Internal Medicine; most recently he became a hospitalist after practicing primary care for over 20 years.
|
|
An old theory about the connection between headache and high blood pressure makes a comeback.
|
|
Detailed information on headaches, including the different types of headaches and statistics relating to headaches
|
|
Fatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.
|
|
Fatigue is physical and/or mental exhaustion that can be triggered by stress, medication, overwork, or mental and physical illness or disease.Everyone experiences fatigue occasionally. It is the body''s way of signaling its need for rest and sleep.
|
|
Boosting Your Energy provides information on the causes and treatments of persistent fatigue. Includes information on aging and energy, eating for energy, and boosting your energy.
|
|
Fatigue may be defined as a subjective state in which one feels tired or exhausted, and in which the capacity for normal work or activity is reduced. There is, however, no commonly accepted definition of fatigue when it is considered in the contex...
|
|
If the fatigue is related to a decrease in hemoglobin, or oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, then replacing the red blood cells by transfusion or taking erythropoietin can help reduce fatigue. If the fatigue is not related to this, then it is important that the person with cancer learn ways to conserve energy. Energy is like money, and people only have a limited amount of it. Think carefully about how to spend it. What activities are most important? What activities help restore energy? These are the activities that people with cancer should spend their energy on. They need to ask for help to do the rest of the activities.
|
|
If you regularly feel weary after waking from a good night's sleep or for no apparent reason, it's time to find out why.
|
|
Fatigue may be defined as a subjective state in which one feels tired or exhausted, and in which the capacity for normal work or activity is reduced. There is, however, no commonly accepted definition of fatigue when it is considered in the contex...
|
|
Fatigue is physical and/or mental exhaustion that can be triggered by stress, medication, overwork, or mental and physical illness or disease.Everyone experiences fatigue occasionally. It is the body''s way of signaling its need for rest and sleep.
|
|
Fatigue is a feeling of exhaustion or loss of strength. The duration of fatigue for a patient with cancer has been found to last from one to two times the length of time between diagnosis and completion of treatment, so it is common for fatigue to...
|
|
If the person on chemotherapy has decreased hemoglobin, or oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, and it seems like the low hemoglobin level will last for a while, then a medicine called PROCRIT® (Epoetin alfa) may be prescribed. This medicine is given as an injection to keep the hemoglobin at a higher level. This can sometimes manage fatigue. PROCRIT is for anemic chemotherapy patients with most types of cancer.
|
|
We currently understand some of the causes of fatigue but not all of them. Fatigue may be related to physical changes caused by cancer or its treatment (chemotherapy, biotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery). It is reported that the fatigue people get when receiving cancer treatment is more severe than the fatigue healthy people get. In addition, this fatigue lasts longer and is not relieved by sleep. Studies have shown that low hemoglobin is also related to fatigue. Hemoglobin carries oxygen in the blood, so if it is low, the body cells do not get as much oxygen as they need. Also, people who are not well nourished, who don't drink enough fluid and are dehydrated, or who are not able to move around much tend to have fatigue more easily. Finally, the way a person handles stress, thinks, or behaves can influence fatigue.
|
|
Fatigue is a vague feeling of being tired, weak, or exhausted. It is often a symptom of cancer, when cancer is first diagnosed, or when cancer progresses (Ferrell et al, 1996). It is also the most common side effect of cancer treatment. Some people with cancer have described fatigue as being "tired to the bones” or "hitting a wall.” Others say it is the most distressing side effect of cancer treatment. Fatigue is different for everyone, so it is important that the person who is experiencing it describe how he or she feels. Fatigue may cause decreased ability to work or do physical activity. If the person with cancer is easily distracted and unable to concentrate on mental work or activity, then he or she may have attentional fatigue (Winningham and Barton-Burke, 2000). Depending upon its cause, fatigue can come and go or stay constant for a while. Fatigue from chemotherapy tends to occur a few days after the treatment, peaks, and then gets better before the next treatment. Fatigue from radiation doesn't happen right away. It develops over the first two to three weeks of treatment and then increases as the treatment continues. It may last three months or more after the treatment is finished. Attentional fatigue can last up until two or three years after treatment is completed.
