Pneumonia
by: Masnoo Adem
Pneumonia is a viral or bacterial infection in one or both of your lungs. It can be caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses. Pneumonia causes inflammation in your alveoli which causes them to fill up with fluid or pus. This makes it hard for you to breathe and causes coughing containing phlegm or pus, fevers, and chills. Pneumonia is indeed contagious and can range from mild to life-threatening. The disease is more severe for infants and younger children, people over the age of 65, and those with already present health problems or weakened immune systems. There are many types of pneumonia, based on how and where you get it. For example, community-acquired pneumonia is pneumonia that occurs outside of hospitals or other health care facilities. This is the most common type. This type of pneumonia may be caused by bacteria, bacteria-like organisms, fungi, or viruses that usually cause the flu or colds. Another type of pneumonia is aspiration pneumonia. This type occurs when you inhale food, drink, vomit, or saliva into your lungs. This is more likely if something disturbs your normal gag reflex like a brain injury, swallowing problem, or you use alcohol or drugs excessively.
Treatments for pneumonia depend on the severity of your condition, the type of pneumonia, your age, and your overall health. Those with community-acquired pneumonia can usually be treated at home with medication and have symptoms relieved within days or weeks. Those with pneumonia caused by bacteria are prescribed antibacterial medication. Pneumonia caused by viruses is treated with antiviral medication. Some cases can be treated at home by drinking plenty of fluids, staying away from smoking, getting lots of rest, drinking warm beverages, and controlling your fever with aspirin, acetaminophen, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (like ibuprofen or naproxen). For cases that are more severe, hospitalization will be required. In the hospital, you may be treated with intravenous (IV) fluids, antibiotics, oxygen therapy, and breathing techniques.
Pneumonia is the largest infectious cause of children’s deaths worldwide. In 2017, 808,694 children under the age of five died because of pneumonia. That is 15% of all children under five worldwide. Pneumonia is very widespread in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Other than women giving birth, pneumonia is the most common cause of hospital admissions for adults in the US. 1 million people a year have ended up in emergency departments with a primary diagnosis of pneumonia and 50,000 of them die from the disease.
Reference links:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pneumonia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354204?page=0&citems=10
https://www.healthline.com/health/pneumonia
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-and-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pneumonia/treatment-and-recovery.html
https://www.thoracic.org/patients/patient-resources/resources/top-pneumonia-facts.pdf
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/pneumonia
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/pneumonia.htm
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