Pneumonia

Overview

Pneumonia is a type of infection wherein the lungs get inflamed due to the entry of organisms like viruses, bacteria, and fungi. The entry of these pathogens fills the air sacs with pus, leading to cough, fever, chills, and difficulty in breathing. Thus, upon noticing the symptoms it is a must to make a visit to the doctor for prompt diagnosis and accurate treatment. Additionally, there are several preventive measures that people can take to avoid the development of this condition.

What is Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a type of infection in the lungs that mostly develops due to the entry of pathogens. The lung tissues of the patient swell up due to the accumulation of pus or fluid when suffering from this condition. It can affect one or both lungs (double pneumonia). It is somewhat different from the common cold or flu as it is accompanied by congestion, chest pain, difficulty in breathing, 102 degrees Fahrenheit fever, and coughing green, yellow, or bloody mucus.

Types of Pneumonia

There are two ways in which pneumonia can be classified.

Based on the Causal Organism

Causal Organism	Description
Bacteria	Some of the common bacteria that can cause pneumonia include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza, Legionella, and Chlamydia pneumoniae.
Fungi (moulds)	Fungus like Cryptococcus, Coccidioides, and Pneumocystis jirovecii, cause pneumonia in people with weekend immunity.
Viruses	Influenza, common cold, COVID-19, and RSV-causing viruses lead to the development of pneumonia.
Protozoa	Toxoplasma cause pneumonia.

Based on the Mode of Transmission of the Pathogen

Mode of Transmission of Pathogen	Description
Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP)	Develops outside of a healthcare facility and is caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.
Healthcare-Associated Pneumonia (HCAP)	Onsets due to long-term stay in hospital and are caused by methicillin-resistant bacteria.
Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia (HAP)	Occurs inside hospitals and is caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP)	Makes it difficult for patients to breathe without the use of a breathing machine or a respirator.
Aspiration Pneumonia	Occurs when the spit, liquid, or solid food, moves down into the lungs, ultimately harming it.

Symptoms of Pneumonia

The signs and symptoms of pneumonia vary with the severity of the condition, age of the patient, type of germ, and overall health. Most of the time, the symptoms of mild pneumonia are similar to a cold or flu, but they last longer.

Some of the prominent symptoms include changes in mental awareness, chest pain during breathing or coughing, sweating, fever, chills, low oxygen in the blood, cough that produces yellow, green, or bloody mucus, extreme fatigue, and loss of appetite, vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea, and shortness of breath, increased heart rate, and lower body temperature.

Causes of Pneumonia

Pneumonia primarily occurs due to the infection in the alveoli (small sacs of your lung) because of an attack by the immune system. This results in the swelling of the lungs because of which there is a leakage in the fluids of the lungs. There are numerous bacteria and viruses that can lead to the development of this condition.

Common causal organisms of pneumonia include COVID-19 (SARS-COV-2), common cold virus, Human parainfluenza virus (HPIV), influenza virus, Legionnaires’ disease, Human metapneumovirus (HMPV), Pneumococcal disease, Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and Pneumocystis pneumonia.

Children who are younger than 2 years and people who have an age above 65 years are prone to this disease. Other risk factors associated with this condition include admission to a hospital intensive care unit, chronic diseases like heart disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, smoking, and the presence of diseases like HIV, and so on.

Diagnosis of Pneumonia

There are several tests that doctors prescribe to accurately detect the presence of pneumonia. These tests include:

Blood Tests: Doctors often prescribe blood tests to check for the root cause that has led to the development of pneumonia.

Imaging Tests: Here the pathologists use a CT scan or chest X-ray to get a clear picture of the lungs.

Sputum Test: In this test, the patient has to cough and spit in a container that is used as a sample to check for the presence of the causal organisms.

Pleural Fluid Culture: The pathologists use a thin needle to extract a small amount of fluid from the patient’s lungs which is tested to find the cause of infection.

Pulse Oximetry: It helps in measuring the amount of oxygen in the blood to deduce how well the lungs are functioning.

Arterial Blood Gas Test: The pathologists take a sample of blood from the wrist to check for the amount of oxygen. This helps them determine if the lungs are functioning properly.

Bronchoscopy: Here, the pathologist takes a thin lighted tube known as a bronchoscope to look inside the lungs and even take out a small portion of tissue for testing.

Treatment for Pneumonia

Based on the results of the diagnosis, healthcare providers determine the appropriate pneumonia treatment and medication. Some of the available treatment options for pneumonia include:

Medications: There are several medications available, based on the root cause of pneumonia. These medicines include:

Medicine Type	Purpose
Antibiotics	Help in the treatment of bacterial pneumonia.
Antiviral medications	Used for treating viral pneumonia. Examples include oseltamivir, zanamivir, and peramivir.
Antifungal medications	Used to treat pneumonia caused due to fungal infections.

Oxygen Therapy: In case the lungs are unable to pump enough oxygen into the blood, the doctor prescribes carrying an extra oxygen tube in the nose.

Use of IV Fluids: These are injected directly into the veins of the patient to avoid dehydration.

Draining of Fluids: in case there is an excess accumulation of fluids between the lungs and chest wall, the doctor uses a catheter or performs surgery to remove it.

Preventive Measures for Pneumonia

Several vaccines for pneumonia help in its prevention. These include pneumococcal vaccines (Prevnar13® and Pneumovax23®), childhood vaccinations, and vaccinations against viruses. Additionally, people can quit smoking, wash their hands with soap and water, use alcohol-based sanitiser, avoid close contact with infected people, eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly, keep from consuming excess alcohol, and so on.

Myths and Facts Related to Pneumonia

Listed below are some common myths and facts associated with pneumonia:

Myth 1: Pneumonia Only Affects Elderly People
Fact: Although pneumonia is more common in adults and children, people of any age can develop this condition. Even, young adults and common people can develop this condition.

Myth 2: Pneumonia Occurs Only in the Winters
Fact: Pneumonia can happen all year round, although it is mostly experienced in the cold months similar to flu and RSV.

Myth 3: People Become Immune After Having Pneumonia for the First Time
Fact: Having pneumonia for the first time does not make people immune to future infections of this condition.

Myth 4: Antibiotics Cure All Types of Pneumonia
Fact: Antibiotics will help cure pneumonia that is caused because of bacteria. In case of viral or fungal infection antiviral or antifungal drugs are being used for treatment purposes.

Myth 5: People Can Quickly and Easily Recover from Pneumonia
Fact: While some people can recover from pneumonia easily, numerous people take sufficient time to recover, based on the severity of the condition.