Anyone medical or with experience of pneumonia?

[CampbellBramble]

DD had pneumonia a few months ago. She was so ill, and it took her a while to recover. She has developed a cough in the last few days and I can here that its productive, just like last time.

So far, there’s nothing to indicate that this will be anything more than a cough, but I suppose I’m a little anxious after what she’s just been through.

She has never really had this type of cough before, with the mucous, and so I’m obviously worrying in case the same happens again. Is it concerning to get this type of cough relatively soon after pneumonia? DD is 11.

YABU - it’s nothing to worry about
YANBU - it’s right for you to be concerned

I had pneumonia too and it took absolutely ages to get rid of the cough . It is supposed to be a good thing as my doctor kept referring to clearing the debris . But I did have a follow up X-ray to make sure my lungs were cleared .

I had pneumonia in my early twenties. It felt like I was drowning. I didn't go to hospital and it cleared up on its own. More recently, during covid times, I suffered with recurring chest infections which damaged my lungs and caused me to develop quite severe asthma. If I were you and this keeps happening (I hope it doesn't) I would get her a scan done of her lungs (I realise I'm jumping the gun a bit and hope I haven't alarmed you or anything) but yeah infections can cause tissue damage is my point

Thank you both.

@ThatFairy - she had a course of antibiotics last time, and they really did the trick. It just took a while to get her eating again and to get her energy back. I suppose I’m just on high alert after all of that.

I had pneumonia and pleurisy late 20s I was admitted to hospital for iv anti biotics - it took months to get my energy back and I continued with a cough for a long time. I did however also have an x ray to check for scaring etc a few months after treatment. Hope your DD feels better soon.

I had pneumonia three years ago. It was awful and I felt so ill. I recently had a chest infection and was panicking that it would be a repeat of last time. I went straight to the GP and the doctor found crackles in my left lung and put me immediately on amoxicillin. I finished the course last Tuesday and now am feeling much better. I’m sure if I left it I could have been much worse so highly recommend your DD getting it checked out ASAP.

Just to say I only had a cough and fatigue too.

A productive mucus cough isn’t anything to be concerned about and not necessarily related to the pneumonia. I’m someone who had pneumonia a lot as a child and as an adult (including several hospitalisations). The last time I was in hospital on oxygen for 4 days.

The only time I’d be concerned is if she’s in pain, has a high fever and/or has a rattle to her chest (feels like a vibration when breathing in and out). Otherwise, coughing up mucus is very normal, for me it usually means the infection is clearing.

Whenever I get a cold, I have a productive cough, so I don't think its concerning that she has one in itself, however if theyre not normal for her and she's not long recovered from pneumonia I think it would be reasonable to take her to the gp to check her lungs are OK.