Know more about Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi in one or both lungs. Scroll down to know more about pneumonia.

Is pneumonia contagious?

Yes, pneumonia can be contagious as the germs that caused it, can spread from person to person. It can spread to others droplets from sneeze or cough. Contact with contaminated surfaces or objects can also spread pneumonia.

Symptoms of pneumonia

coughing that may produce phlegm (mucus)
fever
sweating or chills
shortness of breath that happens while doing normal activities or even while resting
chest pain that’s worse when you breathe or cough
feelings of tiredness or fatigue
loss of appetite
nausea or vomiting
headaches

Causes of pneumonia

There are many types of infectious agents.

Bacterial pneumonia

Streptococcus pneumoniae
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Haemophilus influenzae
Legionella pneumophila

Viral pneumonia

influenza (flu)
respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
rhinoviruses (common cold)

Fungal pneumonia

Pneumocystis jirovecii
Cryptococcus species
Histoplasmosis species

Pneumonia treatment

Pneumonia treatment depends on several factors such as its type, severity, and your general health.

Prescription medications

Depend on your type of pneumonia, doctor may prescribe a medication. Oral antibiotics can be prescribed for bacterial pneumonia while antiviral will help to treat viruses.

At-home care

These may include your doctor may advice you to take rest at home and recommend some over-the-counter (OTC) medication to relieve fever and pain:

aspirin
ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
acetaminophen (Tylenol)

Hospitalization

Hospital treatment may include If pneumonia is very severe then you may need to hospitalize and may follow several treatments:

intravenous antibiotics
respiratory therapy
oxygen therapy

Pneumonia risk factors

Certain groups have a higher risk in pneumonia. These groups include:

infants from birth to 2 years old
people ages 65 years and older
people with weak immune system
people with certain chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, or heart failure
people who’ve recently had a respiratory infection, such as a cold or the flu
people who’ve been recently or are currently hospitalized, particularly if they were or are on a ventilator
people who’ve had a stroke, have problems swallowing, or have a condition that causes immobility
people who smoke, use certain types of drugs, or drink excessive amounts of alcohol
people who’ve been exposed to lung irritants, such as pollution, fumes, and certain chemicals

Pneumonia prevention

In many cases, pneumonia can be prevented.

Vaccination

The best and first defence against pneumonia are vaccines. There are several vaccines to prevent pneumonia, such as Prevnar 13 and Pneumovax 23, Flu vaccine, Hib vaccine

Pneumonia diagnosis

To diagnose the pneumonia doctor may start with knowing your medical history. Then they will take your physical exam with the help of stethoscope. Doctor may take several tests depending upon your symptoms and complications:

Chest X-ray
Blood culture
Sputum culture
Pulse oximetry
CT scan
Bronchoscopy

Home remedies

Although home remedies do not work much to treat pneumonia but you can use them to ease the symptoms. Cough is the most common symptom, you can relieve cough by taking gargling salt water or drinking peppermint tea. OTC medicines help to relieve the fever. However, you should not be completely depended on these remedies. It’s important to complete your treatment plan.