Symptoms usually include shaking, chills, and a high temperature. The cough is dry at first. Then a rust-colored sputum is produced, and breathing becomes rapid and labored. Chest pain that worsens upon inhalation, abdominal pain, and fatigue are also common. This type of pneumonia is unlikely to spread from one person to another.
Viral pneumonia is more variable in course and severity.
It can come on suddenly or gradually, and symptoms can be mild, severe, or anywhere in between. It is less serious than bacterial pneumonia, but if not cared for properly, a second, bacterial infection can set in. Fungal pneumonia is much less common than either the bacterial or viral variety, and is often associated with a weakened or suppressed immune system. People with HIV, AIDS, or certain types of cancer, or who are taking immunosuppressive drugs following organ transplantation, are most likely to be affected. About 2 million cases of pneumonia are diagnosed in the United States every year, and 40,000 to 70,000 people die of the disease, making it the sixth leading cause of death in this country.