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Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that is caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. It is characterized primarily by inflammation of the alveoli in the lungs or by alveoli that are filled with fluid (alveoli are microscopic sacs in the lungs that absorb oxygen).
At times a very serious condition, pneumonia can make a person very sick or even cause death. Although the disease can occur in young and healthy people, it is most dangerous for older adults, babies, and people with other diseases or impaired immune systems.
What Causes Pneumonia?
Many germs can cause pneumonia. The most common are bacteria and viruses in the air we breathe. Your body usually prevents these germs from infecting your lungs. But sometimes these germs can overpower your immune system, even if your health is generally good.
Pneumonia is classified according to the types of germs that cause it and where you got the infection.
1. Community-acquired pneumonia
Community-acquired pneumonia is the most common type of pneumonia. It occurs outside of hospitals or other health care facilities. It may be caused by:
2. Hospital-acquired pneumonia: Some people catch pneumonia during a hospital stay for another illness. Hospital-acquired pneumonia can be serious because the bacteria causing it may be more resistant to antibiotics and because the people who get it are already sick. People who are on breathing machines (ventilators), often used in intensive care units, are at higher risk of this type of pneumonia.
3. Health care-acquired pneumonia: Health care-acquired pneumonia is a bacterial infection that occurs in people who live in long-term care facilities or who receive care in outpatient clinics, including kidney dialysis centers. Like hospital-acquired pneumonia, health care-acquired pneumonia can be caused by bacteria that are more resistant to antibiotics.
4. Aspiration pneumonia: Aspiration pneumonia occurs when you inhale food, drink, vomit or saliva into your lungs. Aspiration is more likely if something disturbs your normal gag reflex, such as a brain injury or swallowing problem, or excessive use of alcohol or drugs.
What Are The Risk Factors Of Pneumonia?
Anyone can get pneumonia, but some people are at a higher risk than others. Risk factors that increase your chances of getting pneumonia include:
1. Age: Infants from birth to age two are at risk for pneumonia, as are individuals age 65 or older.
2. Weak Immune System: People with weakened immune systems are at increased risk of pneumonia. This includes people who take medications that weaken the immune system, such as steroids and certain medications for cancer, and people with HIV, AIDS, or cancer.
3. Drug Abuse:This includes excessive alcohol consumption and smoking. Especially in healthy young people, cigarrette smoking is the strongest risk factor for pneumonia.
4. Certain Medical Conditions: Certain medical conditions can raise your risks for pneumonia. These conditions include asthma, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and heart failure.
5. Impaired consciousness (loss of brain function due to dementia, stroke, or other neurologic conditions)
6. Stroke/Difficulty Swallowing: People who have had a stroke, have problems swallowing, or are bedridden can easily develop pneumonia.
7. Recent viral respiratory infection—a cold, laryngitis, influenza, etc. can
8. Living in a nursing facility, or dormitory, or where people live close together can also increase your chances of getting pneumonia.
9. You are more likely too have complications of pneumonia if you have had your spleen removed or do not have a working spleen (such as in sickle cell disease).
PS: This information put together as a guide are culled from health-related articles on websites, journals, and videos.
At times a very serious condition, pneumonia can make a person very sick or even cause death. Although the disease can occur in young and healthy people, it is most dangerous for older adults, babies, and people with other diseases or impaired immune systems.
What Causes Pneumonia?
Many germs can cause pneumonia. The most common are bacteria and viruses in the air we breathe. Your body usually prevents these germs from infecting your lungs. But sometimes these germs can overpower your immune system, even if your health is generally good.
Pneumonia is classified according to the types of germs that cause it and where you got the infection.
1. Community-acquired pneumonia
Community-acquired pneumonia is the most common type of pneumonia. It occurs outside of hospitals or other health care facilities. It may be caused by:
- Bacteria. The most common cause of bacterial pneumonia in the U.S. is Streptococcus pneumoniae. This type of pneumonia can occur on its own or after you've had a cold or the flu. It may affect one part (lobe) of the lung, a condition called lobar pneumonia.
- Bacteria-like organisms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae also can cause pneumonia. It typically produces milder symptoms than do other types of pneumonia. Walking pneumonia is an informal name given to this type of pneumonia, which typically isn't severe enough to require bed rest.
- Fungi. This type of pneumonia is most common in people with chronic health problems or weakened immune systems, and in people who have inhaled large doses of the organisms. The fungi that cause it can be found in soil or bird droppings and vary depending upon geographic location.
- Viruses. Some of the viruses that cause colds and the flu can cause pneumonia. Viruses are the most common cause of pneumonia in children younger than 5 years. Viral pneumonia is usually mild. But in some cases it can become very serious.
2. Hospital-acquired pneumonia: Some people catch pneumonia during a hospital stay for another illness. Hospital-acquired pneumonia can be serious because the bacteria causing it may be more resistant to antibiotics and because the people who get it are already sick. People who are on breathing machines (ventilators), often used in intensive care units, are at higher risk of this type of pneumonia.
3. Health care-acquired pneumonia: Health care-acquired pneumonia is a bacterial infection that occurs in people who live in long-term care facilities or who receive care in outpatient clinics, including kidney dialysis centers. Like hospital-acquired pneumonia, health care-acquired pneumonia can be caused by bacteria that are more resistant to antibiotics.
4. Aspiration pneumonia: Aspiration pneumonia occurs when you inhale food, drink, vomit or saliva into your lungs. Aspiration is more likely if something disturbs your normal gag reflex, such as a brain injury or swallowing problem, or excessive use of alcohol or drugs.
What Are The Risk Factors Of Pneumonia?
Anyone can get pneumonia, but some people are at a higher risk than others. Risk factors that increase your chances of getting pneumonia include:
1. Age: Infants from birth to age two are at risk for pneumonia, as are individuals age 65 or older.
2. Weak Immune System: People with weakened immune systems are at increased risk of pneumonia. This includes people who take medications that weaken the immune system, such as steroids and certain medications for cancer, and people with HIV, AIDS, or cancer.
3. Drug Abuse:This includes excessive alcohol consumption and smoking. Especially in healthy young people, cigarrette smoking is the strongest risk factor for pneumonia.
4. Certain Medical Conditions: Certain medical conditions can raise your risks for pneumonia. These conditions include asthma, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and heart failure.
5. Impaired consciousness (loss of brain function due to dementia, stroke, or other neurologic conditions)
6. Stroke/Difficulty Swallowing: People who have had a stroke, have problems swallowing, or are bedridden can easily develop pneumonia.
7. Recent viral respiratory infection—a cold, laryngitis, influenza, etc. can
8. Living in a nursing facility, or dormitory, or where people live close together can also increase your chances of getting pneumonia.
9. You are more likely too have complications of pneumonia if you have had your spleen removed or do not have a working spleen (such as in sickle cell disease).
PS: This information put together as a guide are culled from health-related articles on websites, journals, and videos.