|
|
Fatigue is a common side effect of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. It can be caused by worry, lack of sleep, and poor appetite. Fatigue can also be a sign of anemia (a shortage of red blood cells). This could require medical treatment. The tips below can help you feel better.
|
|
Many people experience late-in-the-day energy lags, but you can take steps to prevent them.
|
|
Being tired is the familiar aftermath of physical exertion, prolonged labor or lack of sleep. When does being tired become a symptom of a condition? Fatigue, malaise, lassitude, exhaustion are all subtle variations of the same subjective feelings of not having enough energy to meet the demands of one's life.
|
 |
Muscle aches and pains are common and can involve more than one muscle. Muscle pain also can involve ligaments, tendons, and fascia, the soft tissues that connect muscles, bones, and organs. See also: Muscle cramps; Joint pain.
|
|
Anorexia is characterized by a loss of appetite or lack of desire to eat.Anorexia is common in cancer patients with reported incidence between 15% and 40%. Primary anorexia is especially prevalent in patients with advanced malignancy, and is frequ...
|
|
Detailed information on anorexia, including causes, characteristics, types, diagnosis, treatment, complications, and prevention
|
|
Loss of appetite is a loss of the desire to eat. Not eating can lead to weight loss. Weight loss can cause weakness and fatigue, which affect your ability to perform normal activities. Proper nutrition also helps your body prevent and fight infection. Weight loss or lack of appetite may be due to the cancer or sometimes to treatments for the cancer.
|
|
Your loss of appetite may be because of anxiety or depression, aging, medications or a health concern.
|
|
A harvard Medical school physician answers your question about the prevalence of anorexia in men, and discusses the biological and environmental factors that influence the disorder in both sexes.
|
|
Women suffering from anorexia nervosa may benefit more from general support than in-depth therapy, according to a recent study.
|
|
Hyperventilation is rapid or deep breathing that can occur with anxiety or panic. It is also called overbreathing, and may leave you feeling breathless. See also: Rapid shallow breathing
|
 |
A normal breathing rate for an adult at rest is 8 to 16 breaths per minute. For an infant, a normal rate is up to 44 breaths per minute. Tachypnea is the medical term that your doctor uses to describe your breathing if it is too fast, particularly...
|
|
|
Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound during breathing. It occurs when air flows through narrowed breathing tubes.
|
|
Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound associated with labored breathing.Wheezing occurs when a child or adult tries to breathe deeply through air passages that are narrowed or filled with mucus as a result of:.
|
|
Usually people who wheeze also experience some sense of heavy or labored breathing. Wheezing can be quite noisy, but the noise level from wheezing does not correlate with the severity of airflow obstruction. When airflow is very limited, wheezing may not be heard at all.
|
|
It used to be that having asthma meant choosing between breathing problems and side effects of asthma medicine. But today's asthma treatments have freed people from that choice. You can now breathe easier thanks to highly effective medications with few or no side effects. For people with more than occasional, mild symptoms, today's standard of care calls for consistent, daily use of asthma medications even when you feel well. And with the help of updated asthma guidelines, described in this report, you and your doctor can choose the most effective drugs and dosages to control your asthma while keeping your medication levels as low as possible.
|
|
Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound associated with labored breathing.Wheezing occurs when a person tries to breathe deeply through air passages(bronchia) that are narrowed because of muscle contractions or filled with mucus as a result of:...
|
|
Weakness is a reduction in the strength of one or more muscles.
|
Home | About | Health Experts | Careers | Site Map | Feedback | Help | Health Tools | Tell a Friend
Advertise | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
Advertise | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2005 - 2010 Healthline Networks, Inc. All rights reserved.