Pneumonia Cough: How It Might Sound Different From Other Coughs

Coughing can be a symptom of various conditions, including pneumonia. You may wonder what a pneumonia cough sounds like, but know that it's typically deeper than a regular cough and is a productive, or wet, cough.

Pneumonia is an infection of one or both of the lungs. Symptoms can range from mild to severe, including cough, fever, and chest discomfort.

What Does a Pneumonia Cough Sound Like?

Pneumonia coughs tend to sound "deeper" than regular coughs, Raymond Casciari, MD, a pulmonologist at St. Joseph Hospital, told Health. One study on artificial intelligence and pneumonia cough sounds found that you may also hear these types of cough at a higher volume. The researchers found that the coughing became louder in the final phase of pneumonia cough.

You and a healthcare provider may consider other factors—like your other symptoms—to see if you may have pneumonia. Other illnesses can be similar to pneumonia coughs, such as croup and whooping cough. Croup is an illness with a barking cough that mainly affects children. Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, causes a violent cough with a whooping sound.

The cough itself from pneumonia can signal that something is off. A new cough or a cough that has changed from your usual cough is a signal to investigate it further.

What Does a Pneumonia Cough Look Like?

What you cough up depends on what type of pneumonia you have and the stage it's in. You may not cough up anything if you have early-stage viral pneumonia. It's likely to be "more productive of mucus" if your viral pneumonia has progressed or you are dealing with bacterial pneumonia, said Dr. Casciari.

A pneumonia cough can have bloody mucus. A severe cough for any reason can cause a blood vessel to break and mucus to be blood-tinged.

Productive coughs are not always due to pneumonia. Wet coughs can also indicate other health conditions, such as:

• Asthma
• Bronchiectasis, a condition of inflamed and infected airway walls
• Bronchitis
• COVID-19
• Cystic fibrosis, a genetic condition that causes breathing and digestive problems
• Influenza
• Primary ciliary dyskinesia, a genetic condition that affects the lung-clearing functions of tiny, hair-like structures called cilia

Other Symptoms

Pneumonia can cause other symptoms, in addition to a cough, such as:

• Chest discomfort
• Diarrhea
• Fever or chills
• Nausea or vomiting
• Trouble breathing

Causes

Pneumonia is the result of air sac inflammation in the lungs. The outcome is coughing alongside other symptoms—like chills, difficulty breathing, or a fever—when the sacs fill with fluid or pus.

Pneumonia is usually caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi, but each often results in a cough. This cough can produce green, yellow, or bloody mucus.

Treatments

Treatment for a pneumonia cough will be based on the type of pneumonia itself. Medications and home remedies typically treat pneumonia.

Medications

A healthcare provider will likely prescribe an antibiotic to treat a bacterial infection—and your cough. Antibiotics help your symptoms improve over a few days. It's essential to take all of the antibiotics as prescribed. Not doing so may allow pneumonia to return and increase the possibility of antibiotic resistance.

A healthcare provider may prescribe an antiviral medication if the cause is viral. Antibiotics do not work for viral infections. Antiviral medicines may not affect all viruses that lead to pneumonia. Healthcare providers will have you take an antifungal medication for fungal pneumonia.

These medications treat the underlying infection. They should help you to feel better, but it may take a little time for your cough to clear up.

Home Remedies

There are a few things you can do to help your cough in the meantime:

• Do steam treatments: This can be with a humidifier or just hanging out in your steamy bathroom. Inhaling humidified vapor can help loosen mucus, making it easier to cough up. The steam can also help clear your airways for better breathing.
• Drink plenty of water: Having a lot of fluids can make it easier to bring up phlegm by loosening secretions and preventing dehydration.
• Get some rest: Resting will help your body recover so you have the energy to fight the infection. Wait until you're fully recovered—and when a healthcare provider has said it's okay—to return to your routine activities.
• Try a cough suppressant: This is particularly helpful when you cannot sleep because you are coughing. Talk with a healthcare provider before using cough medicines. Coughing is helpful for the body to get rid of an infection.
  

When To Contact a Healthcare Provider

Call a healthcare provider if you suspect you have pneumonia. Seek help as soon as possible if you have:

• Chest pain
• Coughing up blood
• Drowsiness
• Headache
• High fever
• Night sweats
• A persistent cough that will not go away
• Significant shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Face swelling or hives
• Unintentional weight loss
• Wheezing

A painful cough can be a sign of a range of health issues. It's a good idea to get it checked out if it's bothering you and is not getting better.

A Quick Review

A pneumonia cough might sound deeper or louder than other coughs and may or may not produce either green, yellow, or bloody mucus. The type of cough may depend on what kind of pneumonia you have and what stage it's in.

Coughing is among the symptoms associated with pneumonia. Talk to a healthcare provider to figure out the best treatment for you if you are experiencing a severe cough, whether you suspect your cough is due to pneumonia or not.