Pneumonia is an inflammation that exists in the lungs which is caused by various viruses, fungi and bacteria. Commonly, pneumonia affects just one of the lungs but for some people, the two lungs get affected and that’s called double or bilateral pneumonia.
There are symptoms of pneumonia and they vary from mild to severe depending on the person’s age, lifestyle and person’s health in general. Symptoms like shortness of breathe, chest pain when breathing or coughing, nausea, fatigue or fever are what someone with pneumonia will feel.
There may be so many things that causes pneumonia. We all have to understand that everyone has different immune system and that’s why not everyone will react to a particular cause of pneumonia.
One of the things that causes pneumonia is bacteria. When bacteria and viruses exists in the air that we breathe in, it means we are at high risk of having pneumonia.
Usually, the body is meant to prevent those germs from infecting our lungs but once the germs overpower our immune system, pneumonia sets in. Even though we are very healthy, there will be times when the body won’t be able to fight back those germs.
There are five common types of pneumonia. The first is the community acquired pneumonia. This is caused by bacteria that we contract amidst the community. Well, this can be treatable with antivirals or anti fungal.
Secondly, there is aspiration pneumonia. There are times when we inhale things like food, saliva, vomit or drinks and if affects our immune system. If the body can’t fight it back, it leads to aspiration pneumonia.
Atypical Pneumonia is another kind if pneumonia that we can encounter. When someone has this, the person can still function but not very well. It can also be called walking pneumonia because the person can still be suffering from pneumonia and manage to run other activities.
Then, we have the viral pneumonia which is caused by virus like influenza and the symptoms may resemble that of bacterial pneumonia but develops as time goes on.
Lastly, there is bacterial pneumonia which is the common type of all. This is basically caused by bacteria known as Streptococcus pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila. If there is a prompt antibiotic treatment, there will be a quick recovery as well.
If the doctor wants to diagnose pneumonia, the patient’s health history will be asked about. Then, a X-Ray imaging will be done so that the lungs will be pictured to see if it is inflamed or not. Also, some blood tests will be conducted to check some signs of infection in the patient’s blood. Other tests that are usually done are, brochonscopy, suptum test, arterial blood gas test and pulse oximetry.
Regardless of all of these symptoms, pneumonia can be treated. There are so many treatments that can make pneumonia go it its own. They are antiviral medicines, anti fungal medicines or antibiotics. Antibiotics are seen as the major treatment for pneumonia.
Some people are at high risks of pneumonia. People who smoke are at high risks of pneumonia, people with weakened immune system, people in the hospital and that can be gotten through aspirations and people with chronic long diseases.
Pneumonia is a medical condition but can be treated and to prevent pneumonia, it is advisable to get vaccinated, do not smoke and we should also practice good hygiene.
REFERENCES SOURCES
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4471-pneumonia
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pneumonia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354204
