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Pneumonia is caused by the filling up of the air sacs of the lungs with pus, mucus and other liquid. This prevents oxygen that is provided by the lungs from reaching the blood as well as it should. If there is too little oxygen in the blood, the cells in your body aren’t able to work properly and you will feel very tired.

Sometimes pneumonia affects a section or “lobe” of the lung and his called lobar pneumonia.

Other times, the pneumonia affects patches in both lungs and is called bronchial pneumonia.

WHAT CAUSES THE LUNGS TO FILL UP WITH PUS, MUCAS AND OTHER FLUID? In a large majority of cases, pneumonia is caused by the body’s response to an infection that involves either bacteria or viruses. It can also be caused by an organism known as mycoplasma or other infectious agents such as fungi (e.g. pneumocystitis). Other less common causes of the symptoms of pneumonia include inhalation of food, liquid, gases or dust. There are more than 50 kinds of pneumonia and the severity of the disease can range from mild to life threatening. Pneumonia often occurs after a common cold or the flu.

WHO GETS PNEUMONIA AND WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?



In general, people who are at highest risk for the adverse effects of the disease include:

• Children younger than two and adults over 65
• People with chronic illness such as heart, lung, and kidney disease, diabetes, alcoholism, or people without a spleen
• People with HIV or other conditions associated with reduced function of the immune system
• People who live in nursing homes or other chronic care facilities

Bacterial Pneumonia -Symptoms include shaking, chills, a high fever, sweating, chest pain (pleurisy), a cough that produces thick, rust-coloured, greenish or yellow phlegm, fast breathing and rapid pulse rate. Lips and nail beds may have a bluish tinge, and mental state may be clouded or delirious.

Viral Pneumonia – Usually occurs in fall and winter. Starts with dry (unproductive) cough, headache, fever, muscle pain and fatigue. As symptoms progress, breathlessness and a cough that produces a small amount of bloody phlegm develop.

Mycoplasma –Usually mild and widespread. Most common in childcare centres and among school children and young adults. Early symptoms are chilly sensations, nausea or vomiting and slow heartbeat. A cough that tends to come in violent spasms and a sparse white sputum are prominent symptoms.

Other Pneumonias – Other types of pneumonia (e.g. those caused by inhalation of food gases. Liquid of dust) can be associated with serious symptoms.

Treatment

Treatment of pneumonia is such more successful if it is started early in the course of the disease.
Therefore, if you have the following symptoms and think you might have pneumonia, see your doctor right away:

• Persistent cough, chest pain and changes with your breathing, unexplained fever, or if you suddenly feel worse after a cold or the flu.

Medications used for treatment of pneumonia are determined by the particular cause of the condition and the doctor’s judgment.

Antibiotics (e.g. erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin, doxycycline) are used to treat pneumonia caused by bacteria or mycoplasma. Although antiviral drugs are used for a small number of certain kinds of viral pneumonias, there is not a general treatment for this condition.

• It is of extreme importance to finish all prescribed antibiotics according to the doctor’s instructions, otherwise the pneumonia may come back even worse than before. Finishing antibiotic off also prevents the development of bacteria that are “resistant” to the side effects of antibiotics. A very serious situation arises when an infectious disease becomes resistant to all treatment.
• Some people who get pneumonia will need to be hospitalized. In the hospital antibiotics (e.g. penicillin type of medications, levofloxacin) may be given by injection into the vein. Often, you will be sent home after 3 or 4 days in the hospital
• and treatment will be continued with antibiotics that are taken by mouth.
• Rest and plenty of fluids are important components of any recovery.

Article By:- eHealthhut Webmaster
www.ehealthhut.com
2008-04-11