AKIPRESS.COM - U.S. Democratic party presidential candidate Hillary Clinton kept her pneumonia diagnosis from most of her staff, according to reports, choosing to tell only family and close aides, says BBC.

Clinton was reportedly concerned that news of the illness would be exploited by her opponents.

She was diagnosed on Friday and advised to rest, but continued campaigning.

Her team was forced to go public with the diagnosis on Sunday when she left a 9/11 memorial early, appearing weak.

Later on Monday, Clinton said she was feeling "so much better".

She also said that she had not disclosed her pneumonia diagnosis, saying: "I just didn't think it was going to be that big a deal."

The U.S. presidential candidate said she had ignored a doctor's "wise" advice to rest for five days. She said she hoped to be back on the trail in "the next couple of days".

The Democratic nominee acknowledged she had lost her balance during Sunday morning's health scare, but said she did not faint.

"I felt dizzy and I did lose my balance for a minute, but once I got in [the van], once I could sit down, once I could cool off, once I had some water, I immediately started feeling better," she said.

Some critics questioned why this had only been revealed after Sunday's events and Clinton's communications director conceded the incident had been poorly managed.

She will be releasing new medical records to help ease concerns about her health, a campaign spokesman said.

It capped a difficult weekend for Clinton, who came under attack from Donald Trump for calling half of his supporters "deplorable" people on Friday.

On Monday, the Republican presidential nominee wished her a speedy recovery. He also pledged to release the results of a medical examination he took over the past week.

Trump has repeatedly suggested Clinton is unfit, telling supporters last month she "lacks the mental and physical stamina" to serve as president.