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May 14, 2024 · Pneumonia can be deadly if it causes complications such as: Respiratory failure. Sepsis. Bacteremia, where bacteria enter the blood. Lung abscesses, which are pus-filled spaces in the lung....
- Pneumonia Or Bronchitis
Pneumonia symptoms can be mild or severe based on what...
- Reducing Your Risk
This can lead to one type of pneumonia called aspiration...
- How to Feel Better
Pneumonia and fevers often go hand in hand. Get those high...
- Pleural Effusion
Pleural effusion is a condition in which excess fluid builds...
- Pneumonia Symptoms
Pneumonia Symptoms vs. Cold and Flu Symptoms. It’s tricky...
- What Is Viral Pneumonia
Viral pneumonia is an infection of your lungs caused by a...
- Chemical Pneumonia
Chemical pneumonia is an unusual type of lung irritation....
- Manage Heart Failure
Your diagnosis of heart failure, your symptoms, and your...
- Pneumonia Or Bronchitis
- Overview
- Is it possible?
- Signs and symptoms of pneumonia
- Pneumonia and cough
- Types of pneumonia and their causes
- Treatment
- Risk factors
- Complications
- Prevention
- When to speak with a doctor
Pneumonia typically occurs when a person acquires a viral, bacterial, or fungal lung infection. A cough is a common symptom of pneumonia. However, a person can have the condition without a cough.
Pneumonia is the medical term for lung inflammation. Pneumonia usually triggers respiratory symptoms such as a cough. However, a person can have the condition without a cough. Those who do not experience this symptom are likely to experience other indications.
The signs and symptoms of pneumonia vary from person to person. Some people may experience a mild illness that clears up on its own. Others may have severe symptoms and life threatening health complications.
People with pneumonia typically develop a cough. However, the American Thoracic Society state that it is possible to have pneumonia without the symptom.
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, those most likely to develop complications of pneumonia also tend to experience the most atypical symptoms. These people include:
•young children
•older adults
•people with serious underlying health conditions
The most common signs and symptoms of pneumonia include:
•a dry cough, or a wet cough that produces mucus or blood
•chest pain when breathing or coughing
•shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
•chills that may cause a person to alternate between feeling very cold or very hot
•fever
Pneumonia triggers irritation and inflammation of the tiny air sacs, known as alveoli, within the lungs. These air sacs are responsible for exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide, enabling the body to carry out its vital functions.
Pneumonia can cause the alveoli to fill with fluid or pus. Coughing is a natural reflex that aims to remove these excess fluids from the airways. A cough may bring up a green, yellow, or bloody mucus.
Type of pneumonia
Below are the different types of pneumonia and their associated causes. •Viral pneumonia: Develops in response to contracting a viral infection of the lungs. •Bacterial pneumonia: Occurs due to acquiring a bacterial infection within the lungs. •Fungal pneumonia: Develops in response to contracting a fungal infection within the lungs. It is less common than other types of pneumonia. •Aspiration pneumonia: Develops following inhalation of fluid into the lungs. This type is more common among people with certain breathing or swallowing disorders. How and where someone develops pneumonia, such as at the hospital, on dialysis, or in long term nursing care, helps doctors differentiate the cause of the infection and devise appropriate treatments.
Severity of pneumonia
Doctors sometimes classify pneumonia according to its severity. Mild pneumonia is not life threatening. People with this condition can usually recover at home with little or no medical treatment. Moderate pneumonia requires a hospital stay for supportive care. Severe pneumonia means that the lungs are not taking in enough oxygen or that the infection risks damage to other organs. A person with this condition may require intravenous medications, as well as mechanical ventilation to assist their breathing.
Location of pneumonia
Pneumonia can affect one or both lungs. It can also affect different sections or “lobes” of the lung. A chest X-ray or other medical imaging test can reveal the location and extent of the pneumonia.
The treatment for pneumonia depends on its cause and severity. Some options include:
•antibiotics for bacterial pneumonia
•antiviral medications for viral pneumonia
•antifungal medications for fungal pneumonia
•steroids to improve lung function in people with severe pneumonia
•over-the-counter medications to ease pain and reduce fever
Most people recover from pneumonia. However, those with risk factors for the condition are more likely to experience serious and potentially life threatening complications.
Some risk factors for pneumonia include:
•being over the age of 65 years or under the age of 2 years
•having a condition that weakens the immune system
•having a chronic lung disease, such as asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
•having other respiratory infections such as COVID-19
Severe, untreated pneumonia can cause life threatening complications, such as:
•damage to the lungs, heart, liver, or kidneys
•sepsis
•organ failure
The following strategies can reduce a person’s risk of developing pneumonia:
•practicing frequent handwashing, especially before eating and after going out in public
•adopting strategies to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as wearing a mask or face-covering in public
•avoiding going to school or work when sick
•exercising regularly to keep the heart and lungs healthy
•talking to a doctor about getting the pneumococcal vaccine, which reduces the risk of pneumococcal pneumonia
Pneumonia is a severe condition that requires prompt medical attention. Even if a person does not experience a cough, this does not rule out the possibility that they have moderate or severe pneumonia.
A person should call their doctor if:
•they experience signs or symptoms of pneumonia, especially if they have a respiratory infection or have recently recovered from one
•they are undergoing home treatment for pneumonia, and their symptoms suddenly worsen
•they are caring for a child, baby, or older adult who shows typical or atypical signs or symptoms of pneumonia
•they are caring for a person with dementia who suddenly develops worsening symptoms of confusion or disorientation
Oct 30, 2024 · Complications. Diagnosis. Treatment. Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses (including COVID-19). Fever is a common symptom of pneumonia. However, in certain rare cases some people have pneumonia without fever or with only a very mild form of it.
Jul 20, 2022 · Yes, pneumonia can damage the lungs and cause a myriad of complications, including exudative pleural effusions, pneumothorax, and a compromised ability to oxygenate the blood, which can lead to systemic organ failure.
Pneumonia is generally characterized by symptoms of fever, cough, purulent sputum production, and dyspnea in a patient with a new or progressive lung infiltrate, with or without an associated pleural effusion. In nonventilated patients, cough is the most common finding.
Sep 3, 2019 · Wondering if you can you have pneumonia without having a fever? Yes, under rare circumstances you can. Here's what you need to know about pneumonia: symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and more.
People also ask
What happens if pneumonia is not treated?
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Jun 13, 2020 · Even with treatment, some people with pneumonia, especially those in high-risk groups, may experience complications, including: Bacteria in the bloodstream (bacteremia). Bacteria that enter the bloodstream from your lungs can spread the infection to other organs, potentially causing organ failure.
