Viruses are not only the single most major cause of pneumonia in children, they also account for a significantly large number pneumonia infections in adults as well.

Signs and Symptoms of Viral Pneumonia:

Most viral pneumonia patients have breathing difficulties, breathlessness, chills, cough (mucopurulent sputum), crackles, headache, fatigue, fever, myalgia, rhinitis, and wheezing.

Diagnosis of Viral Pneumonia:

After a careful review of various clinical findings, your physician may order additional diagnostic tests including: chest x-rays, WBC count, sputum analysis, throat culture, throat biopsy specimens, cytologic evaluation of respiratory secretions, cytologic evaluation of bronchoalveolar washings, fluorescent antibody stains of respiratory secretions, and viral cultures.

Considering that often the clinical and radiographic features of viral pneumonia are nonspecific, lung biopsy (using a broncoscope -usually a rigid bronchoscope -or a thoracoscope) is sometimes necessary for accurately identifying the viral agent responsible for the infection.

Remedies and Treatment for Viral Pneumonia:

In order to reduce additional complications -especially in immnosuppressed/immunocompromised patients -it is essential that viral pneumonia patients are closely monitored. In addition to antiviral medications/anti-viral drug therapy, viral pneumonia patients may often receive analgesics, pain-killers, nutritions, and oxygen therapy.

Viral Pneumonia Prognosis:

Most cases of viral pneumonia in healthy adults and children usually result in a milder form of viral infection, and respond well to the traditional anti-viral therapy. On the other hand, virul pneumonia can indeed be a serious condition (often with serious consequences) in the elderly and/or immunodeficient patients.

Additional pneumonia related information is available at this site at: Bacterial Pneumonia, Fungal Pneumonia, and Viral Pneumonia.

Don't forget to check out Lung Disease News section of this website for the latest Viral Pneumonia Treatment News and our Lung Disease Articles Library for the latest Viral Pneumonia related Articles.

Note: Consult a qualified medical practitioner if you suspect lung disease. Information published at this mesothelioma lung disease asbestos cancer forum - or most other websites for that matter - should not be relied upon for health decisions. The information presented on this web site is not intended as a substitute for medical care, medical, legal, or professional advise. Please talk with your healthcare provider for all your health concerns.