Pneumonia: A grievous problem that plagues the lungs

Pneumonia: A grievous problem that plagues the lungs What is Pneumonia?

Pneumonia refers to the infection that takes place in a single or in both of the lungs. It usually takes place because of viruses, bacteria and fungi. This type of health problem creates inflammation in the alveoli and air sacs of patients’ lungs. Alveoli in this case fill with pus or fluid to create difficulty in the breathing process.

Is Pneumonia Contagious?

Most of the patients and their family members ask a common question that whether pneumonia is contagious or infectious. Answer to this question, as given by qualified medical experts is no. The problem itself is not infectious.

However, viruses and other related germs cause common cold, flu or bacterial infections are of contagious, which result in pneumonia.

Symptoms of Pneumonia Doctors have found the following general symptoms related to bacteriabased pneumonia, which develop at relatively faster rate and involve● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Shaking chills Pain in chest Dry cough and Fever Wheezing Nausea Ache in body muscles Rapid heartbeat and breathing process Vomiting Difficulty in taking breathe

On the other side, you will find few symptoms, which indicate for medical emergencies. These are ● Bluish tone formed in human skin because of scarcity in inhalation of oxygen ● Presence of blood in sputum because of coughed-up mucus ● Difficulty in taking breathe properly ● Suffering from very high fever that too more than 100 degrees of Fahrenheit ● Rapid heartbeat

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Types of Pneumonia Medical experts have identified following major types of Pneumonia problems in patientsBacterial Pneumonia Bacterial pneumonia creates adverse effects on individuals at almost every age. It may develop on own or after a person suffers from severe flu or cold.

Streptococcus pneumonia is the prime reason behind bacterial pneumonia.

Viral Pneumonia In majority of situations, respiratory viruses result in pneumonia, particularly in elder people and in young children. This is not a serious problem and last for only short time. However, flu virus may result in viral pneumonia, which results in fatal or severe condition. This type of condition is particularly harmful for conceiving women or patients deal with lungs or heart problems.

In addition, invading bacteria creates further complications in combination with viral pneumonia.

Mycoplasma Pneumonia Mycoplasma organisms are not bacteria or viruses, but they come with traits of both. These act as smallest agents to carry diseases, which affect human beings. Mycoplasma types of organisms usually cause mild pneumonia mostly in young adults and in old children.

Treatments Available to Cure Pneumonia Doctors opt to prescribe the type of pneumonia treatment based on its type and its severity in patients. Even experts perceive that patients may easily overcome from the disease of pneumonia with the help of home treatment.

General Treatment Typical plan for treatment of pneumonia includes intake of each prescribed medicine and be the part of a follow-up care. In addition, doctors may order for a chest X-ray, as it assures about successful treatment of the problem mentioned here.

Treatment of Bacterial Pneumonia Under this type of treatment, doctors recommend their patients to consume antibiotics based on present conditions of the body and age of patients. In this case, patients should essentially keep in their minds that if they stop with the consumption of antibiotics prior to the completion of treatment, pneumonia would relapse. However, positive thing associated with this procedure is that it allows patients to get health improvements even after 1 to 3 days of their treatments.

Treatment of Viral Pneumonia Antibiotics become useless if virus constitutes the prime cause of pneumonic problem. However, few antiviral drugs would help in proper treatment of the condition. Symptoms in this case mostly become clear within a period of about few weeks.