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Pneumonia
Overview:
Every year, more than 60,000 Americans die of pneumonia — an inflammation of the lungs that's usually caused by infection with bacteria, viruses, fungi or other organisms. Pneumonia is a particular concern for older adults and people with chronic illnesses or impaired immune systems, but it can also strike young, healthy people. Worldwide, it's a leading cause of death in children.
Signs and Symptoms:
The symptoms will usually depend on the cause of the pneumonia, however, a productive cough, chest pain, fever or chills and difficulty breathing or breathlessness, are all common symptoms of pneumonia.
Causes and Organs Affected:
There are about 30 different causes of pneumonia. However, they all fall into one of these categories: Infective Pneumonia and Aspiration Pneumonia.
An increasing number of viruses are being identified as the cause of respiratory infection. Half of all pneumonias are believed to be of viral origin. Most viral pneumonias are patchy and the body usually fights them off without help from medications or other treatments.
Pneumococcus can affect more than the lungs. The bacteria can also cause serious infections of the covering of the brain (meningitis), the bloodstream, and other parts of the body.
Risk Factor:
Adults age 65 or older and very young children, whose immune systems aren't fully developed, are at increased risk of pneumonia. You're also more likely to develop pneumonia if you: Have certain diseases, Smoke, or abuse alcohol, Are hospitalized in an intensive care unit, Are exposed to certain chemicals or pollutants and Have had surgery or experienced a traumatic injury.
Treatment:
Pneumonia treatments vary, depending on the severity of your symptoms and the type of pneumonia you have. Bacterial, Viral, Mycoplasma and Fungal.
Other Information:
If you have pneumonia, the following measures can help you recover more quickly and decrease your risk of complications: Get plenty of rest, Drink lots of fluids, especially water, Take the entire course of any prescribed medications and Keep all of your follow-up appointments.