Pneumonia is an infection that attacks one or both of the lungs, causing inflammation that might be caused by a virus, bacteria, fungi, or other germs. Not only can this be incredibly uncomfortable, but it can also be dangerous when not caught and treated.
There are several ways a healthcare professional can diagnose Pneumonia, including using a chest X-ray. This takes images of your chest to get a better look into your lungs to see what might be causing your symptoms, along with determining what the best course of treatment might be.
How Do Pneumonia X-ray Scans Work?
An X-ray is a form of imaging technique that uses ionising radiation to take several images of your chest, focusing on your lungs, heart, blood vessels, and respiratory system. The x-ray machine will be moved around your chest to take images from lots of different angles, so your doctor can get the best picture possible.
When looking at your X-ray, the radiologist will look for white spots on the lunges which indicate an infection. This exam will also let you know if you have any complications related to the pneumonia, such as abscesses or pleural effusions. Without treatment, these complications can make your Pneumonia much more dangerous, so it’s important that they’re found as soon as possible.
Why Might You Need a Pneumonia X-ray?
A chest X-ray is one of the first and most common tests many doctors will run if you’re showing any symptoms of Pneumonia. Here are the most common symptoms to look for:
-
Coughing up phlegm or blood
-
Fever
-
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
-
Chills or shaking
-
Fatigue
-
Sweating
-
Chest or muscle pain
You might be more likely to get a chest X-ray quicker if you have existing health issues that put you at an increased risk of complications. Pneumonia can lead to serious health complications, including respiratory system failure, abscesses, and even sepsis. These conditions can be fatal, which is why it’s so important that you get medical attention as soon as possible.
How To Prepare for Your Pneumonia X-ray?
You don’t usually need to do anything particular when preparing for an X-ray, as they’re often conducted as outpatient appointments. You should be able to eat and drink beforehand, and you should be able to take your usual medications as normal. However, you might need to restrict eating and drinking, as well as medications, if you’re having an X-ray using a contrast agent.
Your doctor will be able to tell you more about any dietary restrictions you might have to abide by, and they’ll explain why you’re having the contrast medium, as well.
X-rays aren’t recommended for pregnant people because of the included radiation exposure, so make sure you tell your doctor if you are, or think you might be pregnant. You might be recommended a different test to determine whether you have Pneumonia or not.
On the day of your chest X-ray, we recommend that you wear loose and comfortable clothes, as these should be fine to wear during the scan. Remove as much metal as you can and leave it at home, as this can interfere with the scan pictures. Your radiologist will most likely ask you to remove these when you’re there anyway, so you can save waiting time at the hospital by leaving your jewellery and clothing with metals attached at home.
What To Expect From a Pneumonia X-ray
During the Scan
When you arrive for your X-ray, you’ll be checked in and verified before being taken to a waiting room where you’ll be called for your scan. You might also be given a locker to store your belongings, including any metal jewellery you haven’t removed, your phone, keys, belts, and more.
Once you’re in the X-ray room, you’ll be asked to lie on the table and your radiologist will position you and the scanner above you, which in this case will be your chest. They’ll then go behind a screen or in the next room where they’ll operate the X-ray machine.
The scan itself lasts a matter of seconds, and you won’t feel any pain while it’s being done. However, you’ll need to keep still to make sure the images come out clear. If your scans end up blurred, you’ll probably have to come in for another scan for clearer images.
More than one image might need to be taken, so your radiologist might pop back up again to readjust the machine’s position before taking a few more pictures. The entire procedure should only take a few minutes.
After the Scan
You shouldn’t experience any after-effects from an X-ray, so you should be able to go home soon afterwards unless your doctor wants to keep you in for monitoring. This might be more common if your Pneumonia symptoms are more severe, or you have any complications related to the infection.
Most Pneumonia X-rays don’t require a contrast medium, but in some cases, your doctor might call for it. This slightly increases the chances of side effects, including white stool and blurry eyesight. Some people report a new rash or feeling sick after the contrast has been injected, but this usually goes away on its own.
Your X-ray images will need to be examined by your doctor before you’ll get the results. Depending on the severity of your Pneumonia, you might be given your results on the same day or sent home to wait for them within a few years.
What Are the Benefits of a Pneumonia X-ray?
There are several benefits of having an X-ray for your Pneumonia symptoms, including:
-
An X-ray can show any complications with your pneumonia: There is the potential that your infection could create a number of complications that could become dangerous to your health, so being able to pick these up on an X-ray all at once can be super beneficial to your health
-
X-rays are quick, safe, and painless: X-rays usually take a matter of seconds to minutes, so you and your doctors can determine the severity of your Pneumonia much quicker than other methods of detection
-
X-rays can take larger images of your entire chest: Taking an X-ray of your chest doesn’t just focus on your lungs – it can also detect infection in your blood vessels, heart, and much more
-
Your scan results can tailor your treatment plan: Once your doctor has taken a look at your scans, they’ll be able to tailor your treatment plan best to your individual circumstances and have you feeling better in as little time as possible
What Are the Risks of a Pneumonia X-ray?
Some people worry about the potential risks that come with X-rays and the ionising radiation they use. However, don’t panic – your chest will only be exposed to a small amount of radiation during the X-ray, and this only lasts for a few seconds. Generally, the amount of radiation you’re exposed to during the x-ray is the same amount you’re exposed to between a few days and a few years of natural radiation from the environment.
There is a risk of this radiation exposure causing cancer many years or decades later, but the risk of this is thought to be very small. For example, an X-ray of the chest has less than a 1 in 1,000,000 chance of causing cancer.
The benefits of chest X-rays for Pneumonia are thought to be greater than the potential risks. You can always talk to your doctor or radiographer if you have any concerns about the risk of an X-ray before going into your scan.
FAQs
Why Would a Doctor Order a Pneumonia X-ray?
If you’re showing symptoms of Pneumonia, your doctor will most likely order a chest X-ray because they’re quick and painless. Pneumonia is already rather uncomfortable, so they’ll likely try to use scans that don’t put you in any more discomfort. Chest X-rays will also be able to show the extent and location of your infection, hopefully making treatment easier and quicker.
How Long Does a Pneumonia X-ray Take?
X-rays are over within a matter of minutes, with each picture taking a second to capture. The more images your doctor wants to take of your chest, the longer it will take with them readjusting the position of the machine. However, almost all X-rays will be completed within ten minutes.
Can I drink water before a Pneumonia X-ray?
Most X-rays don’t require you to fast or restrict drinking beforehand, but always talk to your doctor if you’re unsure. The exception to this would be if they were using a contrast medium to get a better look through the X-ray, but this isn’t very common for Pneumonia.
World-Class Radiology
