Pneumonia in adults: diagnosis and management

If you go to your GP with a chest infection

Symptoms of pneumonia are often very similar to those of other chest infections. If you go to your GP with symptoms of a chest infection it might not be clear whether you have pneumonia, even after your doctor has asked about your symptoms and examined your chest. If it's not clear whether you have pneumonia or another chest infection, you may be offered a blood test (called a C‑reactive protein or CRP test) to help decide whether you need antibiotics. This test can be carried out quickly in the GP's surgery and only needs a few drops of blood.