Pneumonia: Everything you need to know about it

In the simplest of words, pneumonia is an infection in either one or both lungs, caused by viruses, bacteria, and fungi. This infection causes inflammation in the air sacs of your lungs, known as alveoli. The alveoli get filled with pus or fluid, making breathing a difficult task.

The germs causing pneumonia are contagious, which means that they can spread from one person to another. Both viral, as well as bacterial pneumonia, can spread through inhaling airborne droplets from a cough to a sneeze. In fact, you can also get these types of pneumonia in case you come into contact with surfaces or objects that are contaminated with pneumonia-causing bacteria or viruses. It is also possible to contract fungal pneumonia from the environment. However, this type does not spread from person to person.

Although pneumonia symptoms can be mild and moderate to life-threatening and tend to vary according to your age and general health, it always helps to understand the symptoms before coming to any conclusion. The symptoms include:

● Fever

● Phlegm (mucus) produced via coughing

● Chills and/or sweating

● Experiencing shortness of breath while doing regular chores or even while at rest

● Chest pain that gets worse when you breathe or cough

● Excessive fatigue or exhaustion

● A considerable loss of appetite

● A feeling of nausea and headache

On one hand, children under the age of five years may experience rapid breathing or wheezing. Infants with pneumonia may sometimes appear to have no symptoms at all. However, they may vomit, lack energy or have trouble drinking or eating. On the other hand, older people may have milder symptoms. They may also exhibit confusion or a sudden fall of body temperature.

Although, respiratory viruses are often the cause of pneumonia, there are several types of infectious agents that can actually cause pneumonia:

● Bacterial pneumonia: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most frequent cause of bacterial pneumonia. Other causes also include Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Legionella pneumophila and Viral pneumonia.

Some examples of respiratory viruses causing pneumonia are influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and rhinoviruses (common cold). However, viral pneumonia is usually milder and can improve in about one to three weeks without any hardcore treatment.

● Fungal pneumonia: Fungi from bird droppings or soil can also cause pneumonia. They most cause pneumonia in people with weak immune systems. Certain examples of fungi that can cause pneumonia are Pneumocystis jirovecii, Cryptococcus species and Histoplasmosis species.

In case you have contracted pneumonia, your treatment will solely depend on the type of pneumonia you have, its severity and your general health. Your doctor may, in fact, prescribe medications in order to help treat your pneumonia. You can also accelerate your pneumonia treatment and prevent a recurrence simply by taking rest and drinking plenty of fluids.

However, in case your symptoms are extremely severe or you have other health problems, it is important to understand that you may need to be hospitalized. At the hospital, the doctors can not only keep track of your heart rate, temperature and breathing, but will also help you recover faster and better.