Pneumonia
What is pneumonia?
Pneumonia (nu-MO-ne-ah) is an infection in one or both of the lungs. Different
kinds of germs such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi can cause pneumonia.
The infection inflames your lungs’ air sacs, which are called alveoli. The air sacs
may fill up with fluid or pus, causing symptoms such as cough with phlegm (a
slimy substance), fever, chills and trouble breathing.
Symptoms
The symptoms of pneumonia can vary from mild to severe. Many factors affect
how serious the pneumonia is, such as the type of germ causing the infection and
your age and overall health. Symptoms may include:
Fever
Nausea/vomiting
Diarrhea
Shaking
Cough
Chest wall pain due to coughing
Shortness of Breath
Fatigue/weakness
TREATMENT
Treatment for pneumonia depends on the cause, your age, how severe your
symptoms are and overall health. Many people can be treated at home with oral
or IV antibiotics. Anyone who is being treated at home who has worsening
symptoms should see a doctor. Some patients need treatment in a hospital. It
may take 3 weeks or more before they can go back to their normal routine.
Fatigue (tiredness) from pneumonia can last for a month or more.
Types of Pneumonia
Pneumonia is named for the way in which a person gets the infection or for the
germ that causes it.
Community-Acquired Pneumonia
Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) occurs outside of the hospitals and health
care settings. Most people get CAP by breathing in germs (especially while
sleeping) that live in the mouth, nose, or throat. CAP is the most common type of
pneumonia. Most cases occur during the winter. About 4 million people get this
form of pneumonia each year. About 1 out of every 5 people who has CAP needs
to be treated in a hospital.
Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia
Some people catch pneumonia during a hospital stay for another illness. This is
called hospital acquired pneumonia. You are at higher risk of getting HAP if you
are on a ventilator (a machine that helps you breath). HAP tends to be more
serious than CAP because you are already sick. Also, hospitals have more germs
that are resistant to antibiotics.
Health Care –Associated Pneumonia
Patients may also get pneumonia in other health care settings, such as nursing
homes, dialysis centers, and outpatient clinics. This is called health careassociated pneumonia.
Aspiration Pneumonia
This type of pneumonia can occur if you inhale food, drink, vomit, or saliva from
your moth into your lungs. This may happen if something disturbs your normal
gag reflex, such as a brain injury, swallowing problem, or excessive use of alcohol
or drugs.
What Causes Pneumonia?
Many germs can cause pneumonia. Examples include different kinds of bacteria,
viruses, and, less often fungi.
Most of the time, the body filters germs out of the air that we breathe to protect
the lungs from infection. Your immune system, the shape of your nose and throat,
your ability to cough, and fine, hair like structures called cilia help stop the germs
from reaching your lungs.
Sometimes those germs enter the lungs and cause infections. This is most likely to
occur if:
Your immune system is weak
A germ is very strong
Your body fails to filter germs out of the air that you breathe
When germs reach your lungs, your immune system goes into action. It sends
many kinds of cells to attack the germs. These cells cause the alveoli (air sacs) to
become red and inflamed and to fill up with fluid and pus. This causes the
symptoms of pneumonia.
Germs that cause Pneumonia
Bacteria are the most common cause of pneumonia in adults. Many elderly get
bacterial pneumonia after having the flu or the common cold.
Viruses cause up to one-third of the pneumonia cases in the United States each
year. These viruses are the most common cause of pneumonia in children
younger than 5 years old.
Three types of Fungi in the soil in some parts of the United States can cause
pneumonia. Most people with healthy immune systems exposed to these fungi
don’t get sick, but some do and require treatment.
Serious fungal infections are most common in people who have weak immune
systems due to long term use of medicines to suppress their immune systems or
having HIV/AIDS.
Who is at Risk for Pneumonia?
Pneumonia can affect people of all ages. However, two age groups are at risk of
developing pneumonia:
Infants who are 2 years old or younger (because their immune systems are still
developing)
People 65 years old or older.
Smokers
Other conditions and factors also raise your risk for pneumonia. You are more
likely to get pneumonia if you have a lung disease or other serious illness.
Examples include , cystic fibrosis, asthma, COPD, diabetes, heart failure, sickle
cell anemia, cancer and people with damaged or removed spleens.
How is Pneumonia Treated
Treatment for Pneumonia depends on the type of pneumonia you have and how
severe it is. Most people who have community- acquired pneumonia- the most
common type of pneumonia-are treated at home.
The goals of treatment are to cure the infection and prevent complications.
Follow your treatment plan and take all your medications as prescribed. Ask your
doctor when you should schedule follow up care. Your doctor may want you to
have follow up chest x-rays to make sure the pneumonia is gone.
Although you may start feeling better after a few days complete all antibiotics
prescribed by your doctor unless otherwise directed. Failure to complete your
antibiotic regimen may cause your pneumonia to relapse and cause further rehospitalization.
Severe cases of pneumonia may cause hospitalization and require IV antibiotic
therapy and medical management of all your symptoms. Proper management at
home can prevent you from being hospitalized.
Most viral pneumonia’s are treated with rest and management of symptoms. Viral
pneumonia usually does not require hospitalization.
Can Pneumonia be Prevented?
Pneumonia can be very serious and even life threatening. When possible, take
steps to prevent the infection, especially if you’re in a high risk-risk group.
Vaccines:
Vaccines are available to prevent pneumococcal pneumonia and the flu. Vaccines
will not prevent all cases of infection. However, compared to people who don’t
get vaccinated, those who do and still get pneumonia tend to have:
Milder cases of infection
Pneumonia that doesn’t last long
Fewer serious complications
Pneumococcal Pneumonia Vaccine
A vaccine that is available to prevent pneumococcal pneumonia. In most adults,
one shot is recommended every 5 years. The vaccine is given year round and is
recommended for:
Anyone age 5 and older also people who have chronic (ongoing) diseases, serious
long-term health problems or weak immune systems.
Influenza Vaccine
Because many people get pneumonia after having the flu, this vaccine also helps
prevent pneumonia.
The vaccine that helps prevent the flu is good for 1 year. It is usually given in
October or November, before peak flu season and to all ages.
References:
What Is Pneumonia? (2011) Retrieved on 11/29/2011 from
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/pnu.html
Types of Pneumonia (2011) Retrieved on 11/29/2011 from
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/pnu/types.html
What Causes Pneumonia? (2011) Retrieved on 11/29/2011 from
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/pnu/causes.html
Who Is at Risk for Pneumonia? (2011) Retrieved on 11/29/2011 from
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/pnu/atrisk.html
Pneumonia-Symptoms (2011) Retrieved on 12/9/2011 from
http://www.webmd.com/lung/tc/pneumonia-symptoms
How Is Pneumonia Diagnosed? (2011) Retrieved on 11/29/2011 from
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/pnu/diagnosis.html
How Is Pneumonia Treated? (2011) Retrieved on 11/29/2011 from
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/pnu/treatment.html
How Can Pneumonia Be Prevented? (2011) Retrieved on 11/29/2011 from
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/pnu/prevention.html
Living with Pneumonia (2011) Retrieved on 11/29/2011 from
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/pnu/livingwith.html