What is pneumonia?
Pneumonia is an illness that can impact one or both lungs. It causes fluid or pus to build up in the alveoli, or air sacs, of the lungs. It can be a complication of the flu but can also be brought on by a fungal, bacterial, or viral infection leading to lung inflammation.
Depending on the patient’s age, what caused it, and the patient’s overall health, the severity of the disease condition might vary from mild to severe. It causes breathing difficulties, fever, and a cough that produces green, yellow, or bloody mucus.
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The pneumonia symptoms can range in severity from minor to severe and include:
- Fever
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Feeling cold
- Breathlessness
- Chest discomfort while breathing or coughing
- Cough, accompanied by phlegm, a viscous mucus produced in the lungs
What are the different Pneumonia Causes?
The primary cause of this disease is infection, which is often brought on by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or other microorganisms. When airborne bacteria enter the lungs due to inhalation, they trigger an inflammatory response, filling the air sacs with fluid or pus. Streptococcus pneumoniae tends to be the cause of bacterial pneumonia, whereas viruses such as the respiratory syncytial virus and influenza might lead to viral pneumonia.
Other pneumonia causes are
- Flu
- Common cold
- Pneumococcal disease
- Pneumocystis jirovecii a fungi
Risk Factors
Pneumonia can affect people of all ages. However, the two age groups with the most significant risk of developing this condition are children and elderly individuals. Children are at a higher risk because their immune systems are still developing, while the immune systems of elderly people generally weaken with age.
Weak Immune System
Long-term health conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, and heart disease weaken the body's ability to fight infections. Also, individuals taking immunosuppressive medications or struggling with HIV/AIDS-like conditions are at a higher risk of developing this condition.
Environment or Occupation
Most of the pneumonia cases are caused by infections acquired from others. Living or spending a lot of time in a crowded area and breathing in hazardous fumes on a daily basis all increase the risk of developing the disease.
Lifestyle Habits
Smoking harms the respiratory system, which increases the risk of bacteria or virus-related pneumonia. Alcohol consumption adversely affects your immune system, and there is also an increased chance of inadvertently inhaling saliva or vomiting into the windpipe, causing aspiration pneumonia.
Understanding Different Types of Pneumonia
Based on the cause and symptoms, pneumonia condition is a prevalent and potentially harmful respiratory disease that is divided into several categories. The following are a few common types of pneumonia:
Bacterial
This is one of the most prevalent types of pneumonia, and it is usually brought on by bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, or Streptococcus pneumoniae. Common signs of this type include fever and chest pain, which can range in severity from moderate to severe. It may affect only a small part of one lung or damage both.
Viral
Responsible for approximately one-third of all cases, this type is brought on by viruses such as influenza (the flu), COVID-19 (SARS-COV-2) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). It is characterised by symptoms such as a dry cough and shortness of breath.
Fungal
Generally, fungi like Aspergillus, Candida, or Pneumocystis jirovecii cause fungal pneumonia. It tends to be more common among individuals having compromised immune systems, such as those living with HIV/AIDS or the ones exposed to some kind of fungus via contaminated soil or bird droppings.
Atypical
This form of illness is often caused by bacteria like Mycoplasma pneumoniae or Chlamydophila pneumoniae. Often referred to as walking pneumonia, it is considered atypical due to the fact that its physical signs and symptoms can vary. It usually exhibits milder symptoms that resemble a cold or flu.
Aspiration
This happens when substances that should be ingested, such as food and beverages, get inhaled into the lungs instead, causing an infection and inflammation. It is more likely to develop in those with neurological disorders, swallowing issues, or impaired understanding.
Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia(HAP)
It occurs during or following a hospital stay to treat a specific condition. HAP is typically more problematic due to the fact that pathogens commonly found in hospital settings are usually more treatment-resistant.
Different Stages of Pneumonia
India bears a 23% share of the worldwide pneumonia burden, with the fatality of cases ranging from 14% to 30%. The different stages of pneumonia are
- Congestion Lung congestion is a characteristic of the early stages of pneumonia. Inflammation and fluid congestion occur in the alveoli, the small air sacs in the lungs, and the capillaries, the tiny blood vessels. This stage occurs within the first twenty-four hours following the onset of the condition.
- Red Hepatization After the first twenty-four hours, the symptoms may worsen as red blood cells and immune cells accumulate near the alveoli to fight the infection. During this stage, the lung tissue dries up and becomes firmer as fibrous structures replace the swelling around the alveoli. As a result, the alveoli's capacity to transport oxygen to the blood is diminished.
- Grey Hepatization Red blood cells start to break up at this stage, and hemosiderin proteins—which store iron in the blood—may also start to build up.The lung tissue takes on a gray appearance due to these profound alterations in the cells and tissue.
- Resolution In the Resolution and Restoration stage, enzymatic activity liquefies the prior solid fibrinous content, thereby restoring aeration. At this stage of the infection, the immune system attempts to heal the lung damage and enzymes that break down injured tissue so as to enable reabsorption are released as part of this process.
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