Pneumonia: Everything You Need to Know!

Dr.Akshay Budhraja, 5 mins read

Are you experiencing chest pain while breathing or coughing? Or fever with sweating, nausea with vomiting, or shortness of breath? If so, you may have pneumonia, an inflammation of one or both lungs (alveoli) owing to fungal, bacterial, or viral infection.

Both bacterial and viral pneumonia can have bad consequences on overall health and are contagious. This means they can transfer from one person to another by inhaling droplets from a cough or sneezing. However, fungal pneumonia doesn't spread.

Pneumonia can affect anyone, but young children, older people, and people with weak immunity and any pre-existing disease are more vulnerable to getting it. The disease is treatable if diagnosed earlier, but delayed treatment can even lead to death. Pneumonia is a leading cause of death in children younger than 5 years of age globally due to infection.

It is more prevalent in developing countries due to malnutrition, exposure to indoor air pollution due to the combustion of biomass fuel, and household crowding.

This situation globally in children younger than 5 years of age has not changed yet; people are still losing their lives or loved ones because many are unaware of its symptoms and treatment options.

This article outlines pneumonia risk factors, prevention, symptoms in adults and children, causes, complications, diagnosis, and treatment.

Risk Factors of Pneumonia

• Malnutrition
• Weak immune system
• Long-term exposure to pollutants or certain chemicals.
• Your age is less than 5 years or more than 65 years.
• Suffering from asthma, cystic fibrosis (an inherited disease caused by a defective gene that damages the lungs), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or any kidney, liver, or heart disease.
• Recently recovered from influenza or cold infection or discharged from ICU.
• Take medications for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
• Consume a large amount of alcohol or smoke tobacco or both.

Prevention of Pneumonia

Pneumonia is preventable if you take the right steps at the right time:

• The first line of defense is vaccination. You can take Prevnar 13, Pneumovax 23, flu vaccine, and Hib vaccine
• Maintain a balanced diet
• Get enough rest and sleep
• Get regular exercise
• Refrain from smoking
• Cover your sneezes or coughs with disposable tissue
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

Symptoms of Pneumonia in Adults

Common Symptoms

• Fast heartbeat
• Trouble breathing
• High temperature
• Dry cough or cough with green, yellow, brown, or blood-stained mucus
• Loss of appetite
• Chest pain
• Shivering and sweating

Rare Symptoms

• Fatigue
• Headache
• Coughing up blood
• Feeling confused and disoriented
• Muscle and joint pain

Symptoms of Pneumonia in Children

Common Symptoms

• Cough
• Rapid breathing
• Fever
• Chest & abdominal pain
• Loss of appetite

Rare Symptoms

• Change of fingernails and lips colors to bluish or gray

Causes of Pneumonia

To date, 30 different causes of pneumonia have been discovered, and they are categorized into six groups, which are as follows:

• Bacteria Pneumonia

Many bacteria act as a seed for pneumonia. The most common is Streptococcus Pneumoniae, or pneumococcus, a Gram-positive spherical bacteria. These bacteria enter the respiratory system and make their way to the lungs.

• Viral Pneumonia

It is responsible for one-third of all pneumonia cases and is caused by many viruses. Someone who already has bacterial pneumonia is more prone to viral pneumonia. It spreads through material or air droplets carrying the infection.

• Mycoplasma Pneumonia
  

Mycoplasma pneumonia symptoms are quite different, and that's why it is also known as atypical pneumonia. It is a very small bacteria that can enter the respiratory system through the air. Once it gets inside the body, the bacteria attach themselves to the lung tissue and multiply until the infection develops.

• Fungal Pneumonia

It is an infection in the lungs caused by either endemic or opportunistic fungi or a combination of both. Its symptoms are somehow like the flu such as fever, headache, rashes, cough, muscle aches, and joint pain.

• Tuberculosis Pneumonia or Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Pulmonary TB (PTB) is a contagious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M tuberculosis). It usually presents as acute pneumonia, which is much similar to bacterial pneumonia.

• Other Pneumonia

Other pneumonia-causing pathogens, including fungi, fall into this group.

Complications of Pneumonia

Although pneumonia is treatable in many cases, it can impinge overall health if not treated in time. Some of the complications of pneumonia are as follows:

• Respiratory failure: This is a very bad condition in which the lungs can't perform their functions, and the patient requires the support of a breathing machine or ventilator.
• Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS): In this condition, fluid builds up in the tiny, elastic air sacs in your lungs, leading to severe respiratory problems.
• Sepsis: In this, the infection gets into the blood and may lead to several other organ complications.
• Lung Abscesses: A microbial infection forms inside and around the lungs.

Diagnosis of Pneumonia

Your doctor will first ask about your medical history and symptoms. Based on that, he will examine your condition and may prescribe you the following medications:

• Chest X-ray: This will help the doctor know the infection's location and extent. However, this test will not help to know the cause of pneumonia.
• Blood test: This test is used to confirm the disease and pinpoint the cause.
• Sputum test: In this test, the fluid is taken from your lungs to identify the cause.
• Pulse Oximetry: In pneumonia, the oxygen flow in the bloodstream is usually low, due to which the level of oxygen drops. This test helps to measure the oxygen level to diagnose pneumonia.

Treatment for Pneumonia

Treatment encompasses curing the infection and preventing complications. Usually, most symptoms subside in a few days or weeks, but some, like tiredness, can persist for a couple of months. Pneumonia doesn't have a one-size-fits-all treatment. Instead, the treatment is based on its type and severity and the patient's age. The treatment options are:

• Antibiotics- Antibiotics are only used for bacterial pneumonia. These medications are based on the type of bacteria causing pneumonia.
• Cough Medication- These medications help in giving you relief from extreme coughing and allow you to rest. However, these medications don't help in removing the complete cough. And there is also no complete evidence that cough medications can lessen cough caused by pneumonia. So, if you are taking any cough medication, take the smallest dose possible or ask your doctor first.
• Pain relievers/ Fever reducers- These drugs, including ibuprofen, aspirin, and acetaminophen, are used to reduce discomfort and fever.

It's always recommended to consult with a doctor if you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, and don't take any medication without a doctor's prescription.

Also, Read: Most Common Respiratory Problems in Winter Season