Regardless of age, pneumonia symptoms can vary from one person to the next, ranging from mild to severe. Children and older adults have the highest risk of contracting pneumonia through contact with an infected individual. The symptoms will be different in type and severity based on whether the pneumonia illness is the result of a virus or bacteria. For cases of pneumonia caused by bacteria, symptoms will typically include fever, mucus-filled coughing, cough that causes pain, diarrhea, vomiting, unusual or excessive tiredness, and a lack of appetite. These symptoms can also show up in a case of pneumonia caused by a virus, with additional symptoms including headache, chills, harsh or rapid breathing, or a general fussy demeanor. In the case of a virus, symptoms that affect the child’s breathing can often develop more slowly. The breathing problems may start out as wheezing before they develop into a worsening cough. Symptoms of pneumonia can often be mistaken for those of a cold or other common illness, usually appearing at the end of an illness. When these cold-like symptoms get worse, it is time to take your child to see the doctor check for signs of pneumonia.