Pneumonia is inflammation (swelling) of tissue in one or both lungs. It is a condition which primarily affects the air sacs of lungs called as alveoli. It is usually caused by infection with viruses or bacteria and less commonly other microorganisms, certain drugs. As per UNICEF study in 2010, there were about 3.97 lakhs under 5 children died of pneumonia in India.
Common symptoms include:
Difficulty in breathing such that breathing may be rapid and shallow
Rapid heartbeat
Fever
Sweating and shivering
Loss of appetite
Pain in chest Less common symptoms of pneumonia can include:
Blood during cough (haemoptysis)
Headache
Fatigue
Nausea
Vomiting
Wheezing
Pneumonia is primarily due to infections caused by bacteria or viruses and less commonly by fungi and parasites.
Bacterial pnuemonia:
Bacteria are the most common cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), with Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated in nearly 50% of cases . Other commonly isolated bacteria include haemophilus influenzae, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae .
Viral pnuemonia :
Various virus include rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, influenza virus and para influenza .
Fungal pnuemonia:
It is most often caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, blastomyces,Cryptococcus neoformans, Pneumocystis jiroveci, and Coccidioides immitis.
Early diagnosis and treatment is very important for invasive pneumococcal disease.
If disease, like meningitis or bloodstream infections, is suspected, samples of blood or cerebrospinal fluid are collected and sent to the laboratory for testing. It is important to know the cause and the severity of illness as the treatment will change depending on the cause. In the case of pneumococcal disease, antibiotics can help prevent severe illness.
If pneumococcus bacteria are present with invasive disease, they can be grown (cultured).
Physical examination may sometimes reveal low blood pressure, high heart rate or low oxygen saturation. The respiratory rate may be faster than normal and this may occur a day or two before other signs.
Rest Simple painkillers (analgesics) like ibuprufen
Antibiotics Fluids suffice for complete management. Antibiotics improve outcomes in those with bacterial pneumonia.
Complications associated with pneumonia are:
1) Pleurisy: Pneumonia can cause pleurisy, which is inflammation of the pleura, the two thin linings between your lungs and your ribcage.
2) Septicemia: Another serious complication of pneumonia is blood poisoning, also known as septicemia.
References:
Centre For Disease Control and Prevention
Unicef
NHS
WHO
