Diagnose pneumonia without x-ray?

[MinnieTink]

A friend's 9 year old went to the Dr today with a high fever and cough. The dr took a listen and said Oh he has pneumonia. My kids have been x-rayed on a few occaisions when the dr had been concerned about pneumonia in the past. Can a Dr positively diagnose pneumonia without a chest x-ray?

 

[dis-happy]

Absolutely yes.

In fact, I try to avoid x-rays with my kiddos unless absolutely necessary since they have a cumulative effect.

 

[dicar123]

Apparently, the lungs (breath, actually) make a distinctive sound with pneumonia.

 

[npmommie]

yep, the lung sounds are distinctive in pneumonia.......there are other ways to tell on physical exam too, such as percussion........but yes lung sounds give it away most of the time.

 

[maelstrom]

I was diagnosed with pneumonia sans x-ray several times as a child.

 

[kilee]

I too have been told that when listening to the lungs they can detect pneumonia that method.

 

[Ephany]

Last time I had pneumonia, my lungs sounded like cellophane, very crackly. The doctor was sure it was pneumonia before she took the x-ray, but she ordered one just in case.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

Yes; two years ago, I was diagnosed with pneumonia without an x-ray. The doctor listened to my lungs and said there was a "rattle;" he gave me a breathing treatment and when I started coughing up fluid, he said, "Yep, you've definitely got pneumonia."

 

[MinnieTink]

Hey thanks for the input everyone! I was so curious because we use the same dr and three days prior she sent my son for an xray with pneumonia concerns. Thankfully his was negative. I hope my friends son recovers soon. There is a lot of scary stuff on the news and on the boards...enough to make you a massive worrywart. Any positive vibes and prayers are appreciated.

 

[5 for WDW]

My 9 year old son just got over a nasty case of pneumonia. The Dr knew as soon as he listened to him that he had it. But, he did an x ray to be sure. It was the 100% correct diagnosis. They wanted to admit him but, we have some other medical issues going on with him so, they sent him home with an iv in place with a hep lock for 4 days. We had to go back and forth for IV Rocephin those 4 days. They also had him on pill form antibiotics for 10 days. He had a 104 fever for days. He was one sick kid.
Thankfully, he got a clean bill of health on Friday. He is going in for surgery next week (11th) for a bone cyst in his lower leg. We almost had to postpone the surgery.

Many prayers for a quick recovery for your friends son. I can sympathize!

 

[d1sneyf4n]

My DS3 was had pneumonia and the my pedi did not d any x-rays. He said when you listen it sounds like velcro ripping apart. It was last Christmas. He gave us some antibiotics and that was it.

 

[kldmom2000]

Yes-when I was diagnosed with pneumonia in 1993, it was an easy diagnosis for my doctor from the way my lungs sounded....