Pneumonia is a form of acute respiratory infection that affects the lungs. The lungs are made up of small sacs called alveoli, which fill with air when a healthy person breathes. When an individual has pneumonia, the alveoli are filled with pus and fluid, which makes breathing painful and limits oxygen intake.
Pneumonia may cause problems with oxygen exchange. Here’s what you should know about this serious illness.
Pneumonia can be a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection.
Most cases of viral pneumonia are relatively mild, but some can cause severe symptoms, such as severe acute respiratory system (SARS) coronavirus and the more recent SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). The most common cause of bacterial pneumonia is Strep pneumoniae (often called pneumococcal pneumonia).
Anyone can get pneumonia.
Young children and older adults (over age 65) are at the highest risk of getting pneumonia, and of having complications from it. Symptoms of pneumonia include fever, wheezing, cough, chills, rapid breathing, chest pains, loss of appetite and malaise, or a general feeling of weakness or ill health.
Pneumonia can have more than 30 different causes.
Like said earlier that pneumonia can be cause by bacteria, viruses and fungi. Hence. understanding the cause of pneumonia is important because pneumonia treatment depends on its cause.
Pneumonia can be spread from person to person, but it can also be caused by other factors.
Viruses and bacteria that cause pneumonia can spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Pneumonia can be deadly.
Sometimes pneumonia can be very serious and can even cause death. This is because of the complications from pneumonia including respiratory failure, sepsis and lung abscess.
COVID-19-aquired pneumonia can cause lasting lung damage.
Pneumonia caused by the coronavirus is often more severe and may result in long-term symptoms or a form of lung failure called acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
The chances of getting pneumonia can be substantially reduced.
Get a flu shot every year to help prevent seasonal influenza. The flu is a common cause of pneumonia, so preventing the flu is a good way to reduce your risk of pneumonia. In addition, those at risk can get vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia.
Pneumonia often clears up in a few weeks. See a pulmonologist right away if your symptoms get worse, as you may need to be hospitalized to prevent or treat more serious complications.