Pneumonia Symptoms

What is Pneumonia?

• Pneumonia is a kind of lung soreness which is caused by virus, bacteria or fungi. Pneumonia is an air-born disease which is spread through air. Pneumonia is a contagious disease. Hippocrates who was an ancient Greek doctor discovered Pneumonia.

Types and Causes of Pneumonia: There are different types of Pneumonia. We will discuss below a few of them:

• Different types of Bacteria are responsible for causing Bacterial Pneumonia. A streptococcus pneumonia bacterium is responsible for maximum cases of bacterial pneumonia. Bacterial Pneumonia is caused when the body’s immune system is weakened due to factors like old age, illness, influenza and respiratory disease.
• Mycoplasma pneumonia is caused by mycoplasmas which has the traits of both fungi and bacteria and which live inside the human body. Mycoplasma pneumonia is seen in people belonging to all age groups.
• Aspiration pneumonia is a swelling of bronchial tubes and lungs caused due to inhalation of foreign material like soft drinks which result in the formation of pus in the lungs. Dental Problems, excessive consumption of alcohol and sedatives and anesthesia are responsible for Aspiration pneumonia
• Atypical pneumonia is mainly caused by bacteria named Legionella pneumophila. Atypical Pneumonia caused due to mycoplasma and chlamydophila is mild.
• CMV pneumonia is caused by the Cytomegalovirus belongs to the family of herpes-type viruses which causes infection in lungs in the immune –suppressed individuals. This type of pneumonia is seen in the AIDS patients and the individuals with bone as well as organ transplants.
• Hospital acquired pneumonia is contracted when the individual is taking treatment in hospital for some other disease. It is caused when the pneumonia infected person in the hospital sneezes or coughs the small droplets containing the pneumonia germs are sneezed or coughed out from his body. When another person in the hospital inhales these small droplets after coming in contact with the infected person then the person also gets infected with pneumonia. This form of pneumonia is seen in the patients who are alcoholic and have recent illness.
• Legionnaire's disease is a severe infection of the respiratory system caused due to bacterium Legionella pneumophila.This bacteria is found in the water delivery systems and can survive in the warm, moist and air conditioning systems.
• Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is caused by the fungal organism known as Pneumocystis carinii.This type of Pneumonia is seen in the individuals having cancer, AIDS and chronic corticosteroids whose immune system becomes weak.

What are Pneumonia Symptoms?

   The following are the general pneumonia symptoms:

·        It is always seen that symptoms like sore throat or cold succeeded by a strong fever and a cough with mucus production from lungs which sometimes contains blood are the one of the Pneumonia Symptoms.

·        In Some Cases the person suffers from a breathing problem as the lungs receive less oxygen.

·        The skin color of the person becomes purplish or dusky as the blood of such person receives less oxygen. This condition is also known as cyanosis.

·        Many times Pneumonia Symptoms like a bad cough, a muscle ache and a bad headache and fever are also seen in the people.

·        Chest wall pain on the side of the infected lung, fatigue, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, rapid heart beat and breathing and nausea are some of the Pneumonia Symptoms.

·        Fever is mostly seen in small children and infants.

·        In some non-bacterial pneumonia the Pneumonia Symptoms are mild. 

·        Heavy abdominal pain is observed sometimes in the person who has pneumonia in the lower lobes of the lung.

·        Ear ache and stomach and intestinal pain are observed.

·        Patients have a mild cough and fever but it cough does not contain mucus.

·        Little pain is there near the breastbone but there is no chest pain suffering

         

Generally people are unable to differentiate between ordinary cough, pneumonia, Tuberculosis and bronchitis as they all stem from the lung infection. So it is better to consult the doctor and have a proper diagnosis when one is has the doubt that he has Pneumonia Symptoms .Children should be vaccinated in their childhood for pneumonia.