What is Pneumonia? Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

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Posted: Nov 29th, 2022 at 12:00AM - by Ashlee Arnold

You've maybe heard stories of people getting sick with the flu and it progressing into pneumonia. While pneumonia can resolve on its own, it can also be incredibly dangerous — even fatal. For adults in the US, it's the most common cause of hospital admissions, and it's the leading cause of death in children under five years of age. What is pneumonia, exactly? Where does it come from, and how can we fight it?

What is Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection that affects one or both of your lungs. The infection causes the airways in your lungs to swell and the air sacs to fill up with fluid or pus, making breathing difficult.

What Causes Pneumonia?

The main causes of pneumonia are a variety of bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

Bacterial pneumonia is the most severe type of pneumonia. It can occur on its own or after you suffer from a cold. The most common type of bacterial pneumonia is called pneumococcal pneumonia.

Viral pneumonia comes from viruses that attack your respiratory system and ultimately cause the illness. This type of pneumonia mostly affects children under five years old. Most viral pneumonia is mild, lasts for a short time compared to bacterial pneumonia, and disappears on its own.

Some of the viruses that cause pneumonia are:

• The SARS-CoV-2 virus.
• The flu virus.
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Bacterial and viral pneumonia are very contagious. You can get them by inhaling infected air or touching infected surfaces.

Fungal pneumonia is common in individuals with weak immune systems and people exposed to animal droppings or contaminated soil.

3 Classifications of Pneumonia

Pneumonia is typically classified according to the germs that cause the infection and where you got the virus. The infection can be classified as:

• Community-acquired pneumonia: As the name suggests, this type of pneumonia usually occurs in public facilities and outside medical and institutional facilities. CAP is the most common type of pneumonia. For example, you might catch it at a bus station or the park.
• Hospital-acquired pneumonia: A person develops this type of pneumonia while receiving treatment for a different disease during a hospital stay. HAP is more serious than other acquired pneumonia types as the bacteria might be drug-resistant. Patients who depend on ventilators are at high risk of developing HAP.
• Aspiration pneumonia: This develops after you inhale food, drinks, or vomit into your lungs instead of swallowing it/spitting it out. A bacterial infection will develop once these inhaled substances irritate your lungs and cause pneumonia. This classification of pneumonia mostly affects people with a swallowing problem, brain injuries, or stroke.

Signs and Symptoms of Pneumonia

Symptoms of pneumonia can vary from mild to severe. Mild symptoms of pneumonia are similar to the flu or a cold.

More specifically, someone suffering from pneumonia might experience:

• Chest pains that worsen when breathing
• Confusion, especially in older people
• Difficulty breathing
• Bluish lips and nail beds
• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Muscle pain
• Fatigue
• Coughing that produces phlegm or blood

How is Pneumonia Diagnosed?

Pneumonia is a hard disease to diagnose. Its symptoms are similar to the cold and the flu, making it hard to know whether or not you have pneumonia.

Your healthcare provider will check your medical history, conduct a physical examination, and do certain tests to diagnose pneumonia.

Medical history: The provider will first begin with your medical history. They'll inquire about any signs and symptoms, your vaccination history, travel exposure, if you have recently suffered from the flu or a cold, and any exposure you potentially had from school or work.

Physical examination: Your doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to your lungs. They'll look specifically for decreased breathing sounds, wheezing, or coarse breathing.

Diagnostic tests: Your provider might order additional tests depending on the severity of your symptoms. These may include a:

• Chest x-ray: A chest x-ray helps your doctor to determine the extent of inflammation in your lungs.
• Sputum test: Your doctor will collect a sample of your mucus after you have coughed deeply. The sample is used to check for bacteria and the cause of infection.
• Blood test: This test uses a blood sample to confirm an infection.
• CT scan: The doctor uses a CT scan to provide a thorough and accurate view of your lungs and check for other complications.
• Fluid sample: The provider takes a fluid sample if they suspect fluid in your lung's pleural space. This test checks for any bacteria causing pneumonia.
• Bronchoscopy: This is a procedure used to check if there are any blockages in your airways.

How is Pneumonia Treated?

Pneumonia treatment depends on your type of pneumonia and its severity.

The main treatment for bacterial pneumonia is antibiotics. You should take the full antibiotics dose as the provider prescribes, even when you feel better. Failure to complete your medication increases the risk of infections returning and the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the future.

Antibiotics cannot treat viral pneumonia. Your doctor will prescribe antiviral drugs if you are diagnosed with viral pneumonia.

Fungal pneumonia is treated with antifungal medicines. To fully recover from this type of pneumonia, you must take the medication for several weeks.

Most people with pneumonia can self-treat at home and should feel better within days.

How Can I Prevent Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a preventable illness. You can reduce your chances of contracting pneumonia by:

• Getting vaccinated. Vaccines are one of the effective ways of preventing pneumonia, especially for those 65 years or older or those with an increased risk for infection. Pneumococcal vaccines protect against bacterial pneumonia. The annual flu shot and the COVID-19 vaccines will also shield you from viruses causing pneumonia. Other vaccines that help prevent pneumonia are Haemophilus influenzae type b, pertussis, and the measles vaccine.
• Maintain good hygiene. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eat a well-balanced diet, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep.
• Avoid smoking and being around people who smoke.

Pneumonia can be deadly if not addressed in a timely manner. To keep yourself and your loved ones safe from infection, maintain a healthy lifestyle and visit your healthcare center to get vaccinated.

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