Pneumonia is a transmission of the lungs that is induced by viruses, 
bacteria, parasites or fungi. The disease is characterized by the inflammation of the alveoli that are found in the lungs or in some cases the alveoli are filled with fluids. The alveoli are the microscopic sacs in the lungs whose main duty is to absorb oxygen. In some cases serious conditions of pneumonia can lead to severe illness or even cause death.
This disease mostly affects the older adults, babies or people who are suffering from other ailments or those who have impaired immune systems although it also occur in young and healthy people.
Causes of pneumonia
The two main primary causes of pneumonia are bacteria and viruses. The disease develops when a person inhales pneumonia-causing germs into his lungs and maybe the body’s immune system is unable to prevent it from entering the body so the organisms will have to settle in small sacs known as alveoli and from there they multiply. The body will have to react by sending the white blood cells to help fight the infection and in the process the sacs are filled with fluids and pus therefore causing pneumonia. Pneumonia is caused by bacteria known as Streptococcus which is a common cause.
Not all people are vulnerable to pneumonia; some are more likely to develop it whereas others can get rid of the disease. Those people who are at high risk of contracting this disease are; those people who smoke, abuse alcohol, those who are younger than one year and those who are older than 65 years, malnourished children, those people who have been recently hospitalized in an intensive care unit. Other groups of people who can contact the disease are those who have been exposed to some chemicals or pollutants.
Symptoms of pneumonia
Pneumonia that is caused by bacteria normally has its symptoms coming on more quickly than the one caused by virus. Pneumonia begins like a mild cold and flu and then as time goes by it develops into high fever, chills and cough with sputum.
Symptoms of pneumonia vary depending on the underlying conditions and some of the common symptoms are cough, fever, shortness of breath and breathing very fast, shaking chills, fast heart beat, nausea and vomiting, feeling very week and tired, chest pain which is more serious when the patient is taking a deep breath, diarrhea, sweating, headache, muscle pains, the skin becomes purplish due to poorly oxygenated blood.
Treatment of pneumonia
When treating pneumonia it depends on the type and the severity of the symptoms. To treat pneumonias that is caused by bacteria, antibiotics are used whereas in the case of viral pneumonias they are treated with rest and plenty of fluids. Antifungal medications are used to treat pneumonias that are caused by fungi.
Pneumonia can be prevented by taking two important vaccines: pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (prevnar) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (pneumovax). In addition to these vaccines it is highly recommended that people wash hands, don’t smoke and eat healthy.
