Pneumonia is a common inflammatory condition of the lungs that impacts millions of people each year. In fact, anyone can suffer from this infection. Newborns and infants may show few symptoms, while older adults or those with weakened immune systems might experience more severe symptoms. This infection causes approximately 150,000 hospitalizations in the U.S. every year.
Pneumonia is an infection that affects the air sacs in one or both lungs as they fill with fluid or pus. It is classified according to the types of germs that cause it (bacteria, bacteria-like organisms, fungi, viruses including COVID-19) and where you got the infection. There are over 30 different germs that may play a role in you being infected with pneumonia.
Causes of Pneumonia
Sometimes, germs (especially airborne ones) overpower your immune system, which can cause pneumonia. Pneumonia is usually acquired in community settings outside of hospitals and other health-care facilities, however, some people catch it during a hospital stay for another illness. People residing in long-term facilities or those receiving care in outpatient clinics may be susceptible. A small percentage experience aspiration pneumonia when having a swallowing problem (food, drink, vomit, saliva), and this substance gets into the lungs.
Risk Factors
Although pneumonia can affect anyone, children who are under the age of two and people over the age of 65 are most susceptible. Other risk factors include individuals who are hospitalized (especially if in a hospital intensive care unit and/or on a ventilator); have a chronic disease like asthma, COPD, or heart disease; frequently smoke; and have a weakened or suppressed immune system.
Signs and Symptoms
The signs and symptoms vary depending on a few factors including the type of germ causing the infection, a patient’s age, and their overall health. Mild symptoms are similar to having a cold or flu, although they typically last longer. Additional signs include:
- Chest pain when breathing and coughing
- Confusion or changes in mental awareness
- Coughing up phlegm,
- Fatigue
- Fever, sweating, and chills
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Shortness of breath
Pneumonia Progression
For some older adults and people with heart or chronic lung problems, pneumonia can quickly become life-threatening. For anyone affected, bacteria can enter the bloodstream from your lungs and spread to other organs, potentially causing organ failure.
Infected patients may have difficulty breathing and need a breathing machine (ventilator) while recovering in severe cases. Fluid can accumulate around the lungs and chest cavity, which may need to be drained via a chest tube or with surgery. A person may also develop an abscess in a cavity in the lungs that requires antibiotics, surgery, or drainage with a long needle.
Talk To A Doctor
It’s critical to speak to a healthcare professional if you or someone you care for has any of the symptoms discussed, especially if either if you or they are in one of the high-risk groups. It is best to treat this infection as soon as possible before more serious complications can set in. You can also talk with your doctor about the availability of a pneumonia vaccine and continue practicing good hygiene, getting sufficient sleep, exercising regularly, and eating a balanced healthy – all recommended measures for a good quality of life!