“Can pneumonia be diagnosed without an x-ray?”

Hi, The diagnosis is made by a doctor, primarily based on the disease picture in combination with an examination. By listening with a stethoscope over the lungs, the doctor will be able to hear special sounds that can support the diagnosis. If pneumonia affects a larger part of the lung, there will be little or no air in this part. This means that when listening to the lungs with a stethoscope, fewer sounds are heard from that part of the lungs, in addition to a less hollow sound when the doctor taps the chest above the area in question. A form of echo with a hollow sound can be heard over a healthy lung, and a muffled sound over a lung with pneumonia How often the patient breathes, and respiratory rate, gives important indications of how serious the disease is. The disease will cause an increased number of white blood cells in the blood. The blood test CRP (C-reactive protein) will usually be elevated, also early in the course. An elevated CRP above 50 supports the diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia. The SR (lowering) will be elevated but takes some time to rise. The surest basis for a diagnosis is obtained from an X-ray of the lungs. In most places on the outskirts of the region, you do not take an X-ray to diagnose pneumonia. X-rays are used more for lung cancer and other lung diseases. In the case of mycoplasma infection, the course is often characterized by a prolonged cough and fever. Ordinary penicillin is then not effective, and one must use more specific agents such as Erythromycin or Tetracycline.