Pneumonia is a lung infection, that can happen due to exposure to bacteria, viruses, or fungus. It can affect one or both lungs. The infection can lead to inflammation of the air sacs, or alveoli, and the accumulation of fluid in the lungs. The fluid or pus fills up the lungs and produces symptoms such as cough, chills, fever, and breathing problems, in a mild to severe category.
Types Of Pneumonia
Pneumonia can be of different types, which can be categorized based on the type of pathogen that leads to the infection. The flu-like symptoms disappear in a few days and one can recover from the infection without any medical attention. However, some types of pneumonia require proper treatment and medications. Usually, antibiotics are the medications that are used for treating this infection.
In general, although this infection is not that risky for an average adult, it can be life-threatening in the case of infants, children, and older adults that are above 60. Those with a weakened immune system may also need to be careful, as the infection can lead to significant health damage. If the infection occurs in both lungs, the damage will be severe. Infection in both lungs is termed bilateral or double pneumonia.
Symptoms Of Pneumonia
The symptoms may vary in severity. Some people may experience symptoms in the mild category while others may develop serious health problems. The strength of symptoms may depend on the type of pathogen, that is, virus, bacteria, or fungus, that has caused the infection. Besides, factors like age and health may also decide the severity of the infection symptoms.
Listed below are the symptoms one may experience after contracting pneumonia:
- Fever, chills, or sweating
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Low body temperature
- Breathing difficulties
- Coughing with phlegm
- Chest pain while coughing
Infants may remain asymptomatic by not showing most of the signs. They may develop a fever, vomit, and lack energy, thereby making them behave irritably. Older adults may experience the symptoms more intensely. In average adults, these symptoms are like a common cold or flu, which might go away after a few days, that too without any treatment. Infants, children, older individuals, individuals with weak immune systems, and chronic health conditions need treatment essentially.
Causes Of Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an air-borne infection. Different types of bacteria, viruses, and fungi enter the body via breathing. As soon as the immune system detects the presence of infectious pathogens, it kicks into action and starts destroying the pathogens. Sometimes, the pathogens are so strong that they survive by overpowering the immune system.
Certain places and environments are contaminated with infectious pathogens that make people prone to pneumonia. According to the Mayo Clinic, given below are the types of pneumonia a person may acquire due to exposure to different environments or certain conditions:
Community-acquired pneumonia
This is the common type of pneumonia, which can be caused by:
Bacteria
There can be various bacteria that can lead to infection, but the most common among them is Streptococcus pneumoniae. These bacteria may exist naturally in the body, but they may not be in the active state. When the immune system response becomes weak, then these bacteria grow and multiply and affect the lungs. These bacteria infect and inflame the air sacs and fill up the lungs with fluid or pus, leading to pneumonia.
Viruses
Viral infections cause mild colds and flu, which can also lead to viral pneumonia. The viruses usually live around the upper parts of the respiratory system, but as they get down to the lungs, they can cause trouble. In case the immune system response becomes weak, these viruses become powerful and start affecting the lungs, thereby causing pneumonia from the common flu.
Fungi
Fungal pneumonia can be mild; however, it can also turn life-threatening in case of a weak immune system response. Individuals with chronic health conditions such as diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and leukemia are more likely to develop this type of pneumonia. These fungi can be present in air, soil, and clinical environments.
Hospital-acquired pneumonia
Some individuals may contract this kind of pneumonia after hospitalization for some other illnesses. This type of pneumonia is quite dangerous, as its presence in the clinical environment is an indication that the germs and bacteria are resistant to antibiotics. Antibiotics are medicines that are used for destroying bacteria and curing infections.
Here, since the bacteria do not get affected by the effect of antibiotics, they can grow aggressively and contribute to serious sickness. People that are on ventilators or in an intensive care unit are more susceptible to such serious infections.
Healthcare-acquired pneumonia
This type of infection happens due to bacterial contact at the healthcare clinics where people do not stay, instead, they just get treatment and leave. Just like Hospital-acquired pneumonia, this type of pneumonia can also result due to bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. Kidney dialysis centers can be good examples of healthcare centers that can lead to such kinds of pneumonia.
Prevention
Pneumonia can be prevented by getting shots or vaccination. The healthcare provider will give you the necessary information regarding the types of pneumonia against which the vaccines can keep you safeguarded from. Besides, always practice good hygiene and strengthen your immune system, which will reduce the risk of infection.