Pneumonia

About Pneumonia

By: Jenny Zhang

What is Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is a common respiratory infection that causes inflammation in one or both lungs, causing the alveoli (air sacs) to fill with fluid and pus. The inflammation and purulent material in the lungs makes it difficult for oxygen to enter the bloodstream, leading to breathing difficulties. When pneumonia develops, your immune system attacks the infection in the alveoli. Thus, causing your lungs to swell and leak fluids. This serious infection can range from mild to life-threatening, depending on age, overall health, and the cause of the infection.

Types of Pneumonia

Pneumonia is categorized by how the infection was contracted and by which pathogens (virus, bacteria, or fungi).

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is contracted outside of a healthcare facility. Causes include:

Bacteria: Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, also known as pneumococcal disease, is the most common cause of CAP. Other bacteria include Haemophilus influenzae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Legionella.
Viruses: The common cold, the flu (influenza), COVID-19 can sometimes lead to pneumonia.
Fungi (molds): Fungi are an uncommon cause of pneumonia, but having a compromised immune system puts you at risk from contracting pneumonia from fungus.

Hospital/Healthcare-acquired pneumonia (HAP/HCAP) is developed during a long term hospital/healthcare stay. HAP/HCAP are more serious than CAP since it is often caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which worsens the infection and makes it harder to treat.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is when someone needs assistance breathing in the hospital (usually in the ICU). Endotracheal intubation compromises the integrity of the oropharynx and trachea (windpipe) and allows oral and gastric secretions to enter the lower airways. The same types of bacteria as CAP, as well as drug-resistant kinds that cause HAP, causes VAP.

Aspiration Pneumonia is when spit, vomit, solid food, or liquids enter your trachea (windpipe), which can lead to an infection of the lungs if not coughed up.

Who is at Highest Risk for Pneumonia?

Adults over the age of 65
Children under the age of 2
People that smoke
People with health conditions or weakened immune system

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms of Bacterial Pneumonia- develops gradually or suddenly

High fever (up to 105 F or 40.55 C).
Cough with yellow, green, or bloody mucus.
Fatigue.
Rapid breathing/Shortness of breath.
Rapid heart rate.
Sweating and Chills.
Chest pain and/or abdominal pain.
Loss of appetite.

Symptoms of Viral Pneumonia- develops over several days

Dry Cough.
Headache.
Muscle pain.
Extreme tiredness and weakness.

Symptoms of Pneumonia in Young Children- may not show any symptoms

Fever, chills, general discomfort, sweating/flushed skin.
Coughing, difficulty breathing, rapid breathing.
Loss of appetite and vomiting.
Lack of energy or restlessness.

Symptoms of Pneumonia in Adults over 65/ with weakened immune systems- may have mild or less noticeable symptoms, worsening over time.

Change in mental state.
Low appetite.
Fatigue.

Diagnosis and Evaluation

Pneumonia is commonly diagnosed based on clinical history and a medical examination. Your primary care doctors can diagnose and treat pneumonia but may refer you to a pulmonologist, infectious specialist or critical care specialist if you are diagnosed with life-threatening pneumonia. Many healthcare providers normally perform chest x-rays, blood tests, pulse oximetry, and sputum tests to evaluate the severity of pneumonia.

Treatment and Care

Treatment for pneumonia varies due to risk factors and the severity of the condition. Majority of people with pneumonia are prescribed medicine and recover at home with rest. Individuals with health concerns and medical needs may need to be treated in the hospital or an intensive care unit (ICU) because they are at a higher risk for a more

serious case of pneumonia.

Treatments may include:

Antibiotics: Antibiotics treats bacterial pneumonia.

Antifungal medicine: Antifungals can treat pneumonia cause by a fungal infection

Antiviral medications: Viral infections typically aren't treated with medication and can subside on its own, but antivirals help with illness duration.

Oxygen therapy: A tube in your nose or a mask to provide oxygen.

IV fluids: Fluids delivered to your veins (IV) to treat and prevent dehydration.

Surgery: In life-threatening cases, surgery is needed to remove seriously infected or damaged parts of the lung.

Complications

Despite receiving treatment, individuals with pneumonia, especially those high risk groups, might experience complications, including:

Bacteria in the bloodstream (bacteremia): Bacteria can spread to other organs, potentially causing organ failure.

Difficulty breathing: Severe pneumonia and underlying lung disease may require patients to be hospitalized and use a breathing machine.

Fluid around the lungs (pleural effusion): Built up fluid in the space between layers of tissue that line the lungs and chest cavity (pleural). If the fluid becomes infected, drainage through a tube or surgery is required to remove the fluid.

Lung abscess: An abscess occurs when pus forms in a cavity in the lung. The abscess is usually treated with antibiotics. In some cases, surgery or drainage with a long needle or tube placed into the abscess is needed to remove the pus.

How can you manage symptoms of Pneumonia?

Finish all the medication and therapies prescribed by your providers. Continue taking the pills until they are all gone, and antibiotics until all the symptoms slowly fade away. Suspended use of medication may cause the pneumonia to come back. Resting when you are recovering from pneumonia allows your body to slowly heal and strengthen itself gradually.

Outlook/Prognosis

The majority without health issues usually recover quickly from pneumonia when receiving proper care. Even after being properly treated and having fully recovered some may face long-term health issues.

You may experience:

Decreased ability to exercise
Worsening of cardiovascular diseases
General decline in quality of life

Children who have fully recovered from pneumonia are more vulnerable to chronic lung diseases.

Preventions

To help prevent pneumonia:

Get vaccinated. Vaccines can prevent some types of pneumonia and the flu. Getting children vaccinated is also important, children 5 years old and younger are prone to getting sick and contracting pneumonia.

Practice good hygiene. Washing your hands regular or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer can protect you against respiratory infections that may lead to pneumonia

Avoid smoking. Smoking damages the lungs' natural defenses against respiratory infections.

Maintain good health. Getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and keeping a healthy diet all help strengthen your immune system to fight off infections.

Impact of Donations

Offering support and aid plays a crucial role in progressing our efforts against pneumonia. By contributing you fund research foundations, provide support programs, educate the public, help patients and families, and improve public health systems. Often people with needs are overlooked, but it is your donations and assistance that helps the most vulnerable in society. Your support makes a difference!

How can I help?

Join a marathon advocating for Respiratory Health Link to Event

Or, Fund Pneumonia Research Link to Donation Page

Or, Donate for Patient Needs Link to Donation Page

Or, Clinical Trial Volunteer Link to Volunteer

Resources

Learn more about pneumonia:

- Cleveland Clinic

(https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4471-pneumonia

- Mayo Clinic

(https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pneumonia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354204#:~:text=Pneumonia%20is%20an%20infection%20that,%2C%20chills%2C%20and%20difficulty%20breathing.)

- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute