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| Pneumonia |
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Pneumonia is not a single disease.
In fact, there are more than 50 types of the condition, ranging
from mild to life-threatening. The disorder can affect one
or both lungs (often called double pneumonia). More than 60,000
Americans die of the disease every year.
There are two ways pneumonia affects the lungs: either in
a single lobe or section of the organ (lobar pneumonia) or
in parts of both lungs (bronchial pneumonia). The disease
results when the tiny air sacs of the lungs (alveoli) become
inflamed and infected through exposure to viruses or bacteria.
As the air sacs fill with pus and other liquid, they can no
longer properly balance the exchange of oxygen and carbon
dioxide in and out of the bloodstream.
Pneumonia is often classified according to where and how exposure
to organisms took place.
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Community-acquired. The
disease took hold in the course of living a normal routine
-- at school, work, shopping. |
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Hospital-acquired. Patients on mechanical
ventilators, in intensive care units, or who have weakened
immune systems are more likely to develop the disease,
despite stringent hospital standards. |
| • |
Aspiration pneumonia. An infection occurs
when matter is inhaled into the lungs – often
as a result of vomiting. |
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Opportunistic-organism pneumonia. When
the body’s immune system is weakened by other
health conditions, pneumonia can readily attack the
lungs. |
At particular risk are persons with HIV/AIDS and sickle cell
disease, as well as those who are taking corticosteroid medications
or undergoing chemotherapy treatments. The very old and the
very young are also at increased risk for pneumonia.
Cause: Certain problem-causing substances, such as
a bacteria, viruses, mycoplasma (tiny, free-living disease
agents) or fungi, are constantly in the air we breathe. Normally,
the lungs have a natural defense system that keeps these dangerous
elements out of the lungs. For reasons that are not always
clear, microorganisms sometimes circumvent the system and
enter the lungs.
Symptoms: Depending on the type of pneumonia, its degree
of seriousness and the organism causing it, symptoms include:
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Cough – may be dry
or with clear or colored sputum. Sometimes coughing
is violent. |
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Shortness of breath |
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Chest pain |
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Chills or fever (as high as 105 degrees
F) |
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Profuse sweating |
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Increased pulse rate |
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Bluish cast to the lips and fingernails |
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Muscle pain |
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Weakness, sometimes severe |
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Nausea and vomiting |
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Nausea and vomiting |
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Mental confusion or delirium |
Diagnosis: The physician will first use a stethoscope
to listen for abnormal sounds in the lungs. A chest X-ray
or CT scan may be used to look for evidence of the disease.
Blood tests and cultures of phlegm can also help confirm pneumonia.
In some cases, a bronchoscope is inserted into the airways
to extract specimens of lung tissue.
Treatment: Depending on the type and cause of pneumonia,
antibiotics may be given. It is critical that patients complete
the entire prescription according to the physician’s
orders, even if they begin to feel better. Relapses can be
far worse than original infections. Other medications may
be effective in relieving severe coughing. When needed, extra
oxygen may help the patient breathe easier. Pneumonia sufferers
are encouraged to rest and allow themselves to become completely
well before resuming normal activities.
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