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What Is Pneumonia Pneumonia is an infection in one or both lung. It can be caused by fungi, bacteria, or viruses. Pneumonia causes inflammation in your lung’s air sacs, or alveoli. The alveoli fill with fluid or pus, making it difficult to breathe.
Symptoms of pneumonia can range from mild to life-threatening.
The severity of your pneumonia usually depends on:
·
the cause of your inflammation
·
the type of organism causing your infection
·
your age
·
your general health
Keep reading to learn about what causes pneumonia as well as its
symptoms. You should call your doctor if you have any concerns. Severe
pneumonia is a medical emergency.
Bacterial pneumonia can affect anyone at any age. It can develop
on its own or after a 
There are five major types of
pneumonia. They are:
serious cold or flu. The most common
cause of bacterial pneumonia is Streptococcus pneumoniae. Bacterial
pneumonia can also be caused byChlamydophila
pneumonia or Legionella pneumophila. Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia is sometimes seen in those
who have weak immune systems due to illnesses like AIDS or cancer.
Viral Pneumonia
In most cases, respiratory viruses can cause pneumonia,
especially in young children and the elderly. Pneumonia is usually not serious
and lasts a short time. However, the flu virus can cause viral pneumonia to be
severe or fatal. It’s especially harmful to pregnant women or individuals with
heart or lung issues. Invading bacteria can cause complications with viral
pneumonia.
Mycoplasma Pneumonia
Mycoplasma organisms are not viruses or bacteria, but they have
traits common to both. They are the smallest agents of disease that affect
humans. Mycoplasmas generally cause mild cases of pneumonia, most often in
older children and young adults.
Other Types of Pneumonia
Many additional types of pneumonia
affect immune-compromised individuals. Tuberculosis and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) generally
affect people with suppressed immune systems, such as those who have AIDS. In
fact, PCP can be one of the first signs of illness in people with AIDS.
Less common types of pneumonia can also be serious. Pneumonia can
be caused by inhaling food, dust, liquid, or gas, as well as by various fungi.
Part 3 of 7: Risk Factors
Who Is at Risk for Developing Pneumonia?
No one is immune to pneumonia,
but there are certain factors that can raise your risks:
·
People who have had a stroke, have problems swallowing, or are
bedridden can easily develop pneumonia.
·
Infants from birth to age two are at risk for pneumonia, as are
individuals age 65 or older.
·
People with weakened immune systems are at increased risk of
pneumonia. This includes
people who take medications that weaken the immune system, such as steroids and
certain medications for cancer, and people with HIV, AIDS, or cancer.
·
Drug abuse increases risk. This includes
excessive alcohol consumption and smoking.
·
Certain medical conditions raise your risks for pneumonia. These
conditions include asthma, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and heart failure.
Part 4 of 7: Symptoms
What Are the Symptoms of Pneumonia?
The general symptoms of
bacterial pneumonia can develop quickly and may include:
·
chest pain
·
shaking chills
·
fever
·
dry cough
·
wheezing
·
muscle aches
·
nausea
·
vomiting
·
rapid breathing
·
rapid heartbeat
·
difficulty breathing
Some symptoms may indicate a medical emergency. You should seek
immediate medical attention if you have any of these symptoms:
·
skin with bluish tone (from lack of oxygen)
·
blood in sputum (coughed-up mucus)
·
labored breathing
·
high fever (102.5°F or higher)
·
confusion
·
rapid heartbeat
Part 5 of 7: Diagnosis
Pneumonia can be easily
overlooked as the cause of an illness because it often resembles a cold or the
flu. However, it usually lasts longer and symptoms seem more severe than these
other conditions.
Detailed Patient History
To determine whether or not you have pneumonia, your doctors
will usually inquire about your signs and symptoms. Questions they may ask
include:
·
What are your symptoms and when did they begin?
·
What were your recent travels and activities?
·
What was your recent exposure to animals?
·
What was your recent exposure to individuals who are sick?
·
What are your past and current medical issues?
·
What medications are you currently taking?
·
What is your smoking history?
·
Have you recently had any vaccinations or illnesses?
Physical Exam
Crackling and bubbling sounds in the chest during inhalation are
usually indicators of pneumonia. Wheezing may also be present. Your doctor may
also have trouble hearing normal breathing sounds in different areas of your
chest.
Diagnostic Tests
Chest X-rays can be used to determine if infection is present in
your lungs. However, chest X-rays won’t show your type of pneumonia. Blood
tests can provide a better picture of the type of pneumonia. Also, blood tests
are necessary to see if the infection is in your bloodstream.
Other Tests
The following are additional tests that may be required:
·
A CT scan of the chest is similar to an X-ray, but the pictures
provided by this method are highly detailed. This painless test provides a
clear and precise picture of the chest and lungs.
·
This sputum test involves examining the sputum (the mucus you
cough up) to determine what type of pneumonia is present.
·
If there is fluid apparent in the pleural space (the space
between the tissue that covers the outside of your lungs and the inside of your
chest cavity), a fluid sample can be taken to help determine if the pneumonia
is bacterial or viral.
·
A pulse oximetry test measures the level of oxygen blood
saturation by attaching a small sensor to your finger. Pneumonia can prevent
normal oxygenation of the blood.
·
When antibiotics fail, a bronchoscopy can be used to view the
airways inside the lungs to determine if blocked airways are contributing to
the pneumonia.
Anyone can get pneumonia. It's commonly a complication of a respiratory infection—especially the flu—but there are more than 30 different causes of the illness. Older adults, children and people with chronic disease, including COPD and asthma, are at high risk for pneumonia.
Pneumonia symptoms can vary from mild to severe, depending on the type of pneumonia you have, your age and health.
The most common symptoms of pneumonia are:
Additional symptoms include:
Symptoms also can vary, depending on whether your pneumonia is bacterial or viral.
Many different germs can cause pneumonia. There are five main causes of pneumonia:
If you have viral pneumonia, you also are at risk of getting bacterial pneumonia.
Understanding the cause of pneumonia is important because pneumonia treatment depends on its cause. Learn more about what causes pneumonia.
Anyone can get pneumonia, but some people are at a higher risk than others.
Risk factors (that increase your chances of getting pneumonia) include:
How Is Pneumonia
Treated?
The type of treatment
prescribed for pneumonia mostly depends on what type of pneumonia is present,
as well as how severe it is. In many cases, pneumonia can be treated at home.
General Treatment
The typical treatment plan for pneumonia includes taking all
prescribed medications and participating in follow-up care. A chest X-ray may
be ordered to make sure your pneumonia has been successfully treated.
Treating Bacterial Pneumonia
Antibiotics are used to treat this type of pneumonia.
Antibiotics should be taken as directed. If you stop taking the antibiotics
before treatment is complete, the pneumonia may return. Most people will
improve after one to three days of treatment.
Treating Viral Pneumonia
Antibiotics are useless if a virus is the cause of pneumonia.
However, certain antiviral drugs can help treat the condition. Symptoms usually
clear within one to three weeks.
Can Pneumonia Be Prevented?
Anyone with diabetes, asthma,
and other severe or chronic health problems is at risk for pneumonia. However,
in many cases, it can be prevented with vaccines against bacterial pneumonia
and flu. Quitting smoking will definitely lower your risk of pneumonia.
Wash your hands frequently, especially after blowing your nose, going to the bathroom, diapering, and before eating or preparing foods.
Tobacco damages your lung's ability to fight off infection, and smokers have been found to be at higher risk of getting pneumonia. Smokers are considered one of the high risk groups that are encouraged to get the pneumococcal vaccine.
If you have children, talk to their doctor about:
If you have cancer or HIV, talk to your doctor about additional ways to prevent pneumonia and other infections.
The pneumococcal vaccine prevents serious blood, brain, and lunginfections from the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. Such infections are called pneumococcal disease -- they also include pneumonia,meningitis, and septicemia.
Pneumococcal disease is a serious health threat that can lead to death. Many strains of Streptococcus pneumonia are resistant to antibiotics. Infection with the bacteria is a leading cause of serious illness in adults and children worldwide. In the U.S. alone, more people die from pneumococcal disease each year than all other vaccine-preventable diseases combined.
Vaccination is the best way to prevent pneumococcal disease. There are two different types of pneumococcal vaccine. One that protects adults against 23 strains of Streptococcus pneumonia bacteria is called pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23), and it is marketed under the brand name Pneumovax. PPSV23 is made using dead bacteria. The dead germs cannot make you sick.
The other is pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, PCV13 (brand namePrevnar 13), which is routinely given to infants and toddlers, but was approved by the FDA in 2011 for use in adults ages 50 and older. It protects against up to 13 strains of pneumococcal bacteria.
The pneumococcal vaccine can be given at any time of the year. The pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) is recommended for the following adults:
The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) is recommended for the following adults:
It's now recommended that adults ages 65 and older get both vaccines. Adults age 65 or older who are need to get both should get the PCV13 vaccine first, followed by PPSV23 6 to 12 months later. If an adult was already vaccinated with PPSV23, he or she should receive the PCV13 vaccine a year or more later.
Who Needs a Booster
Shot of the Pneumococcal Vaccine?
Some people may need a booster shot after 5 years. The doctor
will recommend a second dose of PPSV23 if you are an adult between ages 19 and
64 who has:
·
A damaged spleen or
no spleen
·
Kidney disease called
nephritic syndrome
·
A weakened immune
system due to medications such
aschemotherapy drugs
and long-term steroids
·
Cancer, including leukemia, lymphoma,
and multiple myeloma
·
History of an organ or bone marrow
transplant
·
HIV/AIDS
·
Sickle cell disease
Adults over age 65 who received PPSV23 before age 65 also need a
booster shot if it has been more than 5 years since being vaccinated.
Who Should Not Get the
Pneumococcal Vaccine?
You should NOT get the PPSV23 or the PCV13 vaccine if you have
had:
·
A life-threatening allergic
reaction to either vaccine
·
A severe allergy to any of the
vaccines' ingredients
If you are moderately to severely ill, your doctor may recommend
waiting to get the shot until after you recover. The CDC says you can still get
the vaccines if you have a mild illness, such as a cold or low-grade fever.
It is not known whether the PPSV23 and PCV13 vaccines are safe
to get during pregnancy;
there have been no reports of harm to babies whose mothers received the vaccine
before realizing they were pregnant. Pregnant women should only receive these
vaccinations if they are clearly needed.
What Are the Side
Effects and Risks of the Pneumococcal Vaccine?
Like all vaccines, both PPSV23 and PCV13 can have side effects.
But the risk of harm or death from either is extremely rare.
Reported side effects are similar for both vaccines. Some people
may have mild swelling, redness, and soreness where the shot was given. This
goes away in a few days.
Less than 1% of people who receive these vaccines may have:
·
Fever
·
More severe swelling,
pain, or redness where the shot was given
·
Muscle aches
Rarely, someone may have a severe allergic reaction to
an ingredient in the vaccines. Most of the time, such reactions occur within a
few minutes of receiving a pneumococcal vaccine. The following can be signs of
a severe allergic
reaction:
·
Behavior changes
·
Breathing difficulty,
including wheezing
·
Hoarse voice
·
Hives
·
Pale skin
·
Rapid heart beat
·
Weakness
