Understanding Pneumonia: Symptoms, Causes and Prevention

What is Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection that affects the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs. Pathogens enter the lungs, inflaming the air sacs, filling them with liquid and/or pus. This inflammation can happen in one or both of the lungs. IN most cases, pneumonia is treatable, but it can be life-threatening to those who are at higher risk like young children (younger than 2), older adults (65+), or those with underlying conditions.

What are the Types of Pneumonia

Pneumonia can come in many forms that create varying symptoms. The four most common types of pneumonia are fungal, bacterial, mycoplasma, and viral. these infections are characterized by the pathogen that caused them. Each affects the lungs differently, resulting in some infections being more severe than others.

Fungal Pneumonia - the only type of infection that cannot be spread from person to person

Bacterial Pneumonia - a bacterial infection that concentrates on one area of the lungs.

Mycoplasma Pneumonia - otherwise known as "walking pneumonia", it's often harder to detect as the symptoms vary and are generally more mild.

Viral Pneumonia - one of the most common types of pneumonia infections (making up 1/3 of all cases), it's a viral infection that spreads throughout the lungs.

Recently, there has been an increasing concern for white lung pneumonia. However, this is not a variant of pneumonia. In fact, doctors do not validate this term. To diagnose pneumonia, primary care doctors at Schneck will order an X-ray scan to view the lungs. If the patient does have pneumonia, white masses from the infection will often show up on the scan images, resulting in the lungs appearing "white". Therefore, the lungs are not actually turning white, negating a "white lung pneumonia" diagnosis.

Causes and Risk Factors

Those with weak immune systems, unhealthy lifestyles, or underlying conditions are more likely to contract pneumonia and have more severe symptoms as a result. It's usually spread through contact, such as touching a contaminated surface. It can also be spread through the air from coughing or sneezing. Still, each type of infection is characterized by the pathogen that caused it, whether fungi, bacteria, or viruses. The specific causes are:

Fungal Pneumonia - caused by inhaling fungi such as Pneumocystis, Cryptococcus, and Aspergillus found in things like bird droppings or contaminated soil.

Bacterial Pneumonia - caused by a type of bacterial infection caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Mycoplasma Pneumonia - a type of bacterial infection caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Viral Pneumonia - caused by viral infections like influenza (the flu) or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Prevention

Immunizations are a good place to start when preventing pneumonia. A standard flu shot aids in prevention as influenza can often lead to pneumonia. Furthermore, young children, the elderly, and those with health conditions could benefit from a pneumococcal vaccine as it prevents bacterial pneumonia.

Apart from immunizations, maintaining a healthy lifestyle such as eating a good diet, exercising often, and getting adequate sleep help prevent pneumonia. Individuals should also wash their hands often to prevent the spread of viruses and bacteria. Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption are also effective in preventing infection.

Treatment at Schneck

In most cases, pneumonia can be treated at home. Sleeping, eating healthy, increasing daily water consumption, and taking cough medicine are all helpful ways of treating pneumonia. In cases of a bacterial infection, antibiotics are another good option for treatment.

In more severe cases, medical attention is necessary. It's vital to meet with your doctor if you are experiencing severe or worsening symptoms. Those who are at higher risk should meet with a doctor either way to ensure symptoms don't become life-threatening. Seeking medical care right away will prevent the infection from worsening and causing more harm.