When the lungs become infected with a bacteria, virus or other microorganism you have pneumonia. The literal translation of pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. Usually starting as a cold, the bacteria spread and quickly enter the lungs. Pneumonia can be very serious in the very young and the elderly. When diagnosed and treated early, you can expect a full recovery from this disease. I’ll cover the causes, symptoms, treatments and complications in this article.
The cause of pneumonia can be several things. A virus, bacteria, or any small microscopic organism can cause an infection when living inside your lungs. The thought of having something living in your lungs is not fun, and having pneumonia is not fun either. The organism causing the bacteria generally starts out living in the nose and the throat. If the organism is aggressive enough it can enter the lungs within a few days after the onset of symptoms. The most common forms of pneumonia are started by a virus, some common viruses are: influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus and rhinovirus.
The symptoms of pneumonia begin as an ordinary cold. The disease tends to progress quickly, and soon enough you may have a fever, chest pain, difficulty breathing, cough and a general ill feeling. Breathing tends to become very rapid as the oxygen exchange is not as efficient when you have pneumonia. Bacterial pneumonia tends to have a more rapid onset of fever and worse conditions. Viral pneumonia is usually a bit slower at developing symptoms that bacterial. Loss of appetite, vomiting, chills and abdominal pain are also all common symptoms of pneumonia.
Diagnosis of pneumonia is done through x-ray, blood tests and listening to the lungs. If your doctor hears some congestion in your lungs, they will probably order an x-ray to see if there is build up present in your chest. Your doctor may also send some mucous you cough up in for testing to find out what has caused the infection. After a diagnosis, your doctor will most likely prescribe a 14 day course of antibiotics. It is very important to get antibiotics started quickly so the infection does not spread. In the very young and old hospitalization may be necessary to prevent dehydration in the patient. Additional oxygen may be needed to supply the patient’s body with an adequate supply as well. Be sure to finish the complete set of antibiotics to be sure the microorganisms are completely destroyed so the infection does not reappear.
The most common complication of pneumonia is dehydration. If your overall health is fine, your body can fight the infection without too much harm. However, if you struggle from another disease in addition to the pneumonia, complications can be life-threatening. If the bacteria are able to enter the blood, it may spread to any organ in your body. Fluid may also accumulate around your lungs and impair your breathing. In very severe cases, abscesses may form in your lungs and need to be removed surgically.
Pneumonia is a fairly common condition, but needs to be addressed immediately. When treated early, the condition will resolve quickly and the affected person can resume their normal activities. If the infection is allowed to grow and spread, the results can be very serious. If you ever suspect yourself or someone you are caring for has pneumonia, be sure to get them seen by a doctor as soon as possible.
