What is Pneumonia? Detailed Insights on Symptoms, Types, and Prevention
Table of Contents Help Others Discover – Click to Share! Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Table of Contents It started as a mild cough that Eli thought was just a persistent cold. After few days, he felt exhausted, his chest was hurting with every breath, and his fever would not go down. Worried, he booked an online appointment with a doctor through Cellmaflex, an online digital platform he came across through a social media post. During the visit, the doctor diagnosed Eli with pneumonia. Eli was shocked— he had heard of pneumonia before, but he never imagined it could hit so hard and so fast. Read the blog to know what exactly pneumonia is, its types, symptoms, causes, risk factors and prevention. Importance of Awareness and Understanding of Pneumonia Understanding pneumonia is important because early diagnosis and treatment drastically improve outcomes. Pneumonia can affect anyone, but certain populations, such as the elderly, young children, and those with underlying health conditions, are more vulnerable. Awareness leads to better prevention strategies, timely medical intervention, and reduced mortality rates. What is Pneumonia? Pneumonia is an infection in the lungs which is caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. Pneumonia causes the lung tissue to swell and might also cause fluid or pus in the lungs. Bacterial pneumonia is usually more severe than viral pneumonia, which often resolves on its own. Pneumonia can affect one or both lungs. Pneumonia in both of your lungs is called bilateral or double pneumonia. Types of Pneumonia Pneumonia is categorised by which pathogen (virus, bacteria or fungi) caused it and how one got it. Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) If one gets pneumonia outside of a healthcare facility, it’s called community-acquired pneumonia. Causes include: Bacteria: Infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, also known as pneumococcal disease, is the most common cause of CAP. Pneumococcal disease can also cause ear infections, sinus infections and meningitis. Viruses: Viruses that cause the common cold, the flu (influenza), COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can sometimes lead to pneumonia. Fungi (molds): Fungi, like Cryptococcus, Pneumocystis jirovecii and Coccidioides, are uncommon causes of pneumonia. People with weak immune systems are mostly at risk of getting pneumonia from a fungus. Protozoa: Rarely, protozoa like Toxoplasma cause pneumonia. Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) One can get hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) while in a hospital or healthcare facility for another illness or procedure. HAP is usually more serious than community-acquired pneumonia as it is mostly caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, like methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This means HAP can make a person sicker and harder to treat. Healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) A person can get HCAP while in a long-term care facility for example- a nursing home or outpatient, extended-stay clinics. Similar to hospital-acquired pneumonia, it is usually caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) If a person needs to be on a respirator or breathing machine to help breathe in the hospital (usually in the ICU), that person is at risk for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). The same types of bacteria as community-acquired pneumonia, as well as the drug-resistant kinds that cause hospital-acquired pneumonia, cause VAP. Aspiration pneumonia Aspiration is when solid food, liquids, spit or vomit goes down the trachea (windpipe) and into the lungs. If you can’t cough these up, your lungs can get infected. What Causes Pneumonia? Pneumonia can develop when the immune system attacks an infection in the small sacs of the lung (alveoli). This causes the lungs to swell and leak fluids. Many bacteria, viruses and fungi can cause the infections that lead to pneumonia. Bacteria are the most common cause in adults and viruses are the most common cause in school-aged children. Common illnesses that can lead to pneumonia include: Common cold (rhinovirus) COVID-19 (SARS-COV-2) The flu (influenza virus) Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) Human parainfluenza virus (HPIV) Legionnaires’ disease Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) Pneumocystis pneumonia Pneumococcal disease Mycoplasma pneumonia bacteria What are the Symptoms of Pneumonia? Symptoms of pneumonia depend on the causes and can range from mild to severe. Symptoms of pneumonia can vary by age. Babies, young children and older adults may have different symptoms. Symptoms of bacterial pneumonia High fever (up to 105 F or 40.55 C) Cough with yellow, green or bloody mucus Tiredness (fatigue) Rapid breathing Shortness of breath Rapid heart rate Sweating or chills Chest pain and/or abdominal pain, especially with coughing or deep breathing Loss of appetite Bluish skin, lips or nails (cyanosis) Confusion or altered mental state Symptoms of viral pneumonia Dry cough Headache Muscle pain Extreme tiredness or weakness Symptoms of pneumonia in young children Newborn babies may not show any symptoms of pneumonia, or their symptoms may be different from adults, including: Fever Chills General discomfort Sweating/flushed skin Cough Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing (tachypnea) Loss of appetite Vomiting Lack of energy Signs to look for in babies and young children include Grunting sound with breathing or noisy breathing A decreased amount of pee or diapers that are less wet Pale skin Limpness Crying more than usual Difficulty feeding Symptoms of pneumonia in adults over 65 Adults over 65 or those with weakened immune systems may have mild or less noticeable symptoms of pneumonia. Older adults may experience: They can feel weak or unsteady which increases the risk of falling They can be without a fever or have a body temperature that is lower than normal Older people can experience confusion or delirium They may have changes in functional status, which is the ability to perform daily activities They can experience urinary incontinence Older people can experience the lack of appetite They can experience a worsening of existing health conditions Risk Factors for Developing Pneumonia Several factors can increase the risk of developing pneumonia. Pneumonia can affect anyone. But the two age groups at highest risk are: Children who are 2 years old or younger are at higher risk because their immune systems are still developing. This risk is higher for premature babies. People who are age 65 or older are also at higher risk because their immune systems generally weaken as people age. Older
