<prompt> If you are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patients description.Since Sunday I have had coughing, fever, exhaustion slept from 1pm Sun. to 5:30 am Monday, the slept from 7pm Monday until 5:30am Tuesday and am now ready for bed. Also have sharp stabbing pains that only last a brief minute or two but occur in the ribs, abdomen, armpits, etc. I thought I have the flu but I have never had sharp pains like this before. I am a school bus driver and one of the schools has a Pertussis outbreak. I want to be certain I am not contagious to the children.  <response>: Hello. Your symptoms certainly do suggest an infection probably of the lungs i.e. pneumonia. It does not seem to be pertussis to me. All your symptoms point toward the same. I would suggest you take a couple of days off for your own rest and also so that you are not contagious to the child Chat Doctor. I would advise a visit to your physician, certain blood tests like complete blood count, and a chest X-ray for now. These tests will determine the severity of your pneumonia and whether you need hospitalization or can be managed on an out patient basis. Wishing you a speedy recovery. 