Diagnosis
Your healthcare provider can diagnose pneumonia based on your
- Symptoms
- Physical exam
- Lab tests
- Chest x-ray
Other bacteria and germs also can cause pneumonia. Therefore, if you have any of the symptoms of pneumonia, you should get diagnosed early and start taking medicine, if appropriate.
Your healthcare provider can usually diagnose pneumococcal pneumonia by finding Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria in your blood, saliva, or lung fluid.