How many days does the novel pneumonia take to develop?

Written by Chen Jian
Infectious Disease
Updated on May 17, 2025
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After being infected with the novel coronavirus pneumonia, symptoms generally appear within three to seven days, with the shortest onset reported within one day and the longest at 27 days. However, most patients develop symptoms within two weeks, typically exhibiting respiratory symptoms post-onset. The novel coronavirus primarily attacks the lower respiratory tract, including the trachea, bronchi, and lungs. Patients often experience recurring fever, with temperatures generally ranging between 38 to 39°C, lasting over 72 hours, accompanied by significant coughing. In the early stages, there is usually no noticeable expectoration, presenting as a dry cough. Most patients also experience significant fatigue. If the condition progresses, patients may suffer from shortness of breath and decreased blood oxygen saturation, leading to apparent respiratory distress. In severe cases, patients may experience respiratory failure and even death.

Other Voices

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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Is bronchopneumonia a type of pneumonia?

Undoubtedly, bronchopneumonia is a type of pneumonia, also known as lobular pneumonia. If imaged, the X-ray shows irregular patchy shadows distributed along the lung markings, with the edges light and fuzzy without signs of consolidation. It often occurs in the lower lobes of the lungs. The most common pathogens are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, viruses, etc. Common symptoms include fever, cough, expectoration, and some patients may experience chest pain, chest tightness, and hemoptysis.

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Written by Hu Xue Jun
Pulmonology
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Types of Pneumonia

Now let's talk about what pneumonia is and its classification. Pneumonia refers to inflammation of the terminal airways, alveoli, and pulmonary interstitium. It can be caused by pathogenic microorganisms, physicochemical factors, immune damage, allergies, and drugs. Bacterial pneumonia is the most common type of pneumonia and is also one of the most common infectious diseases. The classification of pneumonia generally involves several aspects: First is the anatomical classification: from an anatomical perspective, it can be divided into lobar pneumonia (alveolar pneumonia), bronchopneumonia (bronchial pneumonia), and interstitial pneumonia. Second, the classification based on etiology, which mainly includes the following aspects. The first is bacterial pneumonia, which includes Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia, Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia, Haemophilus influenzae pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia, and Acinetobacter baumannii pneumonia, etc. The second point is pneumonia caused by atypical pathogens such as Legionella, Mycoplasma, and Chlamydia. The third is viral pneumonia. The fourth refers to fungal diseases or fungal pneumonia. The fifth is pneumonia caused by other pathogens: such as rickettsiae, parasites. The sixth is pneumonia caused by physicochemical factors: such as radiation pneumonia, inhalational pneumonia, and lipid pneumonia. The third category is classification by the environment of illness, which can be divided into two types: the first is community-acquired pneumonia, and the second is hospital-acquired pneumonia.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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How is pneumonia treated?

Pneumonia is a respiratory tract infectious disease that requires the timely selection of antimicrobial drugs and anti-inflammatory treatment, as well as the choice of symptomatic treatment medications. Symptoms of pneumonia include fever, headache, nausea, sore throat, cough, expectoration, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. The pathogens causing the infection vary, and so do the antibiotics used to treat them. For common bacterial infections, penicillin antibiotics or cephalosporin antimicrobial drugs can be selected. During an acute fever phase, antipyretic analgesics may be chosen or physical cooling methods may be employed.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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Is the pneumonia vaccine self-funded?

The pneumonia vaccine is primarily aimed at preventing pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most significant and common bacterium causing pneumonia worldwide. This bacterium is also the most common cause of community-acquired pneumonia in children and is the main pathogen causing otitis media, meningitis, and bacteremia in children. Currently, there are two types of pneumonia vaccines available in China: the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine, which is suitable for people over two years old, and the 7-valent vaccine, which is suitable for infants under two years old. According to the regulations on vaccine distribution and vaccination management implemented in our country, vaccines are clearly divided into two categories: the first category includes vaccines provided free by the government to citizens, who are required to be vaccinated according to government regulations; the second category includes other vaccines that are paid for and voluntarily received by citizens. The pneumonia vaccine belongs to the second category, which is a self-funded vaccine.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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The difference between bronchopneumonia and pneumonia

Bronchopneumonia is a type of pneumonia. If we classify pneumonia anatomically, it is generally categorized into alveolar pneumonia, bronchopneumonia, and interstitial pneumonia. Thus, bronchopneumonia is a form of pneumonia. In lung imaging, bronchopneumonia often presents as patchy shadows distributed along the pulmonary markings, typically with blurry edges and more commonly seen in the lower lungs. These characteristics help distinguish it from other types of pneumonia.