Pneumonia Stages: Symptoms, Signs of Improvement & FAQs

Did you know that more than 900,000 Americans contract pneumonia each year?

Unfortunately, elderly individuals are four times more likely to get this condition than younger people and face higher hospitalization rates as well.

While pneumonia can be a life-threatening condition, many cases are mild.

In this guide, we’ll explore the different pneumonia stages, symptoms for each stage, how you can manage your loved one’s condition, and how our services at Always Best Care can help your loved one during their recovery.

What Is Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a condition in which air sacs are inflamed in one or both lungs. Fluid or yellow pus fills the inflamed sacs, causing a cough, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing.

Organisms like viruses, fungi, and bacteria can cause this infection.

Infants, adolescents, elderly people over 65, and those with a compromised immune system are more likely to be affected by pneumonia.

4 Stages of Pneumonia

Pneumonia goes through four stages. Each stage has a name that describes what’s happening with the infection as it progresses.

The four stages of pneumonia include:

Stage 1: Congestion

The first stage of pneumonia is called “congestion.” In this stage, lungs start to fill up, causing symptoms like a wet cough, chest pain, and fever.

This usually occurs within the first 24 hours after the infection kicks in.

The good news? Detecting pneumonia in its early stages can help minimize the chances of any serious complications.

In the congestion stage, you may notice a few symptoms like:

• A high fever with chills
• Coughing that can bring up clear, yellow, or green sputum
• Loss of appetite
• Pressure or heaviness in the chest
• Shortness of breath
• Hypoxia (in some cases), also known as low oxygen levels in the body

Stage 2: Red Hepatization

Pneumonia symptoms might get worse after the first 24 hours, as red blood cells and other immune cells rush to the lungs and alveoli to fight the infection.

This marks the onset of the second stage of pneumonia, known as red hepatization.

During red hepatization, red blood cells fill up the lungs, turning them a flushed red color, rather than their normal pinkish gray.

This change, along with reduced oxygen levels, makes the lungs dry and firm — similar to a liver. This is where the term “hepatization” comes from — which refers to the liver-like appearance of the lungs.

In the red hepatization phase, symptoms often get more intense, and you may experience:

• Severe shortness of breath
• Extreme fatigue
• Coughing up thick, yellow-green, and sometimes blood-stained phlegm
• High fever, chills, and violent shivering known as rigors
• Delirium in elderly individuals
• Cyanosis – a condition in which your skin or lips turn a bluish color due to lack of oxygen

Stage 3: Grey Hepatization

Grey hepatization, the third stage of pneumonia, sets in around four to six days after the infection starts.

At this point, red blood cells start to break down, turning the lungs into a grayish color. They also get drier but keep that liver-like consistency.

During grey hepatization, you’ll likely experience more intense symptoms than those you had during the red hepatization stage:

• Breathing becomes more difficult
• Patients may need more oxygen or even mechanical ventilation
• Coughing fits also become more evident with traces of blood
• Weight loss
• Night sweats

Stage 4: Resolution

Resolution is the final stage of pneumonia. This phase marks a turning point where you’ll start to notice your symptoms getting less frequent and less severe.

For most patients, it takes more than 28 days to completely recover from pneumonia.

Symptoms of the condition getting better include:

• Less coughing fits
• Higher energy levels
• Better breathing

How To Manage Pneumonia Symptoms

Dealing with pneumonia is challenging, but knowing how to manage your loved one’s symptoms can help ease their recovery:

• Take over-the-counter medicine: Feeling feverish? Over-the-counter meds like ibuprofen, naproxen, or acetaminophen can help. Just be sure to stick to the recommended doses or check with your doctor before taking any medication.
• Avoid cough medicine: It’s best not to take cough medicines without checking with your doctor first, as coughing is your body’s way of clearing out an infection. If your cough is keeping you from resting properly, discuss other options with your doctor.
• Try breathing exercises and treatments: Gentle breathing exercises can help open your airways, improve lung capacity, and reduce stress levels. If your doctor suggests breathing exercises, they may also recommend using a nebulizer to relax your breathing muscles.
• Stay away from smoke: This includes smoking, secondhand smoke, and wood smoke. If you’re struggling to stay smoke-free during recovery, talk to your doctor.
• Humidify the air: Placing a humidifier in your room adds moisture to the air, which can soothe your lungs and make breathing easier.
• Stay hydrated: Water, herbal teas, savory broths, and warm soup can help thin out mucus, making it easier to clear your lungs.
• Get plenty of rest: You might need to stay in bed for a bit. Try to get as much help as you can with errands, cooking, and housework until you’re feeling stronger. Remember, it’s important not to push yourself too hard with daily tasks until you’re fully recovered.
• When in doubt, head to the hospital: If you’re not getting better within a week or your symptoms take a turn for the worse, don’t hesitate to get professional treatment. Sometimes, you may need additional care, such as oxygen therapy or a hospital stay, to get back on track.

How Can Elderly Individuals Prevent Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is preventable and elderly individuals can significantly reduce their risk by taking proactive steps like getting vaccinated.

In fact, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) and the American Lung Association are actively working together to inform older adults that the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) vaccine can help minimize their risk of pneumonia.

In addition to vaccinating your senior loved one, you can also protect them from getting pneumonia by:

• Encouraging them to practice good hygiene: Regularly washing the hands, covering the face when coughing and sneezing, and keeping surfaces clean can make a big difference.
• Boosting their immune system: Ensure they get plenty of sleep, exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, and drink lots of water.
• Maintaining indoor quality: Keep your living spaces well-ventilated and consider using air purifiers to cut down on allergens, airborne pollutants, and pathogens.

Manage Your Senior Loved One’s Pneumonia Symptoms With Always Best Care

At Always Best Care, we’re dedicated to helping your elderly loved one return to their regular routine during recovery.

When you decide to partner with us, one of our Care Coordinators will meet with you and your loved one to craft a personalized service plan that perfectly suits their needs.

Our caregivers are highly trained professionals who have passed extensive background checks, so you know you’re in good hands.

Our in-home care services can aid in the physical recovery from pneumonia, while supporting the patient’s overall well-being.

These services include, but are not limited to:

• Hospital to Home: This service ensures a seamless transition from hospital back to your home.
• 24-Hour Care & Live-In Care: Continuous monitoring ensures that any changes in the patient’s condition are promptly addressed, providing peace of mind and immediate assistance whenever needed.
• Nutrition Monitoring and Meal Preparation: Eating right is a big part of getting better. We make sure your senior loved one is getting well-balanced meals to boost their immune system and speed up recovery.

FAQs About Pneumonia Stages

What are the potential complications of pneumonia?

Whether your loved one’s pneumonia is caused by bacteria, a virus, or fungus, it could lead to other health issues, such as:

• Sepsis, a serious condition in which the body reacts abnormally to an infection, potentially damaging organs
• Bacteremia, which means bacteria have gotten into your blood
• Respiratory failure
• Lung abscesses, also known as pus-filled areas in the lung
• Lung failure
• Kidney failure
• Heart issues

Are the final stages of pneumonia fatal?

Complications such as sepsis, septic shock, and organ failure can make the final stages of pneumonia life-threatening.

How soon after treatment for pneumonia will my elderly loved one start to feel better?

If you’re only experiencing a mild case of pneumonia, you might be able to get back to your normal activities within a week.

However, keep in mind that your senior loved one could still feel tired and have a cough that lingers for up to a month.

Can pneumonia go away on its own?

Yes, pneumonia can clear up on its own if it’s mild. With walking pneumonia, symptoms are often mild enough to allow individuals to maintain their daily routine while recovering.