Pneumonia is a common infection that affects the lungs and in this condition the lung tissue of a person is filled with fluid or pus. A person suffering from pneumonia may have breathing problems along with cough and fever. Proper pneumonia diagnosis is crucial for its appropriate treatment. The tests used for diagnosis of this condition help in differentiating pneumonia from some other conditions.

Pneumonia diagnosis begins by taking the history of the patient. The patient should be asked about any recent infection or the presence of any chronic respiratory infection. An individual should also reveal any exposure he/she has had to other people suffering from pneumonia. Any history of smoking along with drug and alcohol abuse should also be reported.

The stethoscope is an important diagnostic tool which is used for pneumonia diagnosis. The sounds within the chest can indicate whether a person has pneumonia. Those suffering from this condition may get rales which is a cracking or bubbling sound in the chest. Such sounds may be heard on one part of the chest. Such sounds may also be heard when the patient is particularly lying down. Rhonchi refer to abnormal rumbling sounds and these may also be heard within the chest. Such sounds are an indication of the thick fluid present within the chest.

The physician also uses the percussion as a part of the pneumonia diagnosis procedure. As a part of this process the physician will slightly tap the chest and a dull thud may be heard instead of a hollow drum sound. Such a thud may be a sign of the person suffering from pneumonia. Certain laboratory tests are also used for diagnosis of the pneumonia condition.

Examining the sputum from a sample taken from the cough can also help in identifying this condition. The sputum sample is checked for blood as well as color and consistency. If the sputum is green, yellow or brown then it reflects the existence of an infection. The sputum is also examined for the presence of certain bacteria and it is determined of the bacteria are positive or gram negative

Blood tests are also conducted as a part of pneumonia diagnosis procedure. A white blood cell count that reflects elevated levels points towards a possible infection. Blood cultures help to detect specific organisms. Specialized techniques are also employed to identify antibodies to the bacteria. In some cases a polymerase chain reaction test may be conducted. This is done to make copies of genetic material of the bacteria so that they can be detected.

Some other advanced laboratory tests may be conducted to identify uncommon organisms like mycoplasma, Chlamydia and legionella. Chest X-ray is also one of the most important pneumonia diagnosis processes. The chest X-ray helps in identifying white areas within the lung. Abscesses and pleural effusion can also be identified. Thoracentesis is a test that is performed when pleural effusion is observed. In this fluid from the pleura is withdrawn through a long needle which is inserted between a person’s ribs. This fluid is sent to a laboratory for tests.

Bronchoscopy is a procedure which may be done as a part of pneumonia diagnosis. In this a person is first given local anesthesia and then a fiberoption tube is inserted through the nose or mouth in the lower respiratory tract. The tube ensures that the physician gets to check the major airways for abnormal mucous and pus. The doctor also removes samples for further analysis. In severe cases a lung biopsy might be conducted on the patient. In this procedure some tissue may be taken from the lungs and this is then examined under the microscope. Likewise lung tap is another procedure in which a small needle is inserted to take fluid from the lungs and this is then analyzed.